Plastic may not always float where we expect it. The ocean’s surface might look clean in some places, but far beneath the waves, a different story is unfolding. 



In the southeastern Mediterranean, the deep seafloor is turning into a massive storage ground for plastic packaging, especially bags. A new study shows how this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/large-retailers-are-replacing-plastic-bags-with-eco-friendly-paper-bags/">waste</a> ends up thousands of feet below the surface, and the answer isn’t as simple as trash just “sinking.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-in-the-deep-sea">Plastic in the deep sea</h2>



Plastic debris has entered every corner of the ocean, but previously, most of the research has concentrated on floating plastic or beach trash. That changed with this latest study, which took a closer look at what is occurring on the ocean floor. 



Scientists discovered that the Levant Basin - a deep section of the eastern <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/two-continents-meet-along-the-mediterranean-coastline/">Mediterranean</a> off the coasts of Israel, Egypt, and Turkey - is among the world's most contaminated deep-sea areas.



“We used trawls to survey the seafloor and we mainly found plastic bags and packaging that dominate the debris,” said Xing-Yu Li from the <a href="https://www.haifa.ac.il/?lang=en">University of Haifa</a>, the study’s lead author.



This raised a question: how does something so light - something meant to float - end up nearly a mile underwater?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-forensic-approach-to-trash">A forensic approach to trash</h2>



To answer that, the team decided to treat each plastic item like a crime scene. Every piece of debris was carefully examined using a method called multi-marker analysis. 



This approach looks at everything about the plastic - size, shape, color, material, surface features, and even what kinds of things are stuck to it, like tar or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-organisms-may-adapt-to-climate-change-but-with-hidden-costs/">marine organisms</a>.



“In the multi-marker approach anything that is found on a piece of plastic is an evidence,” said Xing-yu. “We extracted as many evidence as possible from every piece of waste, more than many previous studies, to build a fuller, more detailed view of the bottom waste.”



Instead of just counting how much trash was found, this method helped researchers understand how it got there, why it sank, and where it might have come from.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-some-plastic-doesn-t-sink">Why some plastic doesn’t sink</h2>



Most of the plastics found were <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/everyday-kitchen-tool-that-could-be-leaching-toxins-into-your-food-polypropylene-cutting-board/">polyethylene</a> - the same material used in grocery bags. Normally, this kind of plastic floats. But when additives like calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) are mixed in during manufacturing, the plastic becomes heavier. 



Those with CaCO₃ sank closer to the shore. Others, without these additives, drifted farther out before eventually settling on the seafloor.



The study also revealed that the deep basin at over 3,000 feet deep acts like a trap. Pressure and fine sediments help keep the plastic down. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biofilms-could-change-the-way-we-track-plastic-pollution/">Biofilms</a>, which are slimy layers formed by microbes, usually help weigh plastics down too, but they don’t grow well in this part of the sea. Instead, things like tar, sand, and tiny shells helped plastics stay put.



The scientists noted that these plastic films - while thin and lightweight - are ending up where they can do the most long-term damage. 



Even more troubling, the team found that some of this plastic could become buoyant again if disturbed, but because of how the deep sea works, that rarely happens. Once the plastic settles, it stays.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-the-trash-is-coming-from">Where the trash is coming from</h2>



The plastic pollution isn’t only from local beaches. According to the research, land-based sources from Egypt, Israel, and Turkey are a big part of the problem. 



Shipping also plays a role, especially in deeper waters. Surprisingly, fishing was not a major contributor - possibly due to strict Israeli regulations.



For years, scientists noticed high levels of plastic at the seafloor, but they didn’t fully understand why. 



“For years in our monitoring reports we have reported a high concentration of plastic debris in this area. It was an unsolved mystery as we know that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-floor-harbors-up-to-11-million-tons-of-plastic-debris/">plastic debris</a> should remain floating on the sea surface. Now we have a deep understanding of how it happens,” said Dr. Yael Segal from Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IOLR). 



“The Eastern Mediterranean is the most polluted area in the world, and we must take action for the sake of the next generation.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-term-risks-to-marine-life">Long-term risks to marine life</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grapevines-could-offer-a-breakthrough-alternative-to-plastic-packaging/">Plastic packaging</a> is cheap, easy to produce, and used globally - but it doesn’t go away. It breaks into smaller pieces and can remain in the environment for hundreds of years. 



Deep-sea habitats are already fragile, and adding plastic into the mix could disrupt food webs, introduce toxins, and harm species that haven’t even been fully studied yet.



“As the head of the national monitoring program, I see firsthand how plastic pollution is impacting the entire sea environment: beaches, water, sea bottom, and even local turtle populations,” said Dr. Segal.



Professor Revital Bookman said that the discovery is fascinating in the worst possible way. 



"The eastern Mediterranean is quietly turning into a deep-sea landfill. Plastics that we use for only a few minutes are ending up trapped for centuries, threatening deep marine ecosystems we barely understand," noted Professor Bookman. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-needs-to-happen-next">What needs to happen next</h2>



According to the researchers, this study changes how we should think about ocean pollution. Plastic doesn’t just float around until it hits a beach. It travels far, interacts with other pollutants like tar, and ends up in hidden places. 



“This previously overlooked dynamic necessitates a broader perspective on pollution processes in marine environments,” said Professor Bookman. 



“Without systematic deep-sea accounting, we risk underestimating the true environmental footprint of plastic pollution and misallocating mitigation efforts by neglecting offshore and deep-sea sinks.”



To deal with this, the experts call for coordinated efforts across the region. Countries that share the sea need to work together on monitoring, cleanup, and prevention. 



Without a shared strategy, plastics will continue piling up, silently choking one of the planet’s most mysterious ecosystems.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025326X25009671?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marine Pollution Bulletin</a>.



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Hidden plastic graveyard uncovered in the deep Mediterranean Sea

Plastic may not always float where we expect it. The ocean’s surface might look clean in some places, but far beneath the waves, a different story is unfolding. In the southeastern Mediterranean, the deep seafloor is turning into a massive storage ground for plastic packaging, especially bags. A new study shows how this waste ends up thousands of feet below the surface, and the answer isn’t as simple as trash just “sinking.” Plastic in the deep sea Plastic debris has entered every corner of the ocean, but...

Earth may have started recycling its crust and forming continents far earlier than many scientists expected. A new study links chemical clues inside ancient crystals to short, intense bursts of early subduction and rapid crust growth.



The team analyzed tiny pockets of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-volcanic-clues-hint-at-ancient-life-on-mars/">ancient magma</a> sealed inside green olivine crystals and paired the chemistry with computer models of early Earth. The results point to active plate behavior in the Hadean - not a quiet planet capped by a still outer shell.



Lead author Adrien Vezinet, from <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=4VD_J64AAAAJ&amp;hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Grenoble Alpes University</a>, led the international collaboration that combined high precision geochemistry with geodynamic simulations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-recycles-its-crust">Earth recycles its crust</h2>



Subduction happens when one <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/north-american-continent-is-dripping-from-below-into-earths-mantle/">tectonic plate</a> sinks beneath another into the mantle. This process drives earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building.



It is a cornerstone of how our planet reshapes its surface and cycles materials from the crust back into the interior, as explained by the U.S. Geological Survey’s overview of subduction.



This conveyor belt also helps make a buoyant continental crust. Without it, continents would be smaller, thinner, and far less stable.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-very-few-clues-from-early-earth">Very few clues from early Earth</h2>



The Hadean is the earliest slice of Earth's history, from about 4.6 to 4.0 billion years ago, and it left precious few rocks we can hold in our hands. 



A USGS fact sheet summarizes how little survives from that time and why it is often treated as an informal interval in geological time.



Because the Hadean rock record is sparse, scientists turn to indirect clues locked inside younger rocks that preserve older signals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-lava-locks-early-secrets">Ancient lava locks early secrets</h2>



South Africa’s Barberton Greenstone Belt preserves <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-volcanic-clues-hint-at-ancient-life-on-mars/">volcanic rocks</a> more than 3.2 billion years old, offering a rare window into early Earth. 



This UNESCO site is especially valuable for reconstructing the planet’s earliest conditions because its rocks include lava called komatiite, which erupted at extremely high temperatures. 



That lava crystallized into olivine capable of trapping tiny droplets of the original melt.



These droplets, known as melt inclusions, are sealed pockets of magma that can record a magma’s composition before later alteration. When carefully screened, they serve as powerful archives of magmatic processes.



Building on this archive, researchers recently examined inclusions from 3.27-billion-year-old komatiites. 



The Grenoble group measured strontium isotopes and trace elements within the inclusions. The Potsdam group developed geodynamic models to test what kinds of tectonic behavior could explain those chemical fingerprints.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crystals-and-continent-formation">Crystals and continent formation</h2>



The melt inclusions revealed an exceptionally low 87Sr/86Sr value of 0.69932 ± 0.00024, a model age of 4.31 ± 0.19 billion years, and canonical trace element ratios of Nb/U 36.9 ± 1.5 and Ce/Pb 16.7 ± 1.1. 



These numbers indicate a mantle source that had been stripped of certain elements by earlier crust extraction.



“We report an unprecedented, unradiogenic Sr mantle source component,” wrote Adrien Vezinet, lead author at ISTerre, Université Grenoble Alpes.



From these values and mass balance, the authors estimate that up to 80 percent ± 16 percent of the mass of today’s continental crust - and much of the continents that formed from it - may have been extracted by the late Hadean. That is a startlingly high fraction for such an early time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reading-earth-s-early-chemistry">Reading Earth’s early chemistry</h2>



Geochemists use two “steady” ratios to track how Earth’s crust formed over time. These ratios, Nb/U and Ce/Pb, usually stay constant in mantle melts but shift whenever continental material is created and recycled.



The elevated Nb/U and Ce/Pb seen in these inclusions fit the pattern expected if large volumes of continental crust had already formed and the residues had been pushed back into the mantle.



The strontium isotopes add timing, pointing to sources isolated since around 4.31 billion years ago. Together, the isotope and trace element signals argue for a much livelier early mantle than many models assumed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-models-simulate-early-tectonics">Models simulate early tectonics</h2>



The geodynamic side of the work explored different tectonic styles. The model that best matched the geochemical data produced 40 to 70 percent of the present <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/melting-ice-can-speed-up-continental-drift-and-fuel-volcanic-eruptions/">continental</a> crust mass during the Hadean.



It also required repeated episodes of short, intense subduction. The preferred scenario describes “a fluctuating mobile-lid tectonic regime,” wrote Vezinet. 



In the simulations, large mantle plume upwellings repeatedly weakened the lid and kicked off subduction for tens of millions of years at a time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-continents-formed-relatively-fast">Continents formed relatively fast</h2>



This picture challenges the idea that early Earth was stuck in a rigid, stagnant lid for hundreds of millions of years. 



Instead, slabs likely sank and were recycled in pulses, seeding the mantle with the chemical signals the team captured in the inclusions.



It also reframes how quickly continents can form when the mantle is hot and wet enough to encourage subduction. 



If much of the continental mass was already in place by the end of the Hadean, that affects models of early climates and ocean chemistry. It also changes how scientists view the settings where life’s building blocks assembled.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-caution-in-early-earth-estimates">Caution in early Earth estimates</h2>



The authors are clear about limits. The highest crustal fraction estimates assume the whole <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/north-american-continent-is-dripping-from-below-into-earths-mantle/">mantle</a> participated, so the true value may sit lower. Even so, it would still be high enough to favor active recycling very early.



Even so, the convergence of the inclusion chemistry and the models provides a coherent story. Early Earth was not quiet, and the fingerprints of that vigor survived inside crystals that formed billions of years later.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59024-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Formation of Earth's continents began much earlier than scientists had proposed

Earth may have started recycling its crust and forming continents...

You’ve probably heard of PFAS “forever chemicals” - synthetic chemicals used to resist water, grease, and heat. They’ve been in nonstick coatings, stain-repellent fabrics, and older firefighting foams for decades. 



They don’t break down easily, and that staying power means they can build up in soil, water, wildlife, and people.



A recent and disturbing analysis links <a href="https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polyfluoroalkyl substances</a> (PFAS) detections in public drinking water to higher cancer rates in certain parts of the United States. 



The headline number is blunt: exposure to these chemicals in tap water is associated with up to a 33 percent higher cancer risk. That statistic sets off alarms, as it should, but the details matter for what we do next.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linking-pfas-to-cancer">Linking PFAS to cancer</h2>



After years of debate about how to regulate PFAS, researchers at the <a href="https://keck.usc.edu/">Keck School of Medicine</a> at the University of Southern California (USC) looked for patterns across the country. 



Their core question was practical: in places where public drinking water systems detect PFAS, do those places also report higher rates of certain cancers?



The scientist leading the work is careful about what the data can and cannot show. He warns that additional restrictions may be necessary to protect public health. 



“When people hear that PFAS is associated with cancer, it’s hard to know how it’s relevant,” Dr. Li said. “These findings allow us to draw an initial conclusion about the link between certain rare cancers and PFAS.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-study-was-done">How the study was done</h2>



This was an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-that-eat-forever-chemicals-discovered-in-contaminated-soil/">ecological study</a>, which means the unit of analysis was the place, not individual people. 



The team pulled county-level cancer incidence - new cases per year, adjusted for age - then matched those figures with water-testing results from federal monitoring programs.



One program in the 2010s tested thousands of public water systems for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/migratory-birds-reveal-alarming-new-clues-about-the-spread-of-pfas/">various PFAS</a>. A newer, more sensitive round of testing has been rolling out, providing sharper detection. 



Using both datasets, the researchers marked counties where specific PFAS showed up in public water and noted where any measurements exceeded today’s strict national limits. 



They then ran statistical models that controlled for other forces known to influence cancer rates, including smoking, obesity, income, urban-rural differences, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-confirmed-as-a-major-risk-factor-for-dementia/">air pollution</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sex-cancers-and-pfas">Sex, cancers, and PFAS</h2>



Counties with PFAS detections generally had higher incidence rates for several cancer groups. 



Patterns were seen in digestive system cancers, thyroid and other hormone-related cancers, respiratory cancers, and some head-and-neck cancers. 



The increases weren’t massive jumps, but they appeared often enough to raise concern. When the data were split by sex, some differences emerged. 



In men, associations leaned toward kidney and bladder cancers, certain nervous system cancers, leukemia, and soft tissue cancers. In women, the clearest signal was thyroid cancer, along with oral cavity and soft tissue cancers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cancer-biology-fits-pfas-traits">Cancer biology fits PFAS traits</h2>



PFAS are a large chemical family, but several members share traits that could connect to cancer biology. 



Some interfere with hormone signaling, especially in the thyroid. Others stress the liver and disrupt how the body manages fats. 



There’s evidence that certain PFAS promote <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493173/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chronic inflammation</a> and influence how genes are switched on and off over time. 



None of these mechanisms, on their own, prove causation, but they make the observed associations plausible rather than random.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-numbers-mean">What the numbers mean</h2>



The study offers national, population-level estimates: if the associations reflect real effects, the number of cancer cases per year linked to PFAS in drinking water could reach very high numbers in the US alone. 



Treat those figures as ballpark, not precise counts. They’re most useful for policy: where to prioritize treatment, how fast to upgrade systems, and which communities need the most attention.



The policy context is shifting. The United States now sets <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strict-pfas-limits-will-make-drinking-water-safer-for-100-million-americans/">strict legal limits</a> for several PFAS in drinking water, and utilities are ramping up compliance. 



As Dr. Li notes, those limits may still be too lenient, and further tightening could be warranted as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-detects-toxic-pfas-forever-chemicals-in-menstrual-products-available-worldwide/">evidence grows</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-removing-pfas-at-the-root">Removing PFAS at the root</h2>



Utilities must publish water quality reports, and many now include PFAS monitoring results. 



Check your local report and see what’s been measured, how often, and what actions are underway. If your system is upgrading treatment, look for timelines and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-dietary-fiber-supplement-could-remove-pfas-forever-chemicals-from-the-body/">interim steps</a>.



At home, point-of-use filters can help if they are certified to reduce PFAS. Activated carbon and reverse osmosis units are the most common options. 



Maintenance matters; filters that aren’t replaced on schedule lose effectiveness. If you rely on a private well, consider testing through a certified lab and consult your health department about options if PFAS appear.



Technologies exist and keep improving. Granular activated carbon, ion exchange resins, and high-pressure membranes can capture or remove many PFAS. 



Each comes with trade-offs in cost, energy, and waste handling. Systems need steady monitoring because PFAS mixtures vary by source and season. 



The right design for a small rural system may differ from that for a large urban plant, but both can get results with careful engineering and oversight.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pfas-cancer-and-the-future">PFAS, cancer, and the future</h2>



To sum it all up, this study directly linked PFAS in public drinking water with higher rates of several cancers at the county level - up to 33% higher. 



The study stops short of proof for individuals, but the pattern is consistent with how these chemicals <a href="https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">behave in the body</a>. 



Keeping up strong testing, enforcing modern limits, upgrading treatment where needed, and pushing for targeted, person-level studies will help turn a broad signal into clear guidance. 



Communities deserve to know what’s in their water and what’s being done about it - and they deserve steady progress that reduces risk over time.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://www.nature.com/jes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Exposure Science &amp; Environmental Epidemiology</a>.



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Chemicals in home tap water linked to a 33% increase in cancer rates

You’ve probably heard of PFAS “forever chemicals” - synthetic chemicals...

Coral reefs are under heavy strain. Heatwaves, pollution, and overfishing chip away at their health year after year. Some hardy corals still hang on, but there’s a catch: survival isn’t the same as thriving.



A new study tracked how a heat-tolerant Red Sea coral copes when warm water sticks around for months. The short answer: it survives. The longer answer: it pays for that survival with slower growth and higher metabolic costs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-months-of-heat-exposure">Months of heat exposure</h2>



The research focused on a northern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-the-value-of-coral-reefs-in-the-red-sea/">Red Sea</a> species, Stylophora pistillata - often seen as resilient during hot spells. The team tested how this coral handles elevated temperatures not for days, but for 26 weeks, then watched what happened after a month back at 77°F.



Ann Marie Hulver is the lead author of the study and a former graduate student and postdoctoral scholar in Earth sciences at <a href="https://www.osu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Ohio State University</a>.



“In theory, if corals in the wild at these temperatures are smaller, reefs might not be as diverse and may not be able to support as much <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-impacting-marine-life-more-than-we-realized/">marine life</a>,” she said. “This could have adverse effects on people that depend on the reef for tourism, fishing, or food.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-coral-survival-costs">Measuring coral survival costs</h2>



Corals lived at three steady temperatures: 77°F (baseline), 81.5°F, and 86°F - levels expected in many tropical seas by 2050 and 2100. 



The team looked at surface area growth, metabolism, energy reserves, feeding, and the makeup of their algal partners over six months.



Stylophora pistillata survived at both warmer settings, but shrank compared to controls. At 81.5°F, corals were 30 percent smaller.



At 86°F, they were 70 percent smaller. Growth slowed, respiration rose, and energy budgets tightened, even though overall <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossils-reveal-500-million-years-of-changes-in-ocean-life/">biomass</a> and reserves were maintained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-survival-over-reef-growth">Survival over reef growth</h2>



For the first 11 weeks, warm-water stress barely registered, but by week 26 at 86°F, corals showed higher metabolic demand and reduced growth. 



The symbiotic algae community remained stable, indicating the stress wasn’t caused by swapping partners. Encouragingly, recovery was possible - after four weeks back at 77°F, both metabolic demand and growth rebounded, though previously heated corals stayed darker in color than those that had never been warmed.



The findings suggest a clear threshold: corals can endure extended, sub-bleaching heat, but they sacrifice skeletal accretion in favor of tissue maintenance to survive. 



“Survival is certainly the number one important thing for coral, but when they’re physiologically compromised, they can’t do that forever,” said Andrea Grottoli, study co-author and professor of Earth sciences at Ohio State. 



“So there’s a limit to how long these resilient corals can cope with an ever-increasing warming ocean.”



This trade-off carries real consequences. Reefs support fisheries, tourism, and coasts, but slower coral growth risks flattening structures, disrupting ecosystems, and local economies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-reefs-under-threat">Global reefs under threat</h2>



The challenges these corals face aren’t isolated - they reflect a global pattern. As the planet warms, oceans absorb most of the excess heat, driving more frequent and intense <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-heatwaves-are-expanding-their-reach-across-the-globe/">marine heatwaves</a>. What used to be temporary stress events are becoming persistent conditions.



This shift raises the stakes for coral reefs. Long-term exposure to warmer water - even below bleaching thresholds - can weaken reef growth, shrink habitat complexity, and reduce biodiversity. 



Without serious cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, many reefs may survive in name only, stripped of the structure and life they once supported.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conserving-coral-strongholds">Conserving coral strongholds</h2>



“Conservation efforts could focus on areas where resilient coral are present and create protected sanctuaries so that there are some ecosystems that grow as high-probability-success reefs for the future,” Grottoli said.



That matches the study’s takeaway: target protection toward proven strongholds while acknowledging the costs corals pay to endure chronic heat.



Ocean temperatures are expected to climb about 5°F by 2100. The study’s six-month exposure shows that even tough corals survive but do not thrive under elevated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-temperatures-are-rising-faster-than-expected-and-likely-to-accelerate/">temperatures</a>, with growth taking the hit. 



The research also highlights a vital lifeline: a cool-down period can restore metabolic balance and restart growth. For reefs, time at cooler temperatures may make all the difference.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969725018741?via%3Dihub">Science of The Total Environment</a>.



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Corals trade growth for survival as oceans warm

Coral reefs are under heavy strain. Heatwaves, pollution, and overfishing...

Half a century ago, a government drilling ship poking holes in the seafloor off the northeastern United States stumbled onto something no one expected: fresh water beneath the Atlantic’s brine. 



That anomaly - discovered during a mineral and hydrocarbon survey - has now become the focus of a first-of-its-kind international expedition.&nbsp;



With <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/growing-risk-of-summer-droughts-linked-to-changes-in-river-flow/">drought risk</a> rising, coasts growing saltier, and global demand projected to outstrip freshwater supplies by roughly 40% within just a few years, scientists are casting a wider net for solutions.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-drilling-for-fresh-water">Ocean drilling for fresh water</h2>



This summer’s campaign, Expedition 501, mobilized a liftboat called Robert, a workhorse vessel that lowers three massive legs to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seafloor-relic-uncovers-earths-ancient-mysteries/">seafloor</a> and perches above the waves like a tripod. Normally it services oil platforms and wind farms; this time it became a floating geology lab.&nbsp;



Over three months off Cape Cod, scientists drilled as deep as about 400 meters (1,289 feet) beneath the seabed and extracted thousands of cores and water samples - nearly 50,000 liters in all - to map and test what lies below.



The hunt didn’t come out of nowhere. In 1976, the <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Geological Survey</a> drilled a deep test well on Nantucket and pulled up fresh water from surprising depths, hinting at an offshore source.&nbsp;



The same year, the USGS vessel Glomar Conception cored dozens of sites from Georgia to Georges Bank while prospecting for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-trade-is-fueling-a-dangerous-rise-in-methane-emissions/">methane</a> and kept finding “fresh or freshened” water beneath the shelf.&nbsp;



In 2015, researchers from <a href="https://www.whoi.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution</a> and <a href="https://www.columbia.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Columbia University</a> used electromagnetic imaging to sketch the contours of a sprawling aquifer under the Atlantic margin - possibly comparable in size to the Ogallala, the Great Plains’ legendary groundwater storehouse.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-drills-hit-this-time">What the drills hit this time</h2>



Expedition 501 set out to ground-truth those hints. Backed by the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. National Science Foundation</a> and the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling, with partners from more than a dozen countries, the $25 million effort targeted an aquifer suspected to stretch from New Jersey to Maine.&nbsp;



Early expectations were already audacious: if the reservoir’s size and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/salinity-is-rising-in-coastal-areas-and-hurting-farmlands/">salinity</a> matched previous estimates, it could, on paper, meet a New York City-sized metro area’s needs for centuries.



What the cores revealed surprised the team all over again. Fresh - and “nearly fresh” - water turned up at both shallower and deeper levels than predicted, suggesting a more extensive system than models had indicated.&nbsp;



Residual water gushed out of the drill string during some operations, a visceral reminder that this isn’t just damp sediment; it’s a pressurized, laterally connected body of water hidden beneath the continental shelf.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-did-the-fresh-water-come-from">Where did the fresh water come from?</h2>



That’s the next big question. The samples now heading to labs around the world will help nail down the water’s age and origin.&nbsp;



One hypothesis points to ancient meltwater: when vast ice sheets smothered North America, sea levels were lower, coastlines farther out, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/satellites-reveal-a-sudden-drop-in-global-freshwater-levels/">fresh water</a> could have percolated into now-submerged sands.&nbsp;



Another possibility is active connection to onshore aquifers, with modern groundwater slowly migrating offshore through permeable layers. The answer may be both - glacial recharge laying the foundation, topped up (or diluted) over millennia by terrestrial flow.



Untangling these sources isn’t a purely academic endeavor. If the aquifer is largely fossil water left by long-gone glaciers, it’s a finite resource to be used sparingly, if at all. 



If it’s partially fed from land, withdrawals offshore could alter coastal hydrology onshore, changing the calculus for cities already struggling with saltwater intrusion and sinking land.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-supporting-a-thirsty-world">Supporting a thirsty world</h2>



The allure is obvious. Cape Town’s near-“Day Zero” in 2018 showed how quickly a modern city can run dry. Great Lakes states have reported localized groundwater stress despite living beside a fifth of the world’s surface fresh water.&nbsp;



In fast-growing tech hubs, data centers have become stealthy water guzzlers; in Virginia, they already consume a quarter of the state’s power and, by some estimates, each midsize facility uses as much water as a thousand households.&nbsp;



Meanwhile, rising seas are pushing salt farther into coastal aquifers worldwide. Against that backdrop, the dreary warning from Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner - “Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink” - feels less like poetry and more like policy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-ocean-s-freshwater-potential">The ocean's freshwater potential </h2>



Undersea freshwater isn’t unique to New England. Coastal aquifer systems have been inferred or sampled near South Africa, Canada’s Prince Edward Island, Hawaiʻi, Jakarta, and likely along many other continental margins.&nbsp;



What sets Expedition 501 apart is its mandate: “It’s known that this phenomena exists both here and elsewhere around the world,” said project manager Jez Everest of the <a href="https://www.bgs.ac.uk/">British Geological Survey</a>. “But it’s a subject that’s never been directly investigated by any research project in the past.”&nbsp;



In simple terms: this was the first coordinated, systematic attempt to drill, sample, and map such a reservoir beneath the sea for the explicit purpose of understanding its freshwater potential.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hurdles-to-overcome">Hurdles to overcome</h2>



Even if the aquifer proves vast and relatively fresh, turning a hidden offshore reservoir into a dependable municipal supply is a long road.&nbsp;



Engineers would need to design wells that operate safely beneath the seabed, transport water ashore, and control pumping to avoid drawing in saltwater or collapsing sediments.&nbsp;



There would also be a need for ecologists to assess how extraction might alter pressure gradients, seafloor habitats, and onshore springs.



Lawyers and policymakers would need to answer thorny questions about ownership and rights: Who controls water beneath federal waters? What about state waters? How do indigenous, fishing, and coastal communities fit into the decision-making? And who bears the cost, and the risk?



The scientists on Liftboat Robert aren’t weighing in on those choices yet. Their job is to deliver a definitive map and a clean set of measurements: salinity profiles, chemical fingerprints, isotopic ages, permeability data, and the architecture of the sediments themselves.&nbsp;



Only then can planners decide whether this is a backup for emergencies, a steady complement to surface supplies, or a sensitive reserve best left untouched.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-ocean-s-secret-fresh-water">The ocean's secret fresh water</h2>



There’s a certain irony in using oil-field techniques to search for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nearly-100-million-americans-exposed-to-contaminated-drinking-water/">drinking water</a>. The same jack-up vessel and wireline drills that once chased hydrocarbons are now sampling what may be one of the planet’s most overlooked freshwater stores.&nbsp;



The work is both novel and deeply rooted: it builds on hints gathered in the 1970s and on geophysical surveys a decade ago, yet it reflects a very contemporary urgency.



For now, the team heads back to their labs with barrels of cores and tens of thousands of liters of water - evidence enough to confirm that the “secret fresh water” beneath the Atlantic shelf is real, abundant, and more complex than anyone thought.&nbsp;



Whether it becomes a pillar of coastal water security or a carefully studied curiosity will depend on what those samples reveal - and on how quickly society chooses to act.



As the sun set behind Robert’s tripod silhouette and the Atlantic rolled on beneath, the day’s haul felt both concrete and symbolic: a literal well of possibility tapped in a place most of us never think to look.



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Hidden reservoir of fresh water found miles beneath the ocean floor

Half a century ago, a government drilling ship poking holes...

Climate change reshapes where people live, altering both the desire and the ability to move. When heat waves, droughts, and floods strike, not everyone responds the same way. A study in&nbsp;Nature Communications&nbsp;shows that age and education strongly influence who migrates and who remains.



The research reveals a complex story: extreme weather pushes some groups to leave while trapping others in place. This challenges the image of mass waves of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-wins-in-2025-came-from-unexpected-places/">climate</a> refugees often evoked in debates.



Study lead author Hélène Benveniste is an assistant professor of environmental social sciences at the <a href="https://sustainability.stanford.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability</a>.



"Weather extremes can both incentivize people to move away and increase the number of people who don't have the ability to migrate," said Professor Benveniste.



"Our research shows that migration in response to weather, just like migration decisions in general, is highly dependent upon demographic characteristics."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-and-migration-patterns">Climate and migration patterns</h2>



Earlier research often gave mixed signals on whether women, men, or people with different education levels were more likely to migrate under extreme <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/where-will-climate-change-hit-hardest-global-index-reveals-vulnerability/">weather</a>. 



By analyzing detailed global migration records, Benveniste and colleagues showed that these contradictions arise because responses vary sharply across demographics and local climates.



The team examined more than 125,000 cross-border cases and nearly half a million within-country moves. They categorized migrants by age, education, and sex, and then connected these groups to weather records like temperature and soil moisture. 



This approach revealed that migration is best understood not by how many move, but by who does.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trapped-and-cannot-migrate">Trapped and cannot migrate</h2>



The new model predicted migration up to 12 times better than previous approaches. Yet weather alone explained only a small fraction of migration, since economics, politics, and social ties also weigh heavily.



Still, striking demographic patterns emerged. Children under 15 were less likely to migrate following extreme heat. Older adults with little education, however, were more likely to leave, while highly educated adults showed little change.



"Our results indicate that many among those most likely to suffer from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-is-just-three-years-away-from-dangerous-carbon-milestone/">climate</a> change impacts will not be able to get out of harm's way," noted the researchers. 



This creates a "double penalty," where people with the fewest resources both struggle to adapt locally and lose migration as an option.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-local-climate-and-migration">Local climate and migration</h2>



Climate zones shape how weather influences moves within countries. In tropical regions, hotter days increased migration among educated adults but had little effect on those with less schooling. 



In arid regions, dry spells spurred moves especially among the least educated, while heavy rains or flooding also triggered departures.



The analysis highlights how vulnerability interacts with opportunity. Those reliant on agriculture, often with little education, may feel a strong push to leave during drought, yet lack the means to relocate across borders. Instead, they may move to nearby towns or cities when conditions deteriorate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-migrates-and-who-doesn-t">Who migrates and who doesn't </h2>



The study emphasizes that climate change will not necessarily unleash waves of migrants. Instead, it will reshape the composition of those who move. 



Projections suggest that by the end of the century, older adults with little education may migrate across borders at higher rates, while the youngest and least educated will migrate less.



This shift means that population averages mask the real story: dramatic differences between groups cancel each other out. Policies that only consider total migration numbers risk overlooking those most affected.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-responses-to-long-term-changes">Responses to long-term changes</h2>



The researchers caution that responses to long-term <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wealthy-elite-responsible-for-majority-of-global-climate-warming/">climate</a> change may differ from reactions to short-term weather. 



Communities may adapt with new crops or technologies, reducing the need to move. Yet if conditions outpace these adaptations, migration pressures could rise again.



Destination conditions also matter. High heat in receiving countries can discourage movement for some groups, while wetter conditions may attract others, especially educated adults. 



Household factors, such as whether people have children, further influence decisions, with parents often less likely to move.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preparing-for-future-climate-shocks">Preparing for future climate shocks</h2>



Policymakers often prepare for large waves of climate refugees. But the evidence points to a subtler reality: climate change will alter who is able to move, while many vulnerable groups remain trapped.



"We hope that policymakers use these results as a basis to more squarely address the needs of different demographic groups," Benveniste said. "We need to answer the needs not just of the people who move, but also those who are moving less."



The science is clear: climate-driven migration is less about numbers and more about people. Understanding who moves, who stays, and why is key to preparing for a warmer, less predictable world.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62969-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Climate shocks: Who migrates and who stays behind?

Climate change reshapes where people live, altering both the desire...

Water defines how people live, from showers to faucets to humidifiers humming in winter. While outdoor watering often gets the spotlight, indoor habits make a huge difference. 



A new study published in the journal Earth’s Future explores how families across the United States consume <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-water-day-2025-preserving-glaciers-protecting-our-future/">water</a> inside their homes, highlighting not just the obvious culprits but also the overlooked ones.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-data-from-26-000-homes">Data from 26,000 homes</h2>



The researchers analyzed more than 26,000 single-family homes across 39 major cities. Unlike previous studies, this one focused purely on indoor use with high-resolution smart meter data.



Landon Marston of <a href="https://www.vt.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Virginia Tech</a> explained the significance of the study. "We didn't have a great understanding of how much water was being used or how it was being used inside homes," said Marston. "So, we kind of relied on these crude estimates to pinpoint that, and it's not that precise."



The smart sensors, developed by Flume, capture <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cutting-super-pollutants-could-quickly-cool-the-planet/">water</a> flow every few seconds and use machine learning to determine which fixture or appliance is responsible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-winter-patterns-in-showers">Winter patterns in showers</h2>



The team studied December and January to avoid confusing outdoor watering with indoor use. Cold months reduce irrigation, making the classification more reliable. 



The researchers noted that focusing on winter minimized seasonal noise, giving them a clearer view of how people use water inside their homes. By removing outdoor <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2025-our-power-our-planet/">watering</a> from the picture, the data better captured everyday activities such as toilet flushing, showering, and running appliances.



This seasonal focus also showed how weather influences behavior: colder days often led to longer showers, while drier conditions increased reliance on humidifiers.



Comparing households across regions during the same period created consistent conditions, making the findings more accurate and easier to interpret.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-toilet-and-shower-use">Toilet and shower use</h2>



Cities fell into three groups: high, medium, and low water users. Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Tampa topped the list for high use, while all six of the lowest were in coastal California. 



The researchers linked California’s low usage to strict efficiency regulations and older housing stock. In contrast, high-use cities were often colder and drier, where residents relied more on humidifiers.



"What was really a driving factor was toilet events and showers," said Marston. "We now look at this across the nation and find a similar pattern. That's really a driving force."



Toilets consumed about 40 percent of indoor water. Showers followed closely with around 30 percent. A detailed analysis revealed that high-use cities not only flushed more often but also used more water per flush and had longer, more frequent showers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-other-factors-influencing-water-use">Other factors influencing water use</h2>



Yunus Naseri, lead author of the study, emphasized where conservation should begin. "Conservation efforts focused on reducing indoor residential water use can be most effective if they target these two end uses," he said.



Yet toilets and showers are not the only contributors. Appliances like humidifiers and reverse osmosis systems increased usage in high-demand cities. Bathtubs and evaporative coolers also added to totals. 



Older homes, surprisingly, were linked to lower <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-about-earths-bending-rivers-could-help-us-find-water-on-other-planets/">water</a> use than newer ones, possibly due to retrofitted fixtures or smaller household sizes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environment-and-water-use">Environment and water use</h2>



Weather shaped habits too. Colder temperatures correlated with longer showers and more frequent flushing, likely due to increased time spent indoors. 



Wetter climates tended to use less water, while dry conditions encouraged humidifier use. These findings show how behavior adapts to environment, layering onto technology and policy.



The clustering of low-use cities in California highlights the power of state-level rules. Regulations requiring efficient toilets and showerheads, along with rebate programs and public campaigns, appear to have lasting effects.



The study suggests that combining efficiency standards with educational outreach could help other states achieve similar reductions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-limitations-and-future-directions">Study limitations and future directions</h2>



The researchers caution that the dataset comes from self-selected households who purchased sensors, sometimes with rebates.



These households may already be more conscious of their usage, potentially biasing results. Still, with more than 26,000 homes included, the study provides one of the most comprehensive views yet.



By blending technology, climate data, and behavioral analysis, this research paints a fuller picture of how Americans use water indoors. The clearest lesson is simple: toilets and showers dominate. 



But the surrounding story - about appliances, weather, and policy - shows that conservation requires more than one lever. It demands understanding the complex ways homes, habits, and environments interact.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024EF005467" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth's Future</a>.



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What's really draining America's water? A closer look indoors

Water defines how people live, from showers to faucets to...

Seagrass meadows are more than just coastal greenery. Beneath the waves, they capture carbon and bury it in the seafloor, storing it safely for decades or centuries. This makes seagrass a powerful ally in the fight against climate change



But there’s a catch. When humans flood coastlines with too much nutrient pollution - especially from wastewater - it doesn’t just mess with the water. It messes with the seagrass, too.



Scientists wanted to find out exactly how this works, and they didn’t take shortcuts. Over nine years, researchers observed what happened when they added extra nutrients to seagrass beds. What they found was a balancing act between helping and hurting.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-balance-of-seagrass-and-nutrients">The balance of seagrass and nutrients</h2>



In the warm, shallow waters of tropical bays, seagrass grows in sandy beds. Such places are usually poor in nutrients. That may sound bad, but it is one of the reasons why seagrass is good at capturing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-plays-a-major-role-in-global-carbon-storage/">carbon</a>. 



The plants grow slowly and consistently, extending their roots deep into the sediment where carbon is stored and trapped.



But when researchers added <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lack-of-phosphorus-will-limit-growth-of-the-amazon-rainforest/">phosphorus</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/kelp-farms-could-help-clean-up-coastal-nitrogen-pollution/">nitrogen</a> to these beds, something interesting happened. The seagrass responded with a burst of growth. 



First, it strengthened its root systems. Then, it put more energy into its blades - the flat, grass-like leaves. As the roots grew quickly, they also died more quickly, sending extra carbon into the sediment. That should be good news, right? 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-shadow-of-too-much-nitrogen">The shadow of too much nitrogen</h2>



Here’s where things got complicated. When nitrogen levels went too high, the team saw a surge in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invisible-forest-of-phytoplankton-thrives-in-a-warming-climate/">phytoplankton</a> - tiny algae that float in the water. These blooms blocked sunlight, putting the seagrass at risk.



“People thought excess nutrients were killing seagrass,” said Jacob Allgeier, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a>. 



“But we show that as long as there are not too many nutrients, which would also increase phytoplankton, the seagrass will just increase growth with excess nutrients.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-experiment-worked">How the experiment worked</h2>



To figure out what was really going on, a team led by recent doctoral graduate Bridget Shayka went hands-on - literally. The team collected seagrass samples from test plots in the Bahamas. 



Shayka and 17 undergraduate students separated each plant into parts: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-meadows-still-thrive-on-floridas-nature-coast/">blades</a>, sheaths, roots, and rhizomes (the stems that grow underground). Next, the parts were freeze-dried, crushed, and tested for nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon.



The researchers found that nutrients from human sources had a bigger effect than those from fish.



“The systems we study are pretty low-nutrient systems, so adding nutrients can increase seagrass production,” said Shayka, now a program officer at Ocean Visions. 



“But we also know that when you go too far and add too many nutrients, it really destroys these systems. It's one of the leading causes of their destruction around the world and in coastal systems.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nitrogen-isn-t-the-only-problem">Nitrogen isn’t the only problem</h2>



In another experiment, the researchers tried 21 varied nutrient ratios in bottles of seawater and phytoplankton. They were curious to know if the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus mattered more than just the amount of each nutrient. The results surprised them.



In this system, phosphorus had a stronger positive effect on seagrass growth. Nitrogen, on the other hand, caused phytoplankton levels to spike. That meant more light-blocking <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-algae-play-an-unexpected-role-in-cooling-the-earth/">algae</a> in the water and more stress for the seagrass beds.



“When you grow tomatoes, you don't just add nitrogen. You add a perfect ratio of nitrogen and phosphorus. That idea is replete in our society,” said Allgeier. “But because we tested the water column and because we tested the seagrass, we're able to say that model doesn't work in our system.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seagrass-and-carbon-storage">Seagrass and carbon storage</h2>



It’s unlikely that we’ll stop nutrient pollution altogether. But these findings suggest we don’t need to. Instead, we need to manage it better.



“We're not stopping nutrient enrichment. It's just not going to stop,” said Allgeier. “But we can manage it. And how do you best manage it? We scrub it for nitrogen.”



If local communities can control nitrogen runoff - especially from sewage and agriculture - they might give seagrass a better chance to grow, store carbon, and stay alive. This matters, not just for marine ecosystems, but for climate action too.



Seagrass may not get the attention coral reefs or rainforests do, but when it comes to carbon storage, it’s one of the most powerful tools in nature.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.70401">Global Change Biology</a>.



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Seagrass is a powerful climate weapon - unless we drown it in nutrients

Seagrass meadows are more than just coastal greenery. Beneath the...

For over a century, oil and gas companies have been pulling carbon out of the ground in the form of fossil fuels. Now, researchers are flipping that idea on its head - by putting carbon back underground. And not just anywhere, but into the very same wells that once helped release it.



This new approach doesn’t rely on fancy tech or sci-fi ideas. Instead, it uses leftovers from farms and forests - like corn stalks and tree trimmings - to create a thick liquid called bio-oil. 



Packed with carbon pulled from the air by plants, bio-oil can then be pumped into abandoned <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/abandoned-oil-wells-could-revolutionize-energy-storage/">oil wells</a> for permanent storage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-old-oil-wells-meet-new-solutions">Old oil wells meet new solutions</h2>



Across the U.S., there are hundreds of thousands of old oil and gas wells sitting empty. Many of these wells weren’t properly sealed and now pose environmental and safety hazards. 



Plugging the wells costs about $1 million each. At the same time, tons of plant waste is discarded every year, ranging from corn stover in the Midwest to forest debris in the West. This is where researchers at <a href="https://www.iastate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Iowa State University</a> saw a match.



“On the one hand, you have these underutilized waste products. On the other hand, you have abandoned oil wells that need to be plugged. It’s an abundant resource meeting an urgent demand,” said Professor Mark Mba-Wright, who led the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oil-wells-for-carbon-capture">Oil wells for carbon capture</h2>



The process at the center of the research is called fast pyrolysis. It sounds complicated, but the idea is simple: you heat dried plant bits to extremely high temperatures (over 1,000°F) in the absence of oxygen. 



The result is three products - bio-oil, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-is-biochar-and-how-can-it-help-us-mitigate-climate-change-carbon-storage/">biochar</a>, and gas. The bio-oil captures most of the carbon. The gas helps fuel the system. The biochar can be sold to farmers to improve soil.



“One of the innovations here is that you can do <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carbon-capture-technology-faces-uncertainty-despite-heavy-investment/">carbon capture</a> with units the size of a skid loader or a combine. You can start small,” Mba-Wright said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bio-oil-machines-for-the-job">Bio-oil machines for the job</h2>



The team modeled a network of 200 mobile pyrolysis units that could be moved around rural areas to process plant waste on-site. 



Each machine would handle about 10 tons of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/satellite-view-of-forest-biomass-reveals-hidden-carbon-trends/">biomass</a> daily, producing bio-oil that could be stored in terminals before being transported to empty well sites for injection.



Each unit would cost around $1.3 million to build. According to the study, the system could sequester carbon for about $152 per ton, which makes it cost-competitive with other carbon capture methods. For wood-based materials, the cost could drop closer to $100 per ton.



Filling a single crude oil well requires more than 216,000 gallons of liquid - plenty of space to lock away carbon for good. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-undocumented-oil-wells">Undocumented oil wells</h2>



The researchers estimate that there could be as many as 800,000 undocumented orphaned wells in the U.S., far beyond the 120,000 wells targeted by a $4.7 billion federal cleanup effort passed in 2021.



“The more units they build, the better they would get at building them,” Mba-Wright said. This is thanks to what’s called a “learning rate,” which means that building more machines over time helps lower both production and operating costs.



This isn’t just theory. A San Francisco startup, Charm Industrial, has already started using this method and signed deals with large companies to help them meet climate goals. These companies want carbon-removal credits, and bio-oil injection is emerging as one of the most promising ways to earn them.



"We hear it time and again: after taking a close look among their options, leading carbon-removal buyers find that bio-oil sequestration represents one of the highest-quality and most cost-effective approaches,” said Peter Reinhardt, CEO and co-founder of Charm Industrial.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-opportunities-for-carbon-removal">Opportunities for carbon removal </h2>



Charm funded part of the Iowa State study to better understand the technology’s full potential.



“While they were confident about the technology itself, they were looking for some validation of how much <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mountains-both-carbon-sinks-and-carbon-sources/">carbon</a> could be sequestered and how economical the process could be,” Mba-Wright said. “There are a lot of steps involved in getting this to work at scale.”



One important detail is that this method stacks up well against another popular carbon-removal option - direct air capture. That system also removes carbon from the air, but it’s more expensive to build and doesn’t offer the side benefits of using agricultural waste or creating new revenue for rural communities.



“What we’re trying to show here is that carbon removal doesn’t need to be either/or. There are a lot of opportunities,” Mba-Wright said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-win-for-rural-economies">A win for rural economies</h2>



Besides helping the climate, this system could give new life to the rural economy. Farmers could sell their leftover crop waste. Forest managers could get paid to clear wildfire-prone debris. 



Furthermore, small towns could host bio-oil terminals and benefit from new jobs and investments.



"Iowa State’s experts showed that bio-oil sequestration using corn stover can deliver a high-value, durable carbon removal product that outcompetes other technologies, while providing new markets for crop residues and delivering new economic value to the rural economy,” Reinhardt said. 



“As the carbon-removal sector grows, Charm is grateful to work with farm and forest communities to grow this opportunity."



The full study was published in the journal <a href="http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0196890425005047">Energy Conversion and Management</a>.



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Old oil wells are getting a new job - storing carbon

For over a century, oil and gas companies have been...

In early 2025, something unusual happened in the Gulf of Panama. The deep, cold water that normally rises to the surface each dry season never appeared. According to a new study, this seasonal upwelling failed for the first time in at least four decades.



Researchers recorded warmer surface waters, fewer cool days, and a steep decline in productivity during the months when the system is usually most active.



Lead author Aaron O’Dea of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (<a href="https://stri.si.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">STRI</a>) points out the event disrupted one of the Gulf’s most reliable ocean patterns. 



His team’s data show that the region’s cool season shifted in ways that carry real consequences for both marine ecosystems and the people who depend on them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-upwelling-shapes-ecosystems">Upwelling shapes ecosystems</h2>



Upwelling occurs when winds push surface water aside and allow deeper, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-a-wandering-jet-stream-is-draining-marine-life-in-the-mediterranean-sea/">nutrient-rich water</a> to rise. That nutrient pulse fuels phytoplankton - tiny plant-like drifters that are the base of marine food webs.



The result is a burst of life that supports fisheries and cools nearshore waters. That cooling can reduce coral bleaching, the stress response when corals lose their symbiotic algae under heat.



A long term study of Panama’s Pacific shelf showed how predictable winter winds typically drive this cycle. Year after year, that reliability shaped coastal economies and expectations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-waters-stay-warmer-longer">Waters stay warmer longer</h2>



The 2025 season broke the pattern in clear ways. Historically, Panama's upwelling began by January 20, lasted about 66 days, and surface temperatures sometimes dipped to 66.2°F, with extremes near 58.8°F.



In 2025, surface temperatures did not fall below the 77°F threshold until March 4 - 42 days later than usual. The cool period persisted for only 12 days, an 82 percent reduction, and the minimum temperature was about 73.9°F.



The wind signal tells a similar story. When northerly winds did blow, their speeds and wind stress matched normal years, but they occurred 74 percent less often and relaxed 25 percent more hours than usual.



Those metrics line up with reduced biological production during the same window. Fewer cold days meant fewer nutrient injections and fewer phytoplankton-fueled food chains.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-weaker-jets-weaker-waters">Weaker jets, weaker waters</h2>



To understand the physics, it helps to define the Intertropical Convergence Zone (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intertropical_Convergence_Zone" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ITCZ</a>). 



This is a band near the equator where trade winds meet and storms form, and its seasonal shift steers wind patterns across Central America.



In boreal winter, pressure gradients funnel air through mountain gaps to form the Panama Low-Level Jet (PLLJ). 



The jet accelerates offshore winds that normally push surface waters away from the coast and set up the classic upwelling response.



The team notes that 2025 featured fewer of those northerly wind events. Fewer bursts meant less cumulative push on the ocean surface, so deeper water did not break the stratified layers and rise.



This change likely interacted with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/winter-of-extremes-how-will-la-nina-affect-weather-in-the-u-s/">La Niña</a>, a climate phase that can nudge the ITCZ north or south and modulate wind frequency. The authors flag this as a plausible driver but stop short of declaring a single cause.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fisheries-and-reefs-on-the-line">Fisheries and reefs on the line</h2>



Upwelling hotspots punch above their size. They produce food and jobs by feeding forage fish that in turn support larger species targeted by coastal fleets.



Warm, stable surface layers can dampen that productivity. Less nutrient delivery means weaker <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plankton-at-risk-global-warming-threatens-the-oceans-lifeline/">plankton</a> blooms and a thinner energy pipeline to the fish that communities depend on.



Reefs feel these swings too. During the 2015 - 2016 El Niño, evidence showed that upwelling in the Gulf of Panama moderated heat and reduced bleaching while nearby areas baked.



The two Pacific gulfs of Panama often move in opposite directions. A 2023 review described how the upwelling Gulf of Panama tends to run cooler and more nutrient-rich than the Gulf of Chiriquí, shaping different coral growth trajectories under today’s warming.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/panama-waters_upwelling_chlorophyll-concentration-map_Aaron-O-Dea_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/panama-waters_upwelling_chlorophyll-concentration-map_Aaron-O-Dea_1s.webp" alt="Extremely low chlorophyll concentrations in the oceans around Panama (blue = low, red = high) in February 2025, revealing the failure of the 2025 upwelling in the Gulf of Panama—for the first time in at least 40 years. Credit: Aaron O'Dea" class="wp-image-1984917"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Extremely low chlorophyll concentrations in the oceans around Panama (blue = low, red = high) in February 2025, revealing the failure of the 2025 upwelling in the Gulf of Panama - for the first time in at least 40 years. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Aaron O'Dea</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-40-year-record-broken">40-year record broken</h2>



The 40-year record makes the 2025 failure stand out. Average historical onset around January 20 contrasts with a March 4 threshold crossing in 2025.



The cool season shrank from roughly nine weeks to less than two weeks. Minimum <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-are-substantially-changing-the-seasons-of-the-ocean/">sea surface temperature</a> (SST) rose from historical lows near 66.2°F to about 73.9°F.



Northerly wind frequency fell by roughly three-quarters compared with typical seasons. Relaxation periods, when winds slacken and the ocean restratifies, increased by about one-quarter.



Those numbers capture a system that did not get enough wind energy often enough to do its usual work. The headline is not that winds were weak when they blew, but that they did not blow often.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-comes-after-collapse">What comes after collapse</h2>



Three questions now sit at the center of this story: Will the PLLJ return to its usual rhythm next dry season, will it keep sputtering, or will it swing between extremes that complicate planning?



If the failure of Panama's upwelling repeats, fishers may need to adjust timing, gear choices, or target species for leaner seasons. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/great-barrier-reef-suffers-record-coral-loss-after-years-of-growth/">Reef</a> managers may need localized alerts that treat upwelling corridors as temporary refuges that can fade without notice.



Models and moored sensors can close the gap. That means better wind tracking, finer SST mapping, and clearer links between physics, plankton, fish, and reefs across the Gulf.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2512056122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Unprecedented collapse: Panama's ocean upwelling fails for the first time in 40 years

In early 2025, something unusual happened in the Gulf of...

Over the next few decades, climate change will test communities in ways that go well beyond storms or heat waves. The pressure point is socioeconomic vulnerability, the conditions that determine whether people can prepare, respond, and recover.



A new global projections <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-025-05732-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">database</a> looks ahead from 2020 to 2100 and tracks how social factors may raise or lower that vulnerability. 



The database translates hard to compare realities into a single scale, then follows three different development <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-wins-in-2025-came-from-unexpected-places/">paths</a> to show what changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-climate-vulnerability-matters">Why climate vulnerability matters</h2>



The study was led by Dr. Janine Huisman, a researcher at Radboud University’s <a href="https://globaldatalab.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Data Lab</a>. Her team worked with Climate Analytics to build a forward looking tool that focuses on people, not just physics.



In climate science, risk arises from the interaction of hazards, exposure, and vulnerability. Hazards are the physical events, exposure is what lies in their path, and vulnerability is the human system’s sensitivity and capacity to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-is-just-three-years-away-from-dangerous-carbon-milestone/">adapt</a>.



This framing matters because cutting risk is not only about predicting the next flood. It is also about strengthening the social systems that keep losses from spiraling.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-index-works">How the index works</h2>



The team published a peer-reviewed paper that turns 11 indicators into a single index and then projects it to 2100. The index includes seven domains: the economy, education, health, gender, infrastructure, governance, and demographics.



Gender inequality is measured with the UNDP’s <a href="https://hdr.undp.org/gender-development-index" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GDI</a>. Governance uses the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators, while education relies on mean years of schooling.



“The GVI quantifies how societies are likely to respond to climate hazards,” said Dr. Huisman. The index emphasizes social conditions that shape readiness and recovery.



Countries with higher education and stronger health tend to anticipate change and adjust faster. Better infrastructure improves evacuation, communication, and emergency <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hot-oceans-weaken-earths-carbon-sink/">response</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-climate-vulnerability-paths">Future climate vulnerability paths</h2>



Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (<a href="https://earth.gov/sealevel/faq/124/what-are-shared-socioeconomic-pathways-or-ssps/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SSPs</a>) are stories that scientists use to think about different possible futures for the world. Each pathway describes how people, governments, and economies might change over the next century.&nbsp;



They include ideas about things like how fast populations grow, how much technology improves, and whether countries work together or stay divided. By comparing these different futures, researchers can see how social and economic choices affect our ability to handle climate change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-same-climate-hazard-different-outcomes">Same climate hazard, different outcomes </h2>



The projections follow the IIASA SSP <a href="https://data.ece.iiasa.ac.at/ssp/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">database</a>, using three paths that researchers often pair with climate models. SSP1 ("Sustainability") is a green road with gains in health and education and lower inequality.



SSP2 ("Middle of the Road") continues mixed trends and uneven development. SSP3 ("Regional Rivalry") is a rocky road with fragmentation, weaker cooperation, and high challenges for mitigation and adaptation.



Each path reshapes vulnerability not by changing the weather, but by changing social capacity. That is why the same hazard can produce very different outcomes across scenarios.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-projections-show">What the projections show</h2>



Under SSP1, the median vulnerability falls steadily this century, with the largest improvements in today’s most vulnerable countries. Under SSP3, change is slow, and large gaps persist between regions with high and low capacity.



Regional patterns remain visible in the mid-century maps. Northern America, Northern and Western Europe, and Australia and New Zealand sit at the low end of vulnerability by 2050 and 2100, while parts of Africa, Southern Asia, and Pacific Island States remain higher.



The gap is smallest in SSP1, wider in SSP2, and widest in SSP3. That spread reflects the storylines behind each pathway.



The projections also show that countries starting in the highest vulnerability group can, under SSP1, approach today’s low vulnerability levels by century’s end. Starting points still matter, but the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astonishing-global-heat-in-january-2025-defied-climate-expectations/">social</a> trajectory matters more.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-directing-resources-where-they-re-needed">Directing resources where they're needed</h2>



The <a href="https://www.v-20.org/the-voluntary-carbon-markets-integrity-initiative-and-climate-vulnerable-forum-and-its-v20-finance-ministers-partner-to-leverage-carbon-markets-in-support-of-climate-prosperity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vulnerable Twenty</a> (V20) countries are home to over one-fifth of the world’s population but produce only about 5 percent of global emissions. 



The researchers called for projections that prioritize human capacity, since funding and policy decisions often hinge on those measures.



“This allows policymakers and scholars to assess whether countries remain vulnerable under traditional energy use patterns, or whether vulnerabilities persist even in a rapid transition to renewable energy,” explained Dr. Rosanne Martyr of Climate Analytics.



The scenarios make it possible to test policy ideas against different social futures. The result is a tool that can support international finance decisions, loss and damage debates, and national planning. 



The database provides a clearer rationale for directing resources to places where social drivers keep risk high.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-index-with-a-stable-formula">Global index with a stable formula </h2>



The projections <a href="https://springernature.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Projections_of_climate_change_vulnerability_along_the_Shared_Socioeconomic_Pathways_2020-2100/28350935" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dataset</a> is openly available and arrives in multiple formats. Researchers and agencies can compute country scores every five years and compare them with hazard and exposure layers.



Because the index uses a stable formula, values are comparable across regions and time. That consistency helps avoid moving goalposts when tracking progress.



The tool can be paired with drought, flood, or heat wave maps to estimate risk where people live and work. It also helps identify social levers that can shift outcomes before hazards strike.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limits-of-climate-vulnerability-index">Limits of climate vulnerability index</h2>



The projections focus on human systems, not on changing hazard patterns. They are designed to complement, not replace, physical climate impact drivers.



Some indicators, like safely-managed drinking water, are not projected, and the authors tested the sensitivity of the index to such gaps. They report very strong correlations between reduced and full indicator sets, suggesting the composite remains stable.



Telephone access and electricity were modeled to saturate at different times across scenarios. That choice reflects real-world adoption curves, with uncertainty acknowledged in robustness checks.



The index is at national scale for now. Within-country differences can be large, and the team notes that a subnational extension is a priority.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-next">What happens next</h2>



The authors plan to extend the index to states and provinces so that planners can target investments where they matter most. That finer lens should make adaptation more practical and less blunt.



The database will live on the Global Data Lab <a href="https://globaldatalab.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">site</a>, with updates and visualizations to support wider use. As methods improve, future versions can incorporate better projections for difficult indicators.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-025-05732-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Data</a>.



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Where will climate change hit hardest? Global index reveals vulnerability

Over the next few decades, climate change will test communities...

Household energy costs do not hit everyone equally. Some families spend a much larger share of their income keeping the lights and heat on, and that strain adds up over time.



A large national analysis looked at what happens when homes install rooftop solar, and the results point to real relief. The picture is nuanced, and the numbers tell an important story.



<a href="https://emp.lbl.gov/people/sydney-forrester" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sydney P. Forrester</a> of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (<a href="https://www.lbl.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LBL</a>) led the analysis. The <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-48967-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> helps separate hopeful claims from what the data actually show.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-panels-and-energy-burden">Solar panels and energy burden</h2>



The term <a href="https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022-07/16.%20How%20high%20are%20household%20energy%20burdens_0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">energy burden</a> refers to the share of a household’s gross income that goes to energy bills like electricity, gas, and heating fuel. 



By definition, a high burden begins above 6 percent of income, while a severe burden begins above 10 percent.



Those thresholds matter because a high or severe burden often forces tradeoffs that affect comfort, health, and stability. When energy takes too big a slice of income, it can crowd out essentials and reduce options.



Policymakers use this metric to track equity and target support to households under pressure. Clear definitions help programs focus on the people who need help most.



Cutting energy burden is not only about saving money. It is also about reducing the risk that families have to ration heat or power during unsafe conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-researchers-found">What the researchers found</h2>



The new study examined roughly 500,000 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/floating-solar-panels-could-power-every-home-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. households</a> that adopted rooftop solar. It found that the median energy burden fell from 3.3 percent to 2.6 percent across adopters.



The authors put it plainly, “rooftop solar reduces energy burden across a majority of adopters during our study period from a median of 3.3% to 2.6%,” wrote Forrester. That is a national view, not a single city snapshot.



Low income and moderate income households also saw declines. Median burden dropped from 7.7 percent to 6.2 percent for low income households, and from 4.1 percent to 3.3 percent for moderate income households.



The share of low income households facing high or severe burden fell from 67 percent to 52 percent after adoption. For moderate income households, the share fell from 21 percent to 13 percent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-panel-results-differ">Solar panel results differ</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-panels-are-1000-times-more-powerful-with-new-tech-breakthrough/">Solar</a> does not play out the same way in every region. The study reports larger average reductions in the West, smaller in the Midwest and Northeast, and increases for the median household in the South due to cheaper electricity that limits bill reductions.



Income levels shape outcomes as well. When energy already costs a high share of income, even moderate bill cuts can matter a lot.



Heating fuel type also influences results. Homes that rely on propane or fuel oil have higher burdens that solar cannot fully offset because those fuels are not displaced by on site generation.



Weather, housing stock, and local tariffs round out the picture. Those details explain why two similar systems in different places can yield very different financial outcomes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-loans-leases-and-the-fine-print">Loans, leases, and the fine print</h2>



There is a difference between what the utility bill shows and what the full budget feels like. The study compared bill savings alone to net savings after including off bill costs like loan or lease payments and incentives.



On bills alone, the median customer saved about 1,987 dollars per year. After counting loans or leases, the median net savings was about 691 dollars per year.



That gap is not a trick, it reflects financing and incentive structures. It also shows why simple bill comparisons can overstate what households actually keep.



The ownership model matters. Lease customers, on average, saw slightly larger percentage point burden reductions than loan financed owners, but they tended to start with higher burdens.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-household-savings-from-solar-panels">Household savings from solar panels</h2>



Solar helps many households, but it is not a magic switch. You still need to look at total costs, incentives, and how your utility credits excess generation through <a href="https://seia.org/net-metering/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">net metering</a> if it applies in your area.



Comparing quotes from vetted installers can lower upfront costs and clarify long term terms. Transparent proposals make it easier to choose a system size and financing plan that fits your usage.



If your home uses natural gas, fuel oil, or propane for heat, solar will not touch those costs directly. You might see bill relief on electricity but still face high heating expenses in winter.



Pairing solar with weatherization and efficient electric heating can change the math. Insulation, air sealing, and heat pumps lower total energy needs, which lowers burden.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-policy-and-equity-angles">Policy and equity angles</h2>



“Policymakers at the federal and state level have begun to incorporate energy burden into equity goals and program evaluations,” wrote Forrester. That framing reflects a shift toward measuring whether programs reduce strain on households.



Results in the South underline a key point. Where electricity is cheap, solar may not reduce bills enough to cover financing costs in the short term, even if burdens remain relatively low.



For households with very high burdens, solar may help but not solve the problem. Pairing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-cells-made-from-moon-dust-work-incredibly-well-providing-hope-for-lunar-colonies/">solar</a> incentives with weatherization and targeted bill assistance can bring burdens below 6 percent.



Data like these help agencies set realistic goals. They also help identify groups that need tailored support, such as households heated by fuel oil or propane.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-panels-and-the-future">Solar panels and the future</h2>



The analysis used modeled hourly household loads tied to real homes, which allows coverage of many places but adds uncertainty. That approach is standard when metered data are not available at the needed scale.



Tariff assumptions reflect 2021 conditions and may differ from more recent rate reforms in some states. Changing compensation structures for exported solar can shift household outcomes.



Income estimates came from 2021 data to match the study period. That choice captures the right year for burden calculations but can differ from income at the time of adoption.



Future studies can track newer tariffs, time of use rates, and evolving incentive designs. They can also follow households over time to see how savings hold up across years.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-48967-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Solar panels save families an average of $2,000 a year, according to a new study

Household energy costs do not hit everyone equally. Some families...

Methane might not grab headlines the way carbon dioxide does, but it punches way above its weight in the climate crisis. It’s warming the planet fast - and unlike CO₂, it doesn’t stick around for centuries. 



That means cutting methane emissions now could cool things off faster than anything else on the table.



New research shows that the world’s methane emissions continue to rise steadily, and global trade accounts for nearly one-third of them. This is not good news. Worse is that the largest increases are occurring in the developing world, particularly in Asia and the Pacific. 



Those places are growing rapidly - more factories, more agriculture, more energy generation - all of which drive methane emissions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-making-it-worse">What's making it worse</h2>



The report tracks methane emissions across 164 countries and 120 economic sectors from 1990 to 2023. It’s the most detailed analysis of its kind. 



The findings show that while developed countries have figured out how to grow their economies and lower methane <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-new-source-of-methane-emissions-discovered-glacial-fracking-arctic/">output</a>, developing regions haven’t had the same success. Their methane emissions are climbing.



Industrial growth in these countries is booming, especially in places with limited access to cleaner technologies. That means the gains made by wealthier nations are being canceled out by rising emissions elsewhere.



“Global trade is responsible for approximately 30% of methane emissions,” noted the researchers. 



As trade patterns shift - especially between developing countries in what's called South–South trade - more emissions are coming from places that don’t yet have the infrastructure or regulation to manage them well.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-methane-emissions-are-a-big-deal">Why methane emissions are a big deal</h2>



Methane doesn’t last as long in the air as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rivers-are-releasing-a-massive-amount-of-carbon-dioxide-into-the-air/">carbon dioxide</a>, but it’s about 80 times more powerful at trapping heat over a 20-year period. It’s also responsible for about 30% of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/limiting-global-warming-to-1-5-degrees-celsius-would-save-billions-of-lives/">global warming</a> since the industrial era began.



And it doesn’t just heat up the planet. Methane also contributes to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-confirmed-as-a-major-risk-factor-for-dementia/">air pollution</a> that causes around 1 million premature deaths every year.



Because it breaks down more quickly than CO₂, slashing methane emissions could help stabilize global temperatures within years - not decades.



“Methane has a short atmospheric lifespan, which means reductions today can have an immediate impact,” said Professor Yuli Shan from the <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Birmingham</a>, the study’s lead author. 



“As we approach <a href="https://sdg.iisd.org/events/2025-un-climate-change-conference-unfccc-cop-30/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COP30</a>, our findings underscore the need for coordinated global action, especially in developing regions where emissions are rising fastest.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-causes-methane-emissions">What causes methane emissions</h2>



Some of the biggest sources of methane are familiar: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/expanding-oil-and-gas-fields-threaten-global-climate-goals/">oil and gas</a> drilling, <a href="https://clear.ucdavis.edu/explainers/why-do-cattle-produce-methane-and-what-can-we-do-about-it" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">livestock</a>, fertilizer production, and waste. 



But the study points out one sector in particular that needs more attention: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildlife-may-be-the-answer-to-dwindling-fertilizer-ingredient/">fertilizer</a>. Its manufacture produces a lot of methane emissions, and the demand is only growing.



There are ways to cut these emissions. The study suggests advanced leak detection in oil and gas operations, better feed for livestock to reduce emissions from digestion, and smarter waste management systems. 



The research also points to the role of consumers. Choosing to eat less red meat, for example, can reduce demand from high-emission industries.



“This study provides a roadmap for policymakers to integrate methane into national climate strategies,” said co-author Professor Klaus Hubacek from the University of Groningen. “It’s not just about where emissions occur, but why - and that requires looking at the entire supply chain.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-technology-is-working">Technology is working</h2>



Despite the increase in total methane emissions, there has been an improvement. Between 1998 and 2023, the global average methane emission coefficient fell by almost 67 percent. 



In other words, it takes a great deal less methane to generate the same economic activity than it did 25 years ago.



Developed nations have demonstrated that it is possible to expand the economy while reducing methane emissions simultaneously. They’ve done it through cleaner production methods and smarter energy use. But without help, developing nations can’t easily follow that path.



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



The climate fight is already hard enough. Allowing methane to continue rising makes it harder. 



This new research makes one thing clear: cutting methane - especially in fast-growing regions - can have a quick and powerful effect on the planet’s temperature and public health.



Methane isn’t just an environmental concern - it’s tied to our economy, our health, and our climate future. Acting now could slow warming quickly and give the world breathing room as longer-term CO₂ strategies take hold.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63383-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Global trade is fueling a dangerous rise in methane emissions

Methane might not grab headlines the way carbon dioxide does,...

<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">Invisible threat in urban air</h2>



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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



These findings, published in <a href="https://www.neurology.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neurology</a>, 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.



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.



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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>



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.



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



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.



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



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.



"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.



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



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.



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



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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>



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.



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



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.



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."



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



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.



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.



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



Published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/geology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geology</a>, 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.



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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>



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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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>



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.



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



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.



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.



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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



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



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.



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%.



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



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.



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.



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.



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



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>.



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



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

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>



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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">Nature Communications</a>.



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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>



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?



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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.



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.



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



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.



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



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



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



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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



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



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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.



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



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



Sources: 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.



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



1. Is acid rain completely gone? 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.



2. How long did solving take? 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.



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



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



5. Could acid rain return? 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.



6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"? 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>



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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.

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



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



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. 



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. 



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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



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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...

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. 



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



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



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



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. 



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).



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



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.



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.



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>.

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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Today’s Video of the Day 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.



“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. 



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.



“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;



“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.”



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



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.



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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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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Today's Video of the Day 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. 



"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."



"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.



"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.”



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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



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."



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;



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. 



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.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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

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Today's Video of the Day 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;



"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.



"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;



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.



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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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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Today’s Video of the Day 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;



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



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.



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.



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.



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.



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. 



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.



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/&nbsp; NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio



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



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



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



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;



"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.



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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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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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s Video of the Day 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;



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.



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;



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. 



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

Today’s Video of the Day 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.



“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.”



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.



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.



“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.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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Today’s Video of the Day 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.



"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.



"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."



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



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.



"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."



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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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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Today’s Video of the Day 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.



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.



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.



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.



Video Credit: ESA



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



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.

Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

[sendtonews key="fxH3eJHEkQ-2010196-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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

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Today's Video of the Day 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. 



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



"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.



"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."



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;



"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.



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.



"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.



"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."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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.

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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