<p>Wildfires in the western U.S. have become a growing crisis. They’re lasting longer, burning hotter, and spreading into areas that rarely burned in the past. </p>



<p>But another danger is rising, beyond heatwaves and droughts. Lightning - sudden, fierce, and incredibly powerful - is becoming one of the biggest wildfire risks.</p>



<p>In the coming decades, scientists warn that lightning will become an increasingly dominant spark for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-making-wildfire-smoke-more-deadly/">wildfires</a>, adding to the already mounting risks across the West.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lightning-is-fueling-more-wildfires">Lightning is fueling more wildfires</h2>



<p>Wildfires need a few things to get going: dry fuel, hot temperatures, low humidity, and a spark. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lightning-is-changing-the-atmosphere-in-surprising-ways/">Lightning</a> is one of the most powerful natural igniters.</p>



<p>In the western U.S., lightning already causes more than two-thirds of the area burned by wildfires. And now, new research shows that number is going to rise sharply due to climate change. </p>



<p>Warmer air holds more moisture, which means more unstable weather patterns. Those patterns, in turn, set the stage for more lightning.</p>



<p>A recent study has revealed that virtually all of the western U.S. - 98 percent of the region - will have more days with a greater likelihood of lightning-ignited wildfires starting as early as the 2030s. </p>



<p>For regions already accustomed to such fires, such as Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, the risk is even greater. As early as 2060, those states may have as many as 12 additional lightning-filled days per summer.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-model-to-forecast-lightning">A model to forecast lightning</h2>



<p>Traditional <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-models-underestimate-sea-ice-melt-and-global-warming/">climate models</a> don’t really track lightning. That’s why a team of researchers led by Dmitri Kalashnikov built their own system to fill in the gaps.</p>



<p>“The first step was to project lightning,” said Kalashnikov, a research scientist at the <a href="https://www.ucmerced.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California Merced</a>. “The typical climate models don’t directly simulate lightning. It’s too small a process.”</p>



<p>The researchers applied machine learning to forecast where lightning would hit based on variables that we can quantify - such as temperature, humidity, and the level of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/moisture-in-the-atmosphere-causes-extreme-weather-to-last-longer/">moisture in the air</a>. </p>



<p>The team merged those results with the Fire Weather Index (FWI), a mechanism that was developed back in 1968 to monitor how probable wildfire initiation and spread is from local weather.</p>



<p>The result is a forecast model tailored to the western U.S., designed to project conditions from 2030 to 2060 - decades earlier than most studies, which typically look only to the end of the century.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-lightning-in-the-northwest">More lightning in the Northwest</h2>



<p>The northwestern states of Idaho, Oregon, and Montana are projected to experience the greatest growth in lightning days. But strangely, they may not experience the most rapid expansion in wildfires. </p>



<p>Although lightning will grow, the conditions favoring fires (such as extreme heat or dryness) are not expected to worsen as quickly in the Northwest compared to other regions.</p>



<p>That doesn’t mean northwestern states are off the hook. Cloud-to-ground lightning, the kind that hits trees or grass directly, is still expected to rise significantly in those areas.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-less-lightning-greater-wildfire-risk">Less lightning, greater wildfire risk</h2>



<p>In contrast, the Southwest - including Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, and New Mexico - won’t see as much of a jump in lightning strikes. But the fire risk will still climb. </p>



<p>This is because even a small spark becomes a big threat when the land is extra dry, the heat is intense, and there’s little rain to cool things off.</p>



<p>The researchers found that these southern states are likely to experience the biggest increases in wildfires caused by lightning, despite the smaller bump in lightning activity. That’s because climate change is pushing up the number of fire-prone days overall.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dry-and-wet-lightning">Dry and wet lightning</h2>



<p>Kalashnikov said the next steps could involve separating the kinds of lightning events. “You can’t help but wonder what the future will look like, especially if you dig in and you realize that there’s actually a lot that we don’t understand,” he said.</p>



<p>One key factor will be figuring out how to distinguish between "dry lightning" and "wet lightning." Dry lightning happens without much rain, making it a fire hazard. </p>



<p>Wet lightning brings <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heavy-rainfall-poses-extreme-risks-in-the-western-us/">heavy rain</a>, which can reduce fire risk but increase flood danger. Understanding that difference could help emergency services respond more precisely to fire threats.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wildfire-risks-are-rising-fast">Wildfire risks are rising fast</h2>



<p>As climate patterns shift, the West isn’t just getting warmer and drier - it’s getting stormier in a dangerous way. Lightning is expected to spark more fires, and fires are expected to find more dry fuel waiting. It’s a feedback loop that could reshape fire seasons in the U.S.</p>



<p>This isn’t about something that might happen a hundred years from now. The changes are coming within the next few decades - some may already be happening. </p>



<p>And for the people living in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/double-hazard-wildfire-zones-identified-in-the-american-west/">high-risk areas</a>, that means more heat, more smoke, and a greater need for preparation.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2025EF006108" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth's Future</a></em>.</p>



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



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Lightning will ignite even more wildfires as the climate heats up

Wildfires in the western U.S. have become a growing crisis. They’re lasting longer, burning hotter, and spreading into areas that rarely burned in the past. But another danger is rising, beyond heatwaves and droughts. Lightning - sudden, fierce, and incredibly powerful - is becoming one of the biggest wildfire risks. In the coming decades, scientists warn that lightning will become an increasingly dominant spark for wildfires, adding to the already mounting risks across the West. Lightning is fueling more wildfires Wildfires need a few things to get...

Davy,Sound,On,The,Coast,Of,Northeast,Greenland.

<p>The 79° N Glacier in northeast <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/evidence-of-a-greener-greenland-reveals-shocking-reality-of-sea-level-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greenland</a>, is showcasing alarming signs of climate change with dramatic ice loss. Researchers at the <a href="https://www.awi.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alfred Wegener Institute</a> have observed dramatic glacier thinning, with a loss of over 160 meters (525 feet) since 1998.</p>



<p>This rapid decline is attributed to warm ocean currents eroding the glacier from beneath and elevated air temperatures forming surface lakes. These lakes intensify the melt as their waters drain through vast channels in the ice into the ocean. </p>



<p>Remarkably, one such channel found was 500 meters (1,640 feet) tall, standing under ice that was just 190 meters (624 feet) thick, starkly highlighting climate change's impact on this crucial glacier.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-the-79-n-glacier-in-greenland">Studying the 79° N Glacier in Greenland</h2>



<p>AWI scientists have conducted extensive research in this remote area of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-transformation-ice-melt-plant-growth-vegetation-cascading-effects/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greenland</a>, establishing a base camp for operations. They used helicopters to deploy autonomous measuring devices to the glacier's most inaccessible parts.</p>



<p>Subsequently, ground, aircraft radar, and satellite data have informed a study in <em>The Cryosphere</em> journal, exploring the glacier's condition and how global warming impacts ice tongue stability. These findings are crucial for predicting the future of ice shelves in both <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-absorbs-more-methane-than-it-emits-surprising-scientists/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greenland</a> and Antarctica.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-glacial-melt-dynamics">Understanding glacial melt dynamics</h2>



<p>Dr. Ole Zeising, an AWI glaciologist and study's lead author, described their approach.</p>



<p>“Since 2016, we have been using autonomous instruments to carry out radar measurements on the 79° N-Glacier, from which we can determine melt and thinning rates," Zeising explained. </p>



<p>“In addition, we used aircraft radar data from 1998, 2018 and 2021 showing changes in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-ice-shelves-have-lost-over-35-percent-of-their-volume/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ice thickness</a>. We were able to measure that the 79° N-Glacier has changed significantly in recent decades under the influence of global warming," he concluded.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-warm-ocean-currents-and-atmospheric-conditions">Warm ocean currents and atmospheric conditions</h2>



<p>The study highlights the drastic effects of warm <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/atlantic-ocean-currents-slowing-as-water-temperature-rises/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean currents</a> and atmospheric warming on the glacier's ice tongue. </p>



<p>It reveals high melt rates and the emergence of large channels beneath the ice, likely resulting from lake water draining through the glacier. Consequently, the glacier has significantly thinned over recent decades.</p>



<p>Interestingly, melt rates have declined since 2018, possibly from cooler ocean currents, highlighting glacier sensitivity to environmental shifts. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preparing-for-the-collapse">Preparing for the collapse</h2>



<p>Prof. Dr. Angelika Humbert noted the glacier's unusually quick adaptation to these changes. Consequently, she emphasized the complexity of glacier dynamics.</p>



<p>“We expect that this floating glacier tongue will break apart over the next few years to decades. We have begun to study this process in detail to gain maximum insight into the course of the process," explained Humbert. </p>



<p>"Although there have been several such disintegrations of ice shelves, we have only been able to collect data subsequently. As a scientific community, we are now in a better position by having built up a really good database before the collapse," she concluded.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-future-holds-for-greenland-s-79-n-glacier">What the future holds for Greenland's 79° N Glacier</h2>



<p>Looking ahead, scientists predict that <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/mysterious-arc-joins-ice-on-a-fjord-in-western-greenland/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greenland</a>'s 79° N Glacier's floating tongue may break apart in the coming years or decades. </p>



<p>This study seeks to understand ice shelf disintegration dynamics, historically challenging to study in real-time. </p>



<p>Creating a comprehensive database beforehand will better prepare scientists to grasp and potentially mitigate the consequences of these environmental shifts.</p>



<p>The situation of the 79° N Glacier serves as a critical wake-up call regarding the urgent need to address climate change. It highlights the interconnectedness of our planet's systems. </p>



<p>Additionally, it underscores the profound impacts human activity can have on even the most remote and seemingly stable natural structures.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-greenland-s-79-n-glacier">More about Greenland’s 79° N Glacier</h2>



<p>As discussed above, the 79° N Glacier, also known as Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden Glacier, stands as a sentinel at the frontier of climate research and glacial study. </p>



<p>This glacier, remarkable both for its size and its significance to the Arctic environment, continues to draw the attention of scientists and environmentalists around the globe.</p>



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



<p>The 79° N Glacier is a prominent feature of Greenland's northeastern coast. It flows directly into the Arctic Ocean, making it one of the largest glaciers contributing to the North Atlantic's icebergs. </p>



<p>Along with its neighbor, the Zachariae Isstrom, it forms a critical part of the Greenland ice sheet's dynamics, playing a significant role in global sea-level rise projections.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-indicator">Climate change indicator</h3>



<p>As an active indicator of climate change, the 79° N Glacier has been under intense scrutiny. Scientists monitor its ice flow rates, melt patterns, and calving events to understand better the impacts of global warming on polar ice masses. </p>



<p>Recent studies, like the one discussed previously by AWI, have shown accelerated ice loss from this glacier, signaling significant environmental transformations in the Arctic.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-research-and-exploration">Research and exploration</h3>



<p>The glacier is a hub for cutting-edge research and exploration. Teams from various international institutions embark on expeditions to drill ice cores, deploy satellite technology, and use underwater robotics to study the glacier's behavior and its contribution to global sea level rise. These efforts are crucial for predicting future changes and developing strategies to mitigate climate impacts.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-of-greenland-s-79-n-glacier">Conservation of Greenland's 79° N Glacier</h3>



<p>The 79° N Glacier in Greenland is a critical piece of the puzzle in understanding global climate dynamics. Through the continued efforts of the scientific community, the glacier serves as both a barometer for the changing climate and a beacon for action against the global challenge of climate change. </p>



<p>As we move forward, the story of the 79° N Glacier will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping our approach to environmental preservation and our understanding of the Earth's delicate balance.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/18/1333/2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Cryosphere</a>.</p>



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



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

Another massive Greenland glacier is rapidly melting

The 79° N Glacier in northeast Greenland, is showcasing alarming...

Io,Moth,Male

<p>The alarming rate at which insects are disappearing from our environment, especially urban areas, has become a critical concern. This catastrophic phenomenon is unfolding so swiftly it outpaces scientific study.</p>



<p>This urgency is underscored by the complexity of <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/are-insects-animals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">insect life cycles</a>, including stages such as eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults, raising questions about whether all stages are declining at the same pace. Until recently, a comprehensive investigation into this matter was scarce.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-insect-population-decline-in-urban-areas">Studying insect population decline in urban areas</h2>



<p>An alarming study has shed new light on this issue, focusing on the monitoring of both adult and larval stages of moths in an urban, subtropical setting over a year. </p>



<p>This research marks a significant step forward, being the first to analyze multiple life stages of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-insect-decline-what-are-the-causes-and-consequences/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">insects</a> to understand the depth of their declines comprehensively. </p>



<p>Additionally, it's among the few studies that probe insect population dynamics in lower latitudes, areas which are increasingly bearing the brunt of urban expansion and extreme temperatures.</p>



<p>Michael Belitz, the lead author of the study and a researcher at the <a href="https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Florida Museum of Natural History</a> during the investigation, highlighted the criticality of subtropical and tropical environments. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-heat-islands-and-insect-decline">Urban heat islands and insect decline</h2>



<p>These regions not only harbor the highest insect abundance and diversity but are also experiencing the fastest rates of urbanization globally. </p>



<p>Belitz pointed out, "The urban heat island effect in these areas may be especially detrimental to insects," emphasizing the adverse impact of urbanization on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insects-thrive-in-restored-habitats-near-solar-energy-facilities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">insect populations</a>.</p>



<p>Cities, regardless of their geographical location, exacerbate the heat problem. In contrast to natural or rural settings, where a significant portion of sunlight is reflected back into space, urban materials like asphalt and concrete absorb and convert more light into heat. </p>



<p>This phenomenon creates "heat islands" within cities, areas with temperatures up to 7 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than their surroundings, posing a substantial threat to local wildlife, especially in warmer regions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-illuminating-the-plight-of-moths">Illuminating the plight of moths</h2>



<p>Robert Guralnick, co-author and curator of biodiversity informatics at the Florida Museum of Natural History, remarked on the broader implications of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/natures-silent-language-decoding-the-chemical-signals-of-insects/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">insect</a> declines. "There's no doubt that insect declines are a real phenomenon." </p>



<p>He further noted the challenge in pinpointing where these declines are most acute, whether in tropical or temperate regions, emphasizing the need for detailed research across various environments.</p>



<p>The team's innovative approach involved collecting moths from several locations across Alachua County, Florida, with different levels of urban development. </p>



<p>Capturing adult moths proved straightforward, using light sources as lures. However, locating caterpillars was more challenging due to their habitat in the tree canopy and their indifference to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-insects-seem-to-be-attracted-to-light-has-long-been-a-mystery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial light</a>. </p>



<p>Despite these obstacles, the importance of including caterpillars in the study was clear, as Belitz noted, "Caterpillars are an important food source for breeding birds."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-size-matters-the-fate-of-macro-and-micro-moths">Size matters: The fate of macro and micro moths</h2>



<p>To estimate caterpillar abundance, the team utilized an inventive method involving the collection of larval excrement. </p>



<p>By placing funnels with attached jars beneath trees and weighing the collected pellets weekly, they could infer caterpillar population sizes.</p>



<p>After a year of diligent work, over 35,000 moths were collected and categorized as either macro- or micro-moths. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/luna-moth-tails-have-only-one-purpose-evading-bats/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Macro moths</a>, such as luna and io moths, are known for their large wings and ability to travel long distances. </p>



<p>Micro moths, defined in this study as those 10 millimeters or less in length, encompass a vast array of species with cloak-like wings, displaying a bewildering diversity of beiges and browns.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-both-large-and-small-moths-share-a-similar-fate">Both large and small moths share a similar fate</h2>



<p>Both large and small <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-ermine-moths-effortlessly-produce-ultrasonic-warning-sounds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">moths</a> face declines, but not in the ways previously thought. Larger moths, once believed to be better at navigating urban challenges due to their ability to travel greater distances, are actually at a disadvantage. </p>



<p>The research found that larger moths fared worse in urban areas compared to their smaller counterparts, contradicting earlier findings from a study in Belgium. </p>



<p>According to lead researcher Michael Belitz, the discrepancy likely stems from the difference in climate between temperate Europe and subtropical Florida, with larger moths in warmer climates expending more energy to cool down. </p>



<p>This observation extends to other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/understanding-how-insects-distinguish-between-sugars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">insects</a>, suggesting a broader pattern where urbanization favors smaller body sizes due to reduced metabolic stress.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diet-may-be-the-key-to-urban-insect-survival">Diet may be the key to urban insect survival</h2>



<p>The diet of moths also plays a crucial role in their urban survival. Moths that feed on a variety of plants are more adaptable to city life than those with specialized diets, which quickly decline with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/city-moths-develop-smaller-wings-survive-light-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">urban development</a>. This adaptability underscores the importance of dietary diversity for survival in changing environments.</p>



<p>Despite focusing on protected areas, the study observed significant declines in moth populations, indicating that even these spaces are not immune to the impacts of urbanization. </p>



<p>Robert Guralnick, a co-researcher, pointed out the misconception that city parks, which appear natural, actually host significantly altered communities compared to undisturbed wildlife areas. </p>



<p>“You might think that you’re looking at a natural environment when you walk into a city park, because it looks intact,” Guralnick said. “The truth is, what you see is a completely different community than those that exist in places like wildlife management areas.”</p>



<p>The findings are particularly alarming considering they come from Alachua County, a region in Florida less urbanized than many others, hinting at the widespread nature of biodiversity loss.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-and-conservation-efforts">Implications and conservation efforts</h2>



<p>The situation, however, is not beyond hope. Belitz emphasizes the potential for urban and suburban areas to support <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/butterfly-genome-has-barely-changed-after-250-million-years-of-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">moth populations</a> through conscious efforts to enhance their habitats. </p>



<p>Planting native vegetation can attract and sustain a variety of pollinators, including moths, thereby increasing biodiversity. </p>



<p>Additionally, reducing light pollution, which disorients and endangers moths and other nocturnal insects, presents a simple yet effective way to support these vital members of the ecosystem.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insects-moths-and-humans-coexisting-in-urban-areas">Insects, moths and humans coexisting in urban areas</h2>



<p>In summary, this study unveils the stark reality of declining insect populations, especially moths, in urban environments, revealing how the relentless march of urbanization and the ensuing heat islands pose significant threats to insect biodiversity. </p>



<p>By meticulously examining both the adult and larval stages of moths, the research offers unprecedented insights into the challenges these creatures face, from the subtropical climates of Florida to the urban heat traps of cities worldwide. </p>



<p>Yet, amidst the alarming findings lies a beacon of hope: the potential for positive human intervention. Through simple actions such as cultivating native plants and minimizing light pollution, we can forge a path towards mitigating the impact of urbanization on moths and other vital insect species, ensuring their survival and the preservation of our planet's intricate web of life.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.17241" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Change Biology</a></em>.</p>



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



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

Insects are disappearing from urban areas at a disturbingly rapid rate

The alarming rate at which insects are disappearing from our...

<p>In a stark announcement, researchers from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (<a href="https://www.nioz.nl/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NIOZ</a>) have sounded the alarm on an escalating problem in our oceans -- the growth of "<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dead-zone-arabian-sea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dead zones</a>." These regions of critically low oxygen create marine ecosystems unable to support most forms of life. </p>



<p>Recent study reveals that a major culprit driving dead zone expansion is a worrying trend: excess nutrients entering the ocean.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-ocean-dead-zones">What are ocean dead zones?</h2>



<p>Ocean dead zones are areas in the ocean where the oxygen levels are so low that most marine life cannot survive. These zones are also known as hypoxic areas. </p>



<p>Oxygen is essential for the survival of fish, shellfish, and other marine organisms. Without enough oxygen, these creatures either die, move to other areas, or face significant reproductive and health issues.</p>



<p>The size and number of oceanic dead zones have been increasing globally, posing a significant threat to marine ecosystems. </p>



<p>These areas can have devastating effects on marine biodiversity and fisheries, impacting food security and economies dependent on marine resources. </p>



<p>Reducing nutrient pollution from agriculture, wastewater treatment, and other sources is critical to addressing the expansion of dead zones.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-excess-nutrients-and-ocean-dead-zones">Excess nutrients and ocean dead zones</h2>



<p>Zoe van Kemenade, a researcher at NIOZ, and her team have been peering into the ocean's past off the coast of California. They found that while climate change contributes to the problem, a much more sinister force is at work: excess nutrients.</p>



<p>But wait, aren't nutrients good? Well, in moderation. Our overuse of fertilizers in agriculture, along with pollutants from sewage, create a nutrient overload that flows into rivers and eventually to the sea. In the water, it's like a giant buffet for algae. </p>



<p>This leads to massive algae blooms, but when these huge clumps of algae die, bacteria feast on them. This decaying process gobbles up oxygen, leaving a suffocating wasteland behind.</p>



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



<p>At the heart of this investigation are ladderanes, intriguing molecules that serve as telltale signs of ancient life - or rather, the absence of it in the traditional sense. These molecules are the fingerprints left by anammox bacteria, a group of microorganisms that flourish in environments devoid of oxygen.</p>



<p>Zoë van Kemenade's research brings these microscopic detectives into the spotlight. Anammox bacteria are unique because they can survive and thrive in completely oxygen-free zones by performing a process known as anaerobic ammonium oxidation. </p>



<p>During this process, they produce ladderanes, molecules characterized by their ladder-like structure, which are essential for protecting the bacteria from harmful metabolites produced during their metabolic activities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-history-of-oceanic-dead-zones">History of oceanic dead zones</h2>



<p>The discovery of ladderanes in seabed samples is a significant indicator of past <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-atlantic-ocean-may-soon-enter-its-declining-phase/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oceanic</a> conditions. These molecules are evidence of environmental conditions that once pervaded the Earth's oceans. </p>



<p>The presence of ladderanes in ancient sediment layers points to periods when parts of the ocean were so devoid of oxygen that only specialized life forms like anammox bacteria could exist.</p>



<p>By analyzing these molecules, scientists can piece together a history of the ocean's oxygen levels such as how and when these dead zones occurred. </p>



<p>This provides a crucial understanding of the impact of factors contributing to the current expansion of oceanic dead zones. </p>



<p>Through the lens of ladderanes, we gain a clearer view of the ocean's ancient mysteries. The revelations illuminate a critical and somewhat counterintuitive aspect of marine science. One might intuitively assume that ice ages would make oceans less susceptible to oxygen <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/good-news-ocean-oxygen-loss-may-ultimately-reverse/">depletion</a>. </p>



<p>However, Van Kemenade's findings shatter this assumption. They reveal a complex interplay between temperature, nutrient levels, and marine oxygen content that defies simple predictions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-significance">Study significance</h2>



<p>This discovery underscores a vital point: while temperature plays a role in ocean oxygen levels, an abundance of nutrients in the water can be an even more potent driver of these devastating dead zones. </p>



<p>Nutrients, often stemming from land-based runoff containing nitrogen and phosphorus, fuel explosive blooms of algae. </p>



<p>As these algae die and sink to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-induced-changes-in-ocean-salinity-threaten-biodiversity-and-marine-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean</a> depths, their bacterial decomposition becomes an oxygen-hungry process, ultimately creating the hypoxic or anoxic conditions that define a dead zone.</p>



<p>The implications of Van Kemenade's findings are weighty, especially in the context of our modern oceans. The chilling fact that our oceans hold two percent less oxygen than just fifty years ago highlights the urgency of this issue. </p>



<p>This decline isn't a mere historical footnote; it's a crisis <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/red-tides-and-dead-zones-threaten-floridas-west-coast/">unfolding</a> before our eyes, with potentially disastrous consequences for marine ecosystems and the biodiversity they harbor. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-can-we-do-about-the-ocean-dead-zones">What can we do about the ocean dead zones?</h2>



<p>Right now, the massive amounts of nutrients we're dumping into the oceans are supercharging dead zones. But the good news? This is a problem we have the power to fix, at least in part.  </p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p>"Extra nutrients in the water can cause major problems for ocean biodiversity. Oxygen-less conditions can have major consequences for the ecosystem, but also for fisheries, for example," said Van Kemenade.</p>
</blockquote>



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



<p>One actionable step is to support agriculture that prioritizes the health of the ecosystem. By choosing products from farmers who engage in organic or regenerative farming practices, consumers can play a role in reducing the amount of fertilizer runoff that enters our waterways. </p>



<p>These practices not only minimize nutrient pollution but also enhance soil health, carbon sequestration, and water retention.</p>



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



<p>Personal care products are another unexpected source of nutrient pollution. Many of these products contain ingredients that, when washed down the drain, contribute to the nutrient load in water bodies. </p>



<p>Opting for eco-friendly alternatives that are biodegradable and free from harmful additives can significantly reduce this impact.</p>



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



<p>Civic engagement is crucial in advocating for healthier oceans. Supporting organizations dedicated to protecting waterways, promoting sustainable practices, and lobbying for stricter regulations on polluters can amplify efforts to tackle this issue. </p>



<p>Collective action and pressure can lead to the implementation of policies that better manage agricultural runoff, wastewater treatment, and industrial discharges.</p>



<p>It's a daunting challenge, but as this research makes crystal clear, the fate of the oceans – and our own well-being – depends on it.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-1517-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biogeosciences</a>.</p>



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



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Excess nutrients are creating ocean dead zones

In a stark announcement, researchers from the Royal Netherlands Institute...

Macro,Root,Of,Young,Corn,In,Field,And,Texture,Of

<p>As the world grapples with the escalating challenge of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/good-news-plants-are-absorbing-more-human-produced-co2-than-expected/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>, exacerbated by worsening global drought conditions that threaten crop production, scientists have been fervently searching for innovative solutions to mitigate these effects. Focusing on plant roots may be the solution.</p>



<p>An intriguing development comes from researchers at <a href="https://www.psu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Penn State</a>, who have unveiled a new technology poised to revolutionize the resilience of crops to drought, enhance their nitrogen absorption, and facilitate deeper carbon storage in the soil.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-examining-plant-roots-with-x-rays">Examining plant roots with x-rays</h2>



<p>Their pioneering research introduces a novel approach for estimating the depth of plant roots through the utilization of <a href="https://serc.carleton.edu/research_education/geochemsheets/techniques/XRF.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">X-ray fluorescence</a> spectroscopy. </p>



<p>This technique involves scanning the leaves to detect specific chemical elements, revealing a direct correlation between the elemental composition of the foliage and the root depth. </p>



<p>The significance of this lies in the roots' ability to absorb elements at varying soil depths, providing a non-invasive method to gauge their reach.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deeper-plant-roots-are-more-drought-tolerant">Deeper plant roots are more drought tolerant</h2>



<p><a href="https://plantscience.psu.edu/directory/jpl4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jonathan Lynch</a>, a distinguished professor of plant science at the <a href="https://agsci.psu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">College of Agricultural Sciences</a> and the research team leader, explains the transformative potential of this technology. </p>



<p>“We've known about the benefits of deeper rooting crops for a long time -- they are more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-drought-crisis-un-warns-of-unprecedented-emergency/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">drought tolerant</a> and have an enhanced ability to take up nitrogen, which tends to move deep with water -- but the problem has been how to measure root depth in the field,” Lynch explained. </p>



<p>“To breed deeper-rooted crops, you need to look at thousands of plants. Digging them up is expensive and time consuming because some of those roots are down two meters or more. Everybody wants deep-rooted crops -- but until now, we didn’t know how to get them," he continued.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-benefits-of-deep-root-systems">Environmental benefits of deep root systems</h2>



<p>However, the challenge has always been in the measurement of root depth, a crucial step in breeding such crops. Lynch further highlights the environmental benefits of deeper-rooting systems, noting their capacity for more effective carbon storage in soil, thereby contributing to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flowers-blooming-92-days-earlier-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a> mitigation. </p>



<p>“Having deeper roots means that carbon the plants get from photosynthesis is stored down deeper in the soil when they build roots. And the deeper carbon is put in the soil, the longer it stays in the soil,” Lynch said. </p>



<p>“The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that just having deep-rooted crops in America alone could offset years of our total carbon emissions. That’s huge -- think about all the acres growing crops in America. If those roots grow just a little bit deeper, then we’re storing massive amounts of carbon deeper in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/electronic-soil-boosts-crop-growth-by-over-50/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">soil</a>," he concluded.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-follow-the-leader">Follow the LEADER</h2>



<p>The development of this method, named LEADER (Leaf Element Accumulation from DEep Root), is the result of six years of intensive research, including the collection and analysis of over 2,000 soil core samples from four research sites across the United States. </p>



<p>Molly Hanlon, a key figure in this study and now a senior research scientist, describes the process of growing genetically distinct lines of corn across various research stations. </p>



<p>Through the LEADER method, researchers successfully identified plots with the deepest root lengths with high accuracy, marking a significant advancement in soil science.</p>



<p>Hanlon explains that the LEADER method leverages the natural variance in soil's biological, physical, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/beneficial-plant-bacteria-likely-to-decline-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chemical properties</a> across different layers, allowing plant roots to act as indicators of their own depth. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-transforming-crop-cultivation-in-a-warming-world">Transforming crop cultivation in a warming world</h2>



<p>By analyzing the foliar accumulation of naturally occurring soil elements, as well as using tracers like strontium for more controlled experiments, the team was able to estimate root depth with remarkable precision.</p>



<p>While the initial study focused on corn due to its global significance as a food, feed, biofuel, and industrial material, Lynch is optimistic about the method's broader applications. </p>



<p>He envisions the LEADER technology being adapted for a wide range of plant species and soil types, highlighting its potential to fundamentally enhance crop resilience, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drying-without-dying-desert-moss-holds-the-key-to-drought-tolerance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">water and nutrient efficiency</a>, and contribute to the long-term storage of soil carbon.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-roots-playing-a-role-in-climate-change-mitigation">Plant roots playing a role in climate change mitigation</h2>



<p>In summary, the innovative research spearheaded by Penn State marks a significant leap forward in agricultural science. Their study offers a promising solution to the dual challenges of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-salinity-disrupts-the-development-of-wheat-seedlings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crop resilience</a> and climate change mitigation. </p>



<p>By unlocking the potential of deeper-rooting crops through the LEADER method, this new technology promises to revolutionize the way we understand and cultivate our food sources. At the same time, it provides substantial environmental benefits, from improved drought tolerance to enhanced carbon sequestration in soil. </p>



<p>As we stand at the precipice of a new era in crop production, this pioneering work serves as a testament to the power of scientific innovation in fostering a more sustainable and resilient future for our planet.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-plant-roots">More about plant roots</h2>



<p>As discussed above, plant roots play a pivotal role in the survival and prosperity of plants. They serve multiple vital functions, from absorbing water and nutrients to anchoring plants firmly in the ground.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-types-of-roots">Types of roots</h3>



<p><strong>Taproots</strong>: Characterized by a single, dominant root from which smaller, lateral roots branch out, taproots penetrate deeply into the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/understanding-how-soil-sequesters-carbon-from-the-atmosphere/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">soil</a>. This deep-rooted system, exemplified by carrots and dandelions, helps plants access water from deeper soil layers and securely anchor themselves.</p>



<p><strong>Fibrous Roots</strong>: Fibrous root systems, consisting of a dense network of similarly sized roots, spread out just below the soil surface. Grasses and many flowering plants exhibit this root type, which excels in preventing soil erosion and rapidly absorbing moisture and nutrients from the topsoil.</p>



<p><strong>Adventitious Roots</strong>: Adventitious roots sprout from unexpected parts of the plant, such as stems or leaves, often in response to stress or injury. They play a crucial role in vegetative propagation and can help plants survive in challenging conditions. Examples include the aerial roots of orchids and the prop roots of mangroves.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-functions-of-plant-roots">Functions of plant roots</h3>



<p><strong>Water and Nutrient Absorption</strong>: Roots tirelessly work to absorb water and dissolved minerals from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-erosion-rates-have-exploded-in-the-midwestern-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">soil</a>, transporting them to the rest of the plant. This absorption occurs primarily through root hairs, tiny extensions that increase the root's surface area and efficiency in nutrient uptake.</p>



<p><strong>Anchorage and Support</strong>: Roots anchor plants to the ground, offering stability and support. This anchoring capability is crucial for plants to withstand various external forces, such as wind and rain, and support their growth upwards towards the light.</p>



<p><strong>Storage of Nutrients</strong>: Many roots also serve as storage sites for nutrients and carbohydrates, which plants can utilize during periods of scarcity. Tubers and bulbs are examples of roots modified for storage, providing plants with the resources they need to survive adverse conditions.</p>



<p><strong>Hormone Production</strong>: Roots are involved in hormone production, particularly auxins, which play a significant role in plant growth and development. These hormones help regulate various plant processes, including cell division and growth, ensuring healthy plant development.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance-of-plant-roots-in-the-ecosystem">Importance of plant roots in the ecosystem</h3>



<p>Roots not only support plant life but also play a crucial role in the ecosystem. They help maintain soil structure, prevent erosion, and foster microbial communities essential for soil health. </p>



<p>Moreover, roots contribute to the carbon cycle by storing carbon dioxide, thus playing a part in climate regulation.</p>



<p>In summary, the intricate world of plant roots is a testament to the complexity and resilience of plant life. As the foundation of plants, roots perform essential functions that not only ensure the survival of individual plants but also support broader ecological balance. </p>



<p>Understanding the diversity and roles of roots can deepen our appreciation for these vital, yet often overlooked, components of the natural world.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/csc2.21149" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crop Science</a></em>.</p>



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



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Measuring plant root health by scanning leaves with X-ray device

As the world grapples with the escalating challenge of climate...

Structure,Core,Earth.,Structure,Layers,Of,The,Earth.,The,Structure

<p>In the global pursuit of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-worlds-renewable-energy-capacity-will-take-a-record-leap-this-year/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sustainable energy</a> solutions, the availability of essential metals plays a pivotal role. The components of batteries, solar panels, electric vehicles, and other 'green' technologies rely heavily on these critical elements. </p>



<p>Yet, as demand for these metals soars, traditional methods of mineral exploration are increasingly strained to meet such needs. </p>



<p>A recent study led by Dr. Isra Ezad at <a href="https://www.mq.edu.au/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=localseo&amp;utm_campaign=localplaces" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Macquarie University</a> offers new hope, suggesting that the Earth's mantle could hold a wealth of "green metals."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carbonate-melts">Carbonate melts</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-ancient-breath-study-links-atmospheric-oxygen-and-mantle-chemistry/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth's mantle</a>, the vast layer beneath the crust, is predominantly composed of silicate rocks. However, in certain regions, trace amounts of carbon and water induce melting at lower temperatures. </p>



<p>These specialized molten mixtures, termed carbonate melts, possess distinct chemical properties that make them unexpectedly effective at concentrating valuable metals.</p>



<p>Dr. Ezad's team sought to understand exactly how carbonate melts extract and transport metals from the surrounding mantle rocks. The researchers precisely replicated the Earth's deep, high-pressure, and high-temperature conditions. They observed that under these conditions, carbonate melts become exceptional solvents. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discovering-green-metals">Discovering green metals</h2>



<p>The researchers mimicked the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earthquakes-tear-earths-mantle-tibet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mantle environment</a> using specialized experimental apparatus designed to generate immense pressures. They started with two types of natural mantle compositions: mica pyroxenite, a rock type rich in mica minerals from western Uganda, and fertile spinel lherzolite, characterized by the mineral spinel from Cameroon.</p>



<p>"We knew that carbonate melts carried rare earth elements, but this research goes further," said Dr. Ezad. "We show this molten rock contains carbon takes up sulfur in its oxidized form, while also dissolving precious and base metals -- ‘green’ metals of the future -- extracted from the mantle.”</p>



<p>The team stumbled upon an unexpected finding. Initially, they found that sulfur, especially in its oxidized state, is key to the process. This form of sulfur significantly improves how carbonate melts can gather metals. </p>



<p>These melts become more efficient at dissolving and holding onto <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-mantle-jackson-pollock-painting/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">various metals</a>. This includes metals that are critical for green technology. Thus, sulfur's role is essential in sourcing materials for sustainable innovations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-ore-deposits">Implications for Ore Deposits </h2>



<p>These findings have profound implications for the field of ore deposit formation. As carbonate melts enriched with metals ascend from the mantle towards the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-ancient-ocean-floor-surrounds-the-earths-core/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth's crust</a>, geological processes can lead to cooling and crystallization. </p>



<p>This can result in the localized concentration of metals, forming the valuable ore deposits that mining companies pursue. </p>



<p>"This study indicates that tracking carbonate melts could give us a better understanding of large-scale <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-interior-is-cooling-faster-than-previously-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">metal redistribution</a> and ore formation processes over Earth's history," noted Dr. Ezad.</p>



<p>These processes occur over vast geological time scales, but the results can produce different types of ore deposits relevant to modern mining.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-green-metals">The future of green metals</h2>



<p>The research has the potential to transform exploration strategies as we seek to secure sustainable sources of metals for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bamboo-plants-shows-great-potential-to-become-the-next-big-renewable-energy-source/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">renewable energy</a> technologies. </p>



<p>"As the world transitions away from fossil fuels to battery, wind and solar technology, the demand for these essential metals is skyrocketing, and it’s becoming harder to find reliable sources," said Dr. Ezad. </p>



<p>"This new data provides us with a mineral exploration space previously not considered for base and precious metals -- deposits from carbonate melts." </p>



<p>This is particularly important because metals like nickel and cobalt are crucial for large-scale batteries, and the renewable power sector will require massive amounts of these elements.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-hidden-within-the-earth-s-interior">Potential hidden within the Earth's interior</h2>



<p>Though traditional mineral exploration often focuses on near-surface deposits, the study underscores the potential hidden within the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/theia-ancient-planet-buried-inside-of-earth-may-be-the-origin-of-our-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth's interior</a>. </p>



<p>Understanding the dynamics of carbonate melts and their role in transporting metals could pave the way for targeted, more efficient exploration strategies. </p>



<p>The findings serve as a reminder of the complex and interconnected processes at play within our planet, and how unraveling these secrets may be essential in ensuring a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/game-changing-invention-converts-both-co2-and-plastic-waste-into-renewable-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sustainable</a> future.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-green-metals">More about green metals</h2>



<p>In the quest for sustainability and environmental preservation, the spotlight has turned towards "green metals." As discussed above, these metals, essential for the advancement of green technologies, play a pivotal role in reducing our carbon footprint and fostering a sustainable future.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-defining-green-metals">Defining green metals</h3>



<p>Green metals refer to metals and minerals used extensively in renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles (EVs), and other applications that contribute to a lower carbon economy. These include, but are not limited to, copper, lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements. </p>



<p>The 'green' in green metals signifies their critical role in environmentally friendly and sustainable applications, rather than their actual color or extraction methods being inherently green.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-roles-of-copper-and-nickel">Key roles of copper and nickel</h3>



<p>Copper stands out as a cornerstone of green metals due to its excellent electrical conductivity. It is crucial in the production of wind turbines, solar panels, and the infrastructure required for transmitting renewable energy. As the demand for renewable energy sources skyrockets, so does the need for copper, making its role in the green transition indispensable.</p>



<p>Nickel, with its high energy density, is becoming increasingly important for battery production, especially for electric vehicles and large storage systems. Its role in the battery industry is crucial for enhancing the performance and capacity of lithium-ion batteries, making EVs more efficient and competitive with traditional vehicles.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lithium-cobalt-and-rare-earth-elements-rees">Lithium, cobalt and Rare Earth Elements (REEs)</h3>



<p>The surge in electric vehicle production has escalated the demand for lithium and cobalt, essential components of lithium-ion batteries. These batteries power not only EVs but also storage solutions for renewable energy, making lithium and cobalt critical in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and cutting down CO2 emissions.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rare-earth-elements-are-waiting-to-be-discovered-in-waste/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rare Earth Elements</a> (REEs) are key components in the manufacture of magnets used in wind turbines and electric motors. Despite their name, REEs are relatively abundant but require <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-can-help-sustainably-extract-rare-earth-elements/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">complex processing</a> to be extracted and used, making their supply chain a critical consideration for green technology industries.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-and-solutions-for-the-future-of-green-metals">Challenges and solutions for the future of green metals</h3>



<p>While the demand for green metals is a positive sign of a shift towards a more sustainable future, it also brings challenges, including the environmental impact of mining and the need for responsible sourcing. </p>



<p>Innovations in recycling green metals from used technology and developing more sustainable mining practices are crucial steps towards mitigating these challenges.</p>



<p>In summary, green metals are at the heart of the transition to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. Their role in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and other green technologies is undeniable. </p>



<p>As we advance, the focus must be on increasing the supply of these essential materials while also ensuring their production and use are as sustainable as the technologies they support. Through innovation, responsible sourcing, and recycling, the path to a sustainable future becomes clearer and more attainable.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adk5979" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>. </p>



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



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Earth's mantle may contain a wealth of "green metals"

In the global pursuit of sustainable energy solutions, the availability...

<p>California is synonymous with sunshine and abundance – its fertile soil and ideal climate make it the nation's agricultural breadbasket. Here, over a third of the country's vegetables and nearly three-quarters of fruits and nuts are grown. Yet, a water crisis looms in California. </p>



<p>Declining groundwater levels, exacerbated by a changing climate, threaten the very foundation of this agricultural powerhouse. Drastic measures might be needed – but could smarter farming practices help avoid the worst?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-california-agriculture-and-water-use">California agriculture and water use</h2>



<p>California's farms are thirsty, consuming a staggering 80 percent of the state's water used by homes and businesses. As groundwater supplies dwindle, the state is taking action. The 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (<a href="https://water.ca.gov/programs/groundwater-management/sgma-groundwater-management" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SGMA</a>) aims to make all groundwater basins sustainable by 2040. </p>



<p>To achieve this, groundwater use must be reduced by a hefty 20-50% – a daunting task for a state so reliant on agriculture.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-water-usage-pattern-in-california">Water usage pattern in California</h2>



<p>A recent study out of <a href="https://www.ucsb.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC Santa Barbara</a> sheds light on a potential path forward. Researchers combined remote sensing data, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/could-artificially-intelligent-machines-take-over-food-production/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">machine learning</a>, and a whole lot of data to pinpoint water usage patterns in California's Central Valley. </p>



<p>Their surprising conclusion? Smaller changes in farming practices could have the same water-saving impact as more drastic measures like switching crops or leaving fields unplanted.</p>



<p>"There's an opportunity for less obtrusive methods of saving water to be more important than we originally thought," revealed Anna Boser, the study's lead author.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-s-not-what-you-grow-but-how-you-grow-it">It's not <em>what</em> you grow, but how you grow it</h2>



<p>We often assume that certain crops require more water than others. This idea leads to the belief that water conservation in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insect-farming-could-have-huge-benefits-for-soil-fertility-and-crop-production/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">agriculture</a> means either switching crops or leaving fields fallow. However, the recent study reveals that the way farmers manage their land has a huge impact on water usage.</p>



<p>The California study found that bringing the practices of the top 50% of water-using farms down to the average level of their neighbors could save a whopping 10% of the water used by crops. Incredibly, these practice-based savings could rival the water conserved by fallowing the 5% most water-intensive fields.</p>



<p>This changes everything. It means solutions might be less about forcing farmers to make drastic land changes and more about empowering them to use water smarter. </p>



<p>Optimizing farming techniques holds the potential to make a massive difference in water conservation without the potentially negative social and economic effects of switching crops or taking land out of production.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smarter-practices">Smarter practices</h2>



<p>What are these magic practices? They might not be so glamorous but they work:</p>



<ul>
<li>Mulching:&nbsp;Covering the soil with materials like wood chips or straw reduces evaporation, keeping moisture where the plants need it.</li>



<li>No-till planting:&nbsp;Leaving crop residue on the ground after harvest acts like a natural mulch, conserving moisture and improving soil health.</li>



<li>Drought-tolerant varietals:&nbsp;Choosing plant varieties bred to thrive on less water makes a big difference.</li>



<li>Deficit irrigation:&nbsp;Sometimes, giving a crop a bit less water than it technically 'needs' can save water without harming yields - or even improve crop quality, as is seen in some vineyards.</li>



<li>Precision irrigation:&nbsp;Technologies like soil moisture sensors and drip irrigation systems help target water directly to the roots, minimizing waste.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-irrigation-efficiency">Irrigation efficiency</h2>



<p>Yet, a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-costs-of-organic-farming-wildlife-may-struggle-through-the-transition/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">farm</a> might lose up to 60% of its applied water before it gets to the plant roots. This loss can happen through leaky irrigation systems, water evaporating during transport, and weeds using the water instead.</p>



<p>Making improvements to irrigation systems could help. Adopting efficient watering techniques, such as drip irrigation, can also make a big difference. Drip irrigation sends water straight to where plants need it most: their roots. This approach can significantly cut down on water waste.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-working-with-nature-not-against-it">Working with nature, not against it</h2>



<p>California's water crisis won't be solved with a single silver bullet. Yet, this study offers a beacon of hope, as co-author Tamma Carleton explained: "This raises the possibility that the state can continue its role as an agricultural powerhouse while also sustainably managing an essential natural resource."</p>



<p>Through a combination of smarter <a href="https://www.earth.com/search-results/?search=farming&amp;start=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">farming practices</a>, better irrigation technologies, and the potential for some crop switching or land fallowing where necessary, California's farms have a fighting chance to navigate this crisis. </p>



<p>It's a testament to the idea that by understanding and working with nature, we can find ways to both feed ourselves and safeguard a precious resource.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46031-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.</p>



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



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California's farms have a good chance of navigating the water crisis

California is synonymous with sunshine and abundance – its fertile...

<p>Honey bees are synonymous with sweetness and buzzing energy. They're also the backbone of our food system, pollinating everything from almonds to zucchini. But recent research reveals a sting in the tail: climate change is making life tougher for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-is-causing-honey-bee-colony-collapse-in-the-u-s/">honey bees</a>. </p>



<p>Longer, warmer falls could push colonies to the brink, raising the risk of springtime collapse. Is there a solution? Believe it or not, cold storage might be the answer.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-honey-bees-and-changing-climate">Honey bees and changing climate</h2>



<p>Honey bees are temperature-driven creatures. When the mercury tops 50 degrees Fahrenheit, they're off and flying. Their winter survival strategy is brilliantly simple: huddle as a colony in the hive, living off their honey stores. This cozy cluster keeps the hive warm and protects the all-important queen bee.</p>



<p>Come spring, older worker bees resume their foraging flights. Sadly, this is when they naturally start to die off. For the hive to thrive, there must be enough younger <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/honey-bees-are-very-loyal-to-their-flower-patches/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bees</a> hatching out to take their place. </p>



<p>Too many older bees dying before enough replacements emerge, and the whole colony can collapse.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-and-bees-characteristics">Climate change and bees characteristics</h2>



<p>Here's where climate change throws a wrench in the works. Think about those longer, warmer fall seasons we're seeing. What does that mean for our bees? Here's what scientists at <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=Washington+State+University&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Washington State University</a> discovered:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-workaholic-trap">The workaholic trap</h3>



<p>Honey bees possess an admirable work ethic. Their instinct to gather pollen and nectar ensures they'll fly whenever the weather allows, typically above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This dedication serves them well in traditional seasons, ensuring ample food stores and pollination of plants. However, climate change is altering those traditional weather patterns.</p>



<p>With warmer, longer fall seasons, bees keep flying when they'd normally start preparing for winter. This extra activity, unfortunately, takes a toll. Instead of conserving energy, they're shortening their lifespans. In essence, more flying time directly translates to fewer days for each worker bee.</p>



<p>This relentless work cycle, fueled by unseasonable warmth, jeopardizes the entire colony. Worker <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deadly-honey-bee-disease-is-accelerating-across-the-uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bees</a>, the females who tirelessly collect resources, are the backbone of the hive. </p>



<p>When they die off prematurely, the colony suffers. This climate-driven "workaholic trap" could have serious consequences for bee populations as a whole.</p>



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



<p>The impact of this extra fall activity becomes devastatingly clear in the spring. Bee colonies that spend the winter outdoors, especially in areas with significant climate change, may emerge severely weakened. Researchers in the Pacific Northwest, a vital region for beekeeping, have looked closely at how changing conditions might affect bees.</p>



<p>They've built models predicting how colonies might fare out to 2050, and the results are alarming. Simulations show many colonies could see their adult bee populations drop below the critical 5,000 to 9,000 bees needed to function properly. </p>



<p>This includes warming the hive, caring for the young, and the vital task of foraging for food. A colony without enough workers simply cannot sustain itself, dramatically increasing the likelihood of collapse.</p>



<p>This has earned the worrying name "Springtime Crash," and its effects could be far-reaching for both nature and our food supply. Bees are essential pollinators, and their decline poses risks to crops and biodiversity. This research highlights the urgency of finding solutions. </p>



<p>"This is a case where a small amount of warming, even in the near future, will make a big impact on honey bees."&nbsp;explained Kirti Rajagopalan, climate researcher at WSU. The risk is immediate. As climate change progresses, the threat to honey bee colonies will only intensify.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-could-cold-storage-save-bees-from-climate-change">Could cold storage save bees from climate change?</h2>



<p>What if putting bees on ice, literally, could save them? It seems counterintuitive, but storing bee colonies in controlled cold storage during the fall might offer a lifeline to these vital pollinators.</p>



<ul>
<li>Placing hives in cold storage forces the bees to cluster earlier, extending the lifespan of those tireless worker bees.</li>



<li>By the end of the century, simulations showed colonies with fall-to-spring cold storage could boast 15,000+ bees, compared to a dismal 5,000 or less if left outside all winter.</li>
</ul>



<p>Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman, an expert at the <a href="https://www.usda.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">USDA</a>, stated: "Our simulations are showing that even if there is no nutritional stress, no pathogens, no pesticides – just the conditions in fall and winter are enough to compromise the age structure of a colony."</p>



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



<p>Commercial beekeepers are increasingly using cold storage. It helps with logistics (think moving those millions of hives to California for almond pollination) and supports overall bee health. </p>



<p>As Brandon Hopkins, an entomologist at WSU, explained: "A lot of beekeepers are already practicing this management technique of storing bees indoors because it has a lot of immediate potential to help in a number of ways. These findings demonstrate that there are additional benefits to this practice for the survival of colonies in a changing climate."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bee-aware-bee-supportive">Bee aware, bee supportive</h2>



<p>This research highlights how climate change disrupts ecosystems in unexpected ways. Let's remember our little pollinators next time we enjoy the fruits of their labors. Here's how you can help:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-a-bee-friendly-garden">Plant a bee-friendly garden</h3>



<p>Creating a bee-friendly garden is a wonderful way to give back to honey bees and our other buzzing pollinating friends. The idea is as simple as it is powerful: focus on native plants. These are the flowers that local bees and insects have evolved alongside for countless generations. </p>



<p>They're a perfect match, providing the exact type of nectar and pollen needed for these creatures to thrive. Planting a variety that bloom at different times of year is like setting out a delicious buffet for them – a constant source of nourishment.</p>



<p>Think strategically when choosing plants for your bee haven. You want a mix that ensures something's always in bloom. Early spring flowers are vital for those hungry bees waking up from winter, summer blooms keep colonies healthy and strong, and later flowers help them prepare for the colder months ahead. </p>



<p>This colorful, continuous spread of food not only supports bees, but it will attract a dazzling array of pollinators, creating a vibrant, buzzing ecosystem right in your own backyard.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-skip-the-pesticides">Skip the pesticides</h3>



<p>Pesticides meant for garden pests often end up harming bees and other pollinators. Many common garden pesticides are highly toxic to bees, harming their ability to find food, fly back to their hives, and even reproduce. </p>



<p>Worse yet, these chemicals can linger on the very plants they're meant to protect, poisoning the pollen and nectar that bees work so tirelessly to collect. This contamination poisons not just individual bees, but the entire colony.</p>



<p>The damage caused by pesticides is far-reaching and insidious. Without pollinators, the production of many fruits, vegetables, and nuts is impossible. Reduced yields and less variety are the immediate consequences, but it also contributes to biodiversity loss, weakening the entire food chain. </p>



<p>By choosing natural pest control methods, gardeners have the power to safeguard these essential pollinators, ensuring a healthier and more vibrant ecosystem for everyone.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55327-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.</p>



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Honey bee colonies are collapsing as climate change progresses

Honey bees are synonymous with sweetness and buzzing energy. They're...

<p>We all know the phrase "the grass is always greener...", but what if there's literally no greener place to go? That's the reality facing many plant species in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/akara-rare-tropical-storm-develops-off-the-coast-of-brazil/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brazil's</a> Cerrado. They're stuck in a race where the finish line is a mountaintop, and the climate change won't stop chasing them.</p>



<p>But it's not a straightforward disaster – new research shows that the story might be about winners, losers, and a whole lot of uphill battles.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cerrado-plants-and-climate-change">Cerrado plants and climate change</h2>



<p>A new study by scientists from Brazil and Europe has looked at how warming temperatures might force over 7,000 plant species in the Cerrado to move. Plants, like animals, have a geographical range.</p>



<p>This is the area where the temperature, rainfall, and general conditions make it just right for them to survive and grow. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-has-officially-arrived-in-the-black-forest/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Climate change</a> is messing with those perfect conditions, and plants are feeling the heat – literally.</p>



<p>“Every plant and animal species has a ‘geographical range’ – the area where conditions are suitable for it to live,” said Mateus Silva, from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Exeter</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cerrado-ecology">Cerrado ecology</h2>



<p>Think of the Cerrado as a smaller, but no less incredible, cousin to the Amazon rainforest. It's a place packed with roughly 12,000 flowering plant species. From towering trees to delicate orchids, the Cerrado's plants purify the air we breathe, support vast networks of wildlife, and sustain indigenous communities.</p>



<p>Sadly, this ecological treasure chest is under siege. Relentless conversion for agriculture and cattle ranching has eaten away roughly half of the Cerrado. This destruction doesn't just mean lost beauty – it unravels delicately balanced ecosystems, jeopardizes countless species, and disrupts the natural services these landscapes provide, like water cycling and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-has-officially-arrived-in-the-black-forest/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate</a> regulation.</p>



<p>The damage to the Cerrado has consequences far beyond Brazil. As climate change intensifies, preserving biodiverse regions like the Cerrado is becoming increasingly urgent. These complex living systems may hold solutions to problems like excess carbon or degraded soil. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uphill-cerrado-plants-due-to-climate-change">Uphill Cerrado plants due to climate change </h2>



<p>As temperatures rise globally, many plants instinctively seek cooler havens at higher altitudes. “As the climate warms, plants’ ranges are shifting, with many species going uphill,” said study co-author Mateus Silva from the University of Exeter. </p>



<p>This uphill migration reveals nature's resilience – even slow-moving plants adapt to survive. Yet, this strategy has stark limits. Lowland plants may find some refuge uphill, assuming they can move fast enough to keep pace with the changing climate and aren't blocked by human-made obstacles. </p>



<p>But the climb brings a hidden cost: it squeezes those already at higher elevations. Plants on mountaintops have no escape. As temperatures increase, they face a shrinking world with nowhere left to climb.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-outlook-for-2040">The outlook for 2040</h2>



<p>This study paints a concerning picture for the Cerrado's plants. It's estimated that around 150 plant species will be in critical danger by 2040, losing a huge chunk of the area where they can live.</p>



<p>“About half of Cerrado plant species will experience a net range loss due to climate change by 2040,” said Silva. “And more than two thirds (68-73%) of the Cerrado landscapes will see a net loss in species numbers.” </p>



<p>“Virtually the entire Cerrado area will experience some level of species replacement due to climate change, and this will be most intense in highland areas. Meanwhile, lowland areas will have less plant diversity as some species become unable to tolerate the new conditions.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-optimistic-worst-case-scenario">The "optimistic" worst case scenario?</h2>



<p>The scientists call their predictions "optimistic." Why? Because they've only looked at the impact of changing temperatures and rainfall. They haven't yet factored in the Cerrado's terrible habitat destruction or the tangled mess of how one species being affected can have a ripple effect on others.</p>



<p>"The range loss highlighted by our study will be compounded by this habitat loss and fragmentation, which makes it harder for species to move to new areas,” Silva added.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cerrado-ascends-as-climate-changes">Cerrado ascends as climate changes</h2>



<p>The Cerrado's highlands are unique. They aren't like the lowlands, offering cooler temperatures and different conditions. Since those uphill areas are likely refuges, they need special <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/south-americas-largest-savanna/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conservation</a> efforts tailored to their unique needs. </p>



<p>The study looked specifically at the short-term future for a reason – these are the time frames in which conservation efforts could make a real difference.</p>



<p>“It’s also important to note that our study did not examine interactions between species – this complex ecology is also likely to play an important role," said Silva.</p>



<p>"At this stage, we wanted to highlight the likely impact of large-scale patterns. The Cerrado highland areas reach 700-1,200m above sea level and they provide different conditions from the lowlands, highlighting the need for distinct conservation actions.”</p>



<p>Remember, the Cerrado is a remarkable and irreplaceable part of our planet. Its thousands of plant species, some of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world, are in a race for survival. Climate change is pushing them uphill, but human destruction is cutting off their escape route. While the science is important, it's time to move beyond simply watching and start taking serious action.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13832" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diversity and Distributions</a>.</p>



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Climate change triggers migration of thousands of plant species

We all know the phrase "the grass is always greener...",...

<p>The global surge in extreme wildfires has sparked an urgent re-evaluation of current wildfire management practices. A recent study led by the <a href="https://www.umt.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Montana</a> has found that the prevalent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fire-suppression-drought-sensitive/">approach</a> of fire suppression not only fails to mitigate wildfire severity but, paradoxically, may lead to more devastating fires by intensifying the conditions under which wildfires burn.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fire-suppression-has-unintended-consequences">Fire suppression has unintended consequences</h2>



<p>Using sophisticated computer simulations, the experts discovered that a policy of blanket wildfire suppression contributes to fires with more severe ecological consequences, further fueled by climate change and the accumulation of combustible materials in forests.</p>



<p>“Fire suppression has unintended consequences,” said lead author Mark Kreider, a Ph.D. student in forest and conservation sciences at the University of Montana. “We’ve known for a long time that suppressing fires leads to fuel accumulation. Here, we show a separate counter-intuitive outcome.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-landscape-more-prone-to-severe-wildfires-nbsp">A landscape more prone to severe wildfires&nbsp;</h2>



<p>To explain this, the researchers introduce the concept of “suppression bias,” highlighting how current firefighting efforts, while reducing the total area affected by fires, disproportionately eliminate low- and moderate-intensity fires. This, in turn, leaves a landscape more prone to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/severe-wildfires-could-prove-beneficial-for-mountain-quail/">severe wildfires</a>.</p>



<p>“Over a human lifespan, the modeled impacts of the suppression bias outweigh those from fuel accumulation or climate change alone,” Kreider said. “This suggests that suppression may exert a significant and underappreciated influence on patterns of fire globally.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fire-suppression-exacerbates-the-challenges-of-climate-change">Fire suppression exacerbates the challenges of climate change</h2>



<p>Supported by a <a href="https://www.nsfgrfp.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship</a>, Kreider's doctoral work reveals that suppression strategies exacerbate the challenges posed by climate change and fuel buildup, potentially accelerating the increase in burned areas by three to five times compared to scenarios without suppression efforts. “By attempting to suppress all fires, we are bringing a more severe future to the present,” he warned.</p>



<p>Andrew Larson, Kreider’s doctoral advisor and a professor of forest ecology, emphasized the ecological implications of favoring suppression, noting the disruption to natural <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/satellite-forest-management-regeneration/">forest regeneration</a> processes and potential alterations to evolutionary pressures on flora and fauna.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-altering-natural-selection-with-fire-suppression">Altering natural selection with fire suppression</h2>



<p>“Traditional suppression removes the low-severity fires that help perpetuate healthy forests by consuming fuels and preferentially killing thin-barked tree species. I wonder how much we are altering natural selection with fire suppression by exposing plants and animals to relatively less low-severity fire and relatively more high-severity fire,” he explained.</p>



<p>However, the study also offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that a more nuanced approach to fire management - allowing for low- and moderate-intensity fires under controlled conditions - can mitigate or even reverse the adverse effects of the suppression bias. </p>



<p>Such a strategy, which entails letting fires burn when conditions are less severe, could lead to a reduction in overall fire severity and a more sustainable rate of area burned.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-effective-strategies-and-technologies-are-needed">Effective strategies and technologies are needed</h2>



<p>“It may seem counterintuitive, but our work clearly highlights that part of addressing our nation’s fire crisis is learning how to accept more fires burning when safely possible,” said study co-author Philip Higuera, a professor of fire ecology at the University of Montana.</p>



<p>Professor Higuera highlighted the importance of this approach alongside other critical measures such as addressing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-impacts-are-evolving-due-to-climate-change-but-in-what-ways/">climate change</a> and reducing human-caused fire ignitions.</p>



<p>The experts stress the necessity of developing and implementing effective strategies and technologies to manage wildfires under moderate conditions. This balanced approach is essential for confronting the fire crisis, alongside broader efforts to mitigate climate change and decrease accidental ignitions.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-46702-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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Fire suppression methods increase the severity of wildfires

The global surge in extreme wildfires has sparked an urgent...

<p>Recent studies led by <a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Imperial College London</a> have brought a surprising twist to the tale of water on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-has-a-water-reservoir-two-miles-deep-enough-to-fill-earths-red-sea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mars</a>' Gale Crater.</p>



<p>When you think of Mars, you probably picture a barren, dusty wasteland. Billions of years ago, rivers flowed and lakes filled its craters. But scientists believe the planet dried up eons ago. </p>



<p>This research turns that idea on its head, suggesting that Mars may have had water – and possibly habitable environments – much more recently than we believed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-water-and-the-gale-crater">Water and the Gale Crater</h2>



<p>Gale Crater, a vast basin near <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/the-history-of-mars-is-much-more-complex-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mars</a>' equator, is the Curiosity rover's playground. It's a fantastic place to explore the history of the red planet. The crater can be imagined as a giant lake, with sediments piling up to form the towering Mount Sharp in its center. </p>



<p>Over time, the lake dried. Rivers vanished. Winds piled sand dunes against those sediments, preserving a record of Mars' transition from wet to dry. Or so we thought.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gale-crater-sandstone-hints-at-water">Gale Crater sandstone hints at water</h2>



<p>The researchers studied wind-blown sandstone layers high on Mount Sharp within Gale Crater specifically within an area known as the Feòrachas structure. </p>



<p>These layers, created in a supposedly bone-dry era of Martian history, didn't look right. Instead of neatly stacked, they were warped and twisted.</p>



<p>"Usually, the wind deposits sediment in a very regular, predictable way," explained study co-author Amelie Roberts. </p>



<p>"Surprisingly, we found that these wind-deposited layers were contorted into strange shapes, which suggests the sand had been deformed shortly after being laid down. These structures point to the presence of water just below the surface."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-so-what-deformed-the-sand">So, what deformed the sand?</h2>



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



<p>"The sandstone revealed that water was probably abundant more recently and for longer than previously thought - but by which process did the water leave these clues?" asked study lead author Dr. Steven Banham. The sand could've warped as pressurized water seeped up, nudging the sand grains around.</p>



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



<p>Perhaps water froze and then thawed repeatedly, the ice pushing and pulling the sand into contortions. Dr. Banham noted: "This water might have been pressurized liquid, forced into and deforming the sediment; frozen, with the repeat freezing and thawing process causing the deformation; or briny, and subject to large temperature swings."</p>



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



<p>It's also possible that extremely salty water (brine) flowed near the surface. Brines handle extreme cold better than pure water, and wild temperature swings in the Martian desert could've caused strange effects.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extended-presence-of-water-on-mars">Extended presence of water on Mars</h2>



<p>"What's clear is that behind each of these potential ways to deform this sandstone, water is the common link," explained Dr. Banham.</p>



<p>Interestingly, scientists agree Mars lost its surface water long ago. These warped sand layers prove something different. It seems water was hanging around longer than we thought, lingering underground even as the surface turned to desert. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-water-in-the-gale-crater">Significance of water in the Gale Crater </h2>



<p>The discovery matters because of water persisting in Mars' Gale Crater means potential for life. If water lingered in Martian rocks, perhaps some kind of simple life took refuge there, eking out an existence long after lakes and rivers vanished. </p>



<p>"The layers of sediment in the crater reveal a shift from a wet environment to a drier one over time - reflecting Mars' transition from a humid and habitable environment to an inhospitable desert world," explained Roberts. </p>



<p>"But these water-formed structures in the desert sandstone show that water persisted on Mars much later than previously thought."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mars-rocks-not-off-the-list-for-life">Mars rocks: Not off the list for life</h2>



<p>Previously, dry Martian deserts were low on the list of places to look for traces of past life – biosignatures.</p>



<p>"Determining whether Mars and other planets were once able to support life has been a major driving force for planetary <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/the-history-of-water-on-mars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a>," said Dr. Banham. "Our findings reveal new avenues for exploration - shedding light on Mars' potential to support life and highlighting where we should continue hunting for new clues."</p>



<p>"The search for life, whether Mars once harbored it or if other planets could, has driven space exploration for decades. Our findings open entirely new possibilities – they point us to places with the potential to answer those big questions."</p>



<p>Don't let those dusty landscapes fool you. When it comes to water – and potential life – Mars might still have a few secrets hiding beneath its barren surface.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1130/g51849.1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geology</a>. </p>



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



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Gale Crater on Mars seems to have recently had a lot of water

Recent studies led by Imperial College London have brought a...

<p>We've all heard about global warming and rising temperatures. But what does a 1.5 or 2 degree Celsius increase <em>really</em> mean for our daily lives? Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (<a href="https://www.mit.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIT</a>) have a compelling answer: "Outdoor Days." </p>



<p>This new way of measuring <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-outrun-the-flood-risks-of-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate impact</a> focuses on something deeply personal -- the days of the year when the weather lets us work or play outside comfortably. Sadly, it paints a stark picture -- climate change has winners and losers, and geography matters significantly.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-outdoor-day-tool">Outdoor Day tool</h2>



<p>The beauty of this concept is that <em>you</em> decide. Here's how it works:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-define-it">You define it</h3>



<p>The "Outdoor Days" concept celebrates the simple joys of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ski-resorts-face-snow-scarcity-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">being outside</a>, tailored entirely to what makes <em>you</em> happiest. Imagine having a tool to pinpoint the days when the weather aligns perfectly with your own sense of comfort.</p>



<p>Whether you thrive in the crisp bite of a 50-degree morning or bask in the sunshine at 80 degrees, "Outdoor Days" embraces your unique preferences. The power lies in defining your own perfect temperature range -- the sweet spot where being outside feels energizing and enjoyable.</p>



<p>This personalized approach is all about anticipating those delightful days. Picture yourself effortlessly planning your outdoor adventures based on your custom forecast. </p>



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



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/indisputable-evidence-of-human-caused-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Climate change</a> impacts aren't uniform. The number of days that fit your definition might increase in some places, but drop dramatically in others. This means some areas might face brutal, prolonged heatwaves, shrinking the window of comfortable days. </p>



<p>Meanwhile, traditionally cooler regions might see more days that cater to someone's outdoor preferences. But it's not just a matter of rising or falling temperatures. Climate change breeds <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flowers-blooming-92-days-earlier-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unpredictability</a>. </p>



<p>In some places, there might be wild swings between blistering heat and biting cold, or between drought and torrential rain. This lack of consistency makes those perfect "Outdoor Days" harder to anticipate. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-tool-tells-all">The tool tells all</h3>



<p>Upon visiting the <a href="https://eltahir.mit.edu/globaloutdoordays/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a> researchers developed, you're prompted to set your own temperature preferences for what you consider ideal outdoor conditions. This could be anything from a cool 50-degree Fahrenheit day that's perfect for a hike, to a warm 80-degree day that's just right for a beach outing. </p>



<p>Once you've defined these parameters, the tool then lets you explore a map of the world or the detailed maps of the United States. By selecting a specific location, you can see projections of how the frequency of your perfect-weather days is expected to change due to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-driven-climate-change-is-to-blame-for-sharp-snowpack-declines-since-1980/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>. </p>



<p>The data behind these projections is derived from a comprehensive analysis of climate models, ensuring that the forecasts are grounded in scientific research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-outdoor-days-matters">Why Outdoor Days matters</h2>



<p>Instead of abstract numbers, this system connects climate change directly to our quality of life. Alarming stats include</p>



<ul>
<li><strong>The global south suffers</strong>: Places like Sudan, Bangladesh, and Colombia are projected to lose a LOT of comfortable outdoor days. This could severely impact livelihoods, recreation, and basic comfort.<br></li>



<li><strong>Northern climates could thrive</strong>: Areas like Canada and Russia might see their pleasant-weather days increase substantially. This shift has huge implications for everything from tourism to agriculture.<br></li>



<li><strong>Travel trends tell the tale</strong>: People are already vacationing more in Northern Europe, ditching traditional Mediterranean hotspots as they become uncomfortably hot. It's a subtle, but powerful indicator of climate shifts.</li>
</ul>



<p>“When you look at places like Bangladesh, Colombia, Ivory Coast, Sudan, Indonesia — they are all losing outdoor days.” said MIT professor Elfatih Eltahir.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insights-from-outdoor-days">Insights from Outdoor Days</h2>



<p>The "Outdoor Days" system forces us to confront the uneven impact of climate change. It's no longer just about melting ice caps or distant wildfires. Benefits of a personalized <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/revolutionizing-aerodynamics-airplane-emissions-ai-deep-learning-tool/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tool</a> include:</p>



<ul>
<li><strong>Real-world impact</strong>: It translates complex climate models into how many days <em>you'll</em> enjoy (or suffer through) outside.<br></li>



<li><strong>Localized data = Smart Decisions</strong>: Communities can plan using their own specific projections. Goodbye, vague global averages.<br></li>



<li><strong>A call to action</strong>: Understanding the personal consequences of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-than-48-million-americans-deny-that-climate-change-is-real/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a> can hopefully inspire more aggressive solutions.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-significance">Study significance</h2>



<p>To create this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-identify-water-security-risks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tool</a>, the MIT team crunched data from about 50 climate models. Their projections show the <em>range</em> of possibilities, not just a single doomsday scenario. That's empowering, as it highlights that while change is inevitable, the full extent is still partially in our control.</p>



<p>Climate change impacts aren't confined to a far-off future. The "Outdoor Days" concept brings it down to something incredibly tangible: how many days a year you can comfortably work in your garden, walk your dog, have a picnic, or simply enjoy the fresh air without feeling miserable.</p>



<p>This approach adds a powerful dimension to a complex issue. And who knows, it might even make you rethink what the phrase "perfect weather" really means.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/clim/aop/JCLI-D-23-0346.1/JCLI-D-23-0346.1.xml" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Climate</a>.</p>



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



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Fewer number of 'Outdoor Days' in our lives as global climate continues to warm

We've all heard about global warming and rising temperatures. But...

Massive,Volcano,Eruption.,A,Large,Volcano,Erupting,Hot,Lava,And

<p>Approximately 74,000 years ago, the Earth bore witness to the cataclysmic eruption of the Toba <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/yellowstones-supervolcano-holds-a-surprising-amount-of-magma/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supervolcano</a>. The eruption cast a vast pall of ash and debris over the planet. It plunged regions into prolonged darkness and dramatically altering the global climate. </p>



<p>Yet, archaeological evidence from the <a href="https://www.utexas.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Texas at Austin</a> suggests that early humans not only survived this disaster but may have used it as a catalyst for dispersal out of Africa. This set the stage for the eventual population of the globe. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-on-the-edge-of-a-supervolcano">Life on the Edge of a Supervolcano</h2>



<p>In the lush lowlands of modern-day Ethiopia, archaeologists have unearthed a treasure trove of information at the Shinfa-Metema 1 site. This ancient settlement paints a vivid picture of determined Middle <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stone-age-humans-used-tools-to-make-timber-for-woodworking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stone Age humans</a> who somehow managed to endure the Toba supereruption. </p>



<p>But what was life like before, during, and after the volcano changed their world?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-resilience-towards-toba-eruption">Resilience towards Toba eruption</h2>



<p>The people of Shinfa-Metema 1 embodied incredible resilience. Studying the leftovers from their meals, scientists discovered these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stone-age-diet-deer-and-trout-were-on-the-menu-10000-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">early humans</a> weren't picky eaters. </p>



<p>Their diet shifted with the changing seasons and the ebb and flow of resources. Antelope, monkeys, fish – they skillfully hunted, gathered, and likely cooked whatever they could find. This flexibility in their diet would become crucial for survival.</p>



<p>The presence of tiny volcanic glass shards at the site reveals that the Toba eruption wasn't the end for these ancient settlers. </p>



<p>Instead, they endured an extended period of even harsher drought brought on by the eruption. Their ingenuity is the key to understanding how they made it through this post-apocalyptic landscape.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rivers-during-toba-eruption">Rivers during Toba eruption</h2>



<p>Scientists theorize that amidst the challenges, shrinking waterholes and seasonal rivers may have played a surprising role in the dispersal of humans <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-lush-green-sahara-desert-helped-early-humans-migrate-out-of-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">out of Africa</a>.</p>



<p>"As people depleted food in and around a given dry season waterhole, they were likely forced to move to new waterholes," explained Professor John Kappelman, lead author of the study.</p>



<p>These seasonal waterways acted as natural pathways, guiding groups further and further from home. Ancient bands of people followed rivers in search of food and resources. Unknowingly, they may have charted routes that would, over millennia, lead them across continents.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-significance">Study significance </h2>



<p>The Shinfa-Metema 1 site has offered up another astonishing discovery: tiny, meticulously crafted triangular stone points that researchers believe are the oldest known arrowheads. </p>



<p>This finding dramatically revises the timeline for the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stone-tool-discovery-challenges-entire-theory-of-human-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">development of tools</a>, like bows and arrows. Imagine the advantage these projectiles would have given those ancient hunters, especially when food became scarce.</p>



<p>They could potentially target smaller, faster prey and become less reliant on dwindling herds of larger animals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-from-the-ashes-of-toba">Lessons from the ashes of Toba</h2>



<p>While the inhabitants of Shinfa-Metema 1 weren't likely the direct ancestors of those who ventured <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/middle-stone-age-culture-lasted-20000-years-longer-than-expected/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">outside Africa</a>, their story echoes our own. It highlights crucial traits that allowed humans to spread across the world:</p>



<ul>
<li>Adaptability: They ate what was available and changed their strategies with the changing environment.<br></li>



<li>Resilience: They pushed through extreme challenges, refusing to bow to disaster.<br></li>



<li>Innovation:&nbsp;They developed new technologies like archery to better their chances.</li>
</ul>



<p>The Toba eruption may have momentarily dimmed the light of human existence, but it couldn't snuff out the spark within us. Instead, this volcanic cataclysm might have ignited a strange catalyst for our global expansion. </p>



<p>The story of Shinfa-Metema 1 is a testament to humanity's enduring spirit -- a reminder that even in the darkest of times, we can adapt, overcome, and thrive against the odds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-supervolcanoes-and-the-toba-eruption">More about supervolcanoes and the Toba eruption</h2>



<p>As discussed above, supervolcanoes represent one of the most powerful and potentially devastating natural phenomena on Earth. </p>



<p>Unlike ordinary volcanoes, supervolcanoes have the capability to produce eruptions of magnitude 8 on the Volcano Explosivity Index (VEI), indicating they can eject more than 1,000 cubic kilometers (240 cubic miles) of material. These colossal eruptions can have global consequences, affecting climate, ecosystems, and human societies.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-science-behind-these-massive-volcanoes">Science behind these massive volcanoes</h3>



<p>Supervolcanoes operate on a much grander scale than their smaller counterparts. Beneath their surface lies a vast magma chamber, filled with molten rock and gases under immense pressure. When the pressure exceeds the strength of the earth's crust above, it triggers an eruption. </p>



<p>This eruption can release massive quantities of volcanic ash, gas, and rock into the atmosphere and across the surrounding landscape.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-historical-eruptions-beyond-toba">Historical eruptions beyond Toba</h3>



<p>The eruption of supervolcanoes is a rare event, but history records several instances that have had profound effects on the planet. </p>



<p>One of the most well-known is the eruption of Toba, as discussed previously in this article, on the island of Sumatra, around 74,000 years ago. This event is believed to have drastically altered the global climate, leading to a volcanic winter that lasted for years and significantly impacted human populations.</p>



<p>Another example is the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/two-unknown-super-eruptions-discovered-in-yellowstone/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yellowstone Caldera</a>, located in the United States. It has experienced three supereruptions over the past 2.1 million years, with the most recent occurring approximately 630,000 years ago. </p>



<p>These events have left behind vast calderas, or large cauldrons, formed by the collapse of land following the eruption.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-consequences-of-a-supervolcano-eruption">Global consequences of a supervolcano eruption</h3>



<p>The eruption of a supervolcano could lead to catastrophic changes on a global scale. The enormous amounts of ash and sulfur dioxide ejected into the atmosphere can reduce sunlight, lower temperatures worldwide, and disrupt agricultural practices, leading to food shortages. </p>



<p>These climatic changes can persist for years, affecting ecosystems and human populations alike. Given the potential global impact of supervolcano eruptions, scientists closely monitor known supervolcanoes, such as Yellowstone and Toba, for signs of increased activity. </p>



<p>Advances in technology and geology have improved our ability to predict volcanic eruptions, allowing for better preparedness and response strategies.</p>



<p>Efforts to understand and monitor supervolcanoes aim to mitigate the risks associated with their eruptions. While the exact timing of future supereruptions remains uncertain, ongoing research and monitoring are vital in preparing for such a potentially catastrophic event.</p>



<p>In summary, supervolcanoes embody the awe-inspiring and fearsome power of nature. Their eruptions, though rare, can unleash devastation on an unimaginable scale, affecting global climates and the very course of human history. Through continued research, monitoring, and preparedness, humanity strives to understand and mitigate the threats posed by these</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07208-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>. </p>



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How early humans survived the eruption of Toba supervolcano

Approximately 74,000 years ago, the Earth bore witness to 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=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>



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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>



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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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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-1f9a227a-ec37-4140-81b8-ffa4a7cc6689">-----</p>



<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>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>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>



<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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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.

<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://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>



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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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<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>



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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"

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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

[sendtonews key="3UUsNkFOuS-2487333-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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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>



<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>

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>



<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>

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>



<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>

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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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>



<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>

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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