High in Alaska’s Brooks Range, streams that once ran so clear you could drink from them are now the color of rusty tea. The water looks hazy, smells metallic, and can stain rocks orange for miles.&nbsp;



Fish are struggling, insect life is smothered, and the change has arrived with startling speed. Scientists say the culprit isn’t industry. It’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thawing-permafrost-could-tip-earths-climate-balance/">thawing permafrost</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-frozen-ground-wakes-up">When frozen ground wakes up</h2>



For millennia, Arctic permafrost - permanently frozen soil - locked minerals in place. As the region warms, that icy seal is failing. Water and oxygen seep into freshly thawed ground and set off a chain reaction in sulfide-rich rocks (pyrite is a prime example).&nbsp;



The chemistry is textbook: sulfides oxidize, sulfuric acid forms, and the acid leaches metals like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/iron-was-lifes-first-essential-metal-and-shaped-early-evolution/">iron</a>, aluminum, and cadmium from surrounding rock. Those metals then flush into rivers and streams.



“This is what acid mine drainage looks like,” said Tim Lyons, a biogeochemist at the University of California, Riverside. “But here, there’s no mine. The permafrost is thawing and changing the chemistry of the landscape.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-astounding-changes-in-water-chemistry">Astounding changes in water chemistry</h2>



A new study zeroes in on the Salmon River, a key waterway in the Brooks Range, documenting just how far the contamination has progressed.&nbsp;



But the authors stress the pattern isn’t isolated. Similar transformations are underway across dozens of Arctic watersheds that share the same mix of geology and thaw.



“I have worked and traveled in the Brooks Range since 1976, and the recent changes in landforms and water chemistry are truly astounding,” said David Cooper, a <a href="https://www.colostate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colorado State University</a> research scientist and co-author of the study.



The alarm first sounded in 2019. Ecologist Paddy Sullivan of the <a href="https://www.alaska.edu/alaska/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Alaska</a> was flying into the backcountry to study northward-shifting forests when his bush pilot mentioned the Salmon hadn’t cleared after snowmelt - it looked, he said, “like sewage.”&nbsp;



Sullivan’s field observations led to a collaboration with Lyons, <a href="https://www.alaskapacific.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alaska Pacific University</a>’s Roman Dial, and others to trace the cause and measure the ecological fallout.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-toxic-metals-in-alaska-s-rivers">Toxic metals in Alaska's rivers</h2>



The team’s analysis confirmed a geochemical cascade. Permafrost thaw exposes sulfide-bearing rocks, oxidation generates acidity, and the resulting acid mobilizes a suite of metals.&nbsp;



In small doses many metals are harmless or even essential. But at higher concentrations they become toxic to aquatic life - and the Salmon River’s waters now exceed the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Environmental Protection Agency</a> thresholds for several metals detrimental to fish and invertebrates.



Iron is the most visible signal. As iron oxidizes, it forms fine, orange precipitates that cloud the water and coat the streambed. That haze blocks sunlight that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctic-algae-that-once-cooled-earth-are-now-disappearing/">algae</a> and aquatic plants need, and the sludge blankets the gravel and cobbles where insect larvae live and fish spawn. 



Cadmium is more insidious: it can accumulate in fish organs, potentially affecting predators from Dolly Varden <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trout-living-in-polluted-rivers-evolved-to-tolerate-high-metal-levels-in-the-waters/">trout</a> and grayling to birds and bears.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ripple-effects-in-the-food-chain">Ripple effects in the food chain</h2>



For now, the researchers say metal levels in edible fish tissue are not considered hazardous to humans. But indirect risks loom large.&nbsp;



Chum salmon - central to the diets and culture of many Indigenous communities - lay their eggs in clean, oxygenated gravel. When those spaces fill with fine sediment and metal precipitates, the oxygen drops and eggs can suffocate. 



Changes in insect communities ripple up the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oceans-twilight-zone-stabilizes-the-marine-food-chain/">food chain</a>, weakening the foundation that supports juvenile fish and the species that eat them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-irreversible-shift-in-alaska-s-rivers">Irreversible shift in Alaska's rivers</h2>



Unlike mine sites - where engineers can install liners, drains, or neutralizing systems - these rivers wind through remote, roadless country, and the sources of contamination are everywhere thaw has reached the right rock. There is no single pipe to plug, no settling pond to build.



“Wherever you have the right kind of rock and thawing permafrost, this process can start,” Lyons said. And once it does, it tends to keep going. The only true “off switch” would be for the permafrost to refreeze - an unlikely prospect in a warming climate.



“There’s no fixing this once it starts,” Lyons said. “It’s another irreversible shift driven by a warming planet.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fingerprints-of-global-warming">Fingerprints of global warming</h2>



The experts hope their findings will help communities, land managers, and fisheries prepare - by expanding water quality monitoring, identifying vulnerable spawning grounds, planning alternative harvests if runs falter, and adapting management practices as conditions change.



The broader message is sobering. The Brooks Range is about as far from cities and smokestacks as you can get. Yet its rivers are wearing the unmistakable fingerprints of global warming.



“There are few places left on Earth as untouched as these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alaskas-rivers-are-rusting-and-the-changes-are-visible-from-space/">rivers</a>,” Lyons said. “But even here, far from cities and highways, the fingerprint of global warming is unmistakable. No place is spared.”



Rivers once known for their wild clarity are telling a new story - one where ancient ice, long trusted to keep the land’s chemistry in check, is finally letting go.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2425644122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



Image Credit: Taylor Rhoades



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Alaska's rivers are turning orange, and the changes are irreversible

High in Alaska’s Brooks Range, streams that once ran so clear you could drink from them are now the color of rusty tea. The water looks hazy, smells metallic, and can stain rocks orange for miles.&nbsp; Fish are struggling, insect life is smothered, and the change has arrived with startling speed. Scientists say the culprit isn’t industry. It’s thawing permafrost. When frozen ground wakes up For millennia, Arctic permafrost - permanently frozen soil - locked minerals in place. As the region warms, that icy seal is failing....

Carbon pollution in the atmosphere is already causing dangerous changes to the climate. Cutting greenhouse gas emissions is not enough to keep the planet within safe temperature limits. 



Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategies aim to slow climate warning by removing CO2 pollution from the atmosphere. An in-depth analysis explains why the job cannot fall on machines alone. 



Plants, soils, and other ecosystems have a part to play in carbon dioxide removal, and this help is urgently needed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-technology-and-co2-removal">Nature, technology, and CO2 removal</h2>



“We must rapidly reduce the production of new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenhouse-gas-emissions-reach-another-all-time-high/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">greenhouse gas emissions</a> worldwide. At the same time, we must also remove and store excess carbon already polluting the atmosphere," said Charlotte Streck of the <a href="https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/university-of-potsdam" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Potsdam</a>.



Streck noted that in recent years, innovative high-tech CDR companies have introduced promising solutions for capturing carbon. 



However, these solutions are still in research and development stages, and they are not yet proven at the scale needed, she added.



“At the same time, it’s well established that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mixed-forests-with-many-tree-species-are-more-effective-at-carbon-storage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forests</a> and other ecosystems are effective at storing carbon - while also providing clean air and water, safeguarding biodiversity and keeping the planet cool. We must embrace both high-tech and natural methods of CDR to succeed," said Streck.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-based-carbon-removal">Nature-based carbon removal</h2>



Matthew Brander of the <a href="https://www.business-school.ed.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Edinburgh</a> Business School explained that nature-based and engineered carbon dioxide removal can be deployed synergistically.



“Engineered novel CDR methods offer higher durability and lower reversal risks. However, conventional nature-based CDR methods that rely on storing carbon in vegetation and soil are the most immediately deployable methods at scale, and costs are comparatively low," said Brander.



"It’s clear that high-tech and natural CDR methods can complement - not compete with - one another.”



Peter Ellis of <a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Nature Conservancy</a> pointed out that engineered CDR is extremely expensive and will require huge amounts of cheap renewable energy, along with years of investment in research and development, before it’s ready to scale.



“In contrast, nature-based CDR is cheap and powered by photosynthesis, which has been in research and development in efficient self-replicating prototypes called plants for 3 billion years,” he added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-defining-carbon-dioxide-removal">Defining carbon dioxide removal </h2>



The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines carbon dioxide removal (CDR) as any human activity that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores it securely - whether in rocks, soils, oceans, or long-lived products.



These methods differ based on how the CO₂ is captured, such as through photosynthesis, chemical processes, or other reactions.



The removal methods also depend on where the carbon is stored and how long it remains stored - whether in living biomass, mineralized form, or deep ocean sediments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-best-path-for-co2-removal">The best path for CO2 removal</h2>



No single <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-based-carbon-dioxide-removal-may-not-be-effective/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CDR option</a> checks every box for cost, speed, scale, and long-term storage. The analysis shows that matching methods to specific needs - and mixing several of them - is the safest path forward.



High-tech systems can lock carbon away for centuries once they work at scale. Yet they are young, expensive, and energy-hungry. 



Natural pathways, such as restoring forests or rebuilding soils, are ready today, cost less, and offer side benefits like habitat and clean water. The downside is that trees can burn, pests can spread, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lightning-near-the-north-pole-signals-major-climate-shifts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate shifts</a> can undo the gains.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-a-mixed-approach-works-best">Why a mixed approach works best</h2>



CDR planners often talk about “reversal risk” - the chance that stored carbon could leak back into the atmosphere. For example, injecting CO₂ into rock is risky at first, before it hardens into minerals. 



Forests, meanwhile, can be lost to fire, pests, or land use changes before they reach full maturity. That’s why success depends on mixing solutions so the weaknesses of one are offset by the strengths of another.



“Policymakers and investors should encourage a balanced, comprehensive approach to investments in both nature- and tech-based CDR,” said Streck. 



“A balanced portfolio mitigates against risks of any one strategy and is most likely to make meaningful contributions toward achieving <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/paris-agreement-which-countries-are-honoring-their-pledges/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paris Agreement</a> goals.”



Currently, most investment is going toward new technologies that haven’t yet scaled. 



But by also supporting proven nature-based projects, we can remove carbon right away - while giving engineers the time to develop more durable, high-tech options for the future.



And there’s no time to waste. Climate math is unforgiving, and every year of delay makes the job harder. 



By pairing shovels and sensors with seeds and soil, we can cut emissions, store carbon, and offer future generations a better shot at a stable climate.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14693062.2025.2501267" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Climate Policy</a>.



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We cannot rely on technology alone for carbon dioxide removal

Carbon pollution in the atmosphere is already causing dangerous changes...

In a warming world, the health of forests can change in surprising ways. A new analysis highlights how a weakening Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) might bring a bit more rain to the southern portion of the Amazon during its most water-limited months. 



Scientists have been measuring changes in ocean temperatures and current <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-oceans-day-2025-sustaining-what-sustains-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">patterns</a> for decades. They have uncovered evidence that suggests a weakened AMOC, marked by cooler waters in the northern Atlantic, influences rainfall across South America. 



The research was led by Dr. Annika Högner from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (<a href="https://iiasa.ac.at/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IIASA</a>), working with other experts in climate science.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-weak-ocean-currents-bring-more-amazon-rain">Weak ocean currents bring more Amazon rain</h2>



The AMOC sits among several large systems with the potential to shift in irreversible ways. A drop in its strength alters heat flow toward the northern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-dolphin-day-2025-honoring-the-oceans-most-playful-minds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">latitudes</a>. That temperature change can trigger atmospheric responses, leading to higher moisture flow toward parts of South America.



Dry spells in the Amazon can stress trees and put biodiversity at risk. The study found an approximate 4.8% jump in dry season rain for each one million cubic meters per second of weakened AMOC. 



At the same time, the researchers warn that overall rainfall is still declining across parts of this massive rainforest, due to rising temperatures and <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/global/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deforestation</a> linked to anthropogenic <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03629-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pressures</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-currents-and-amazon-rainfall">Ocean currents and Amazon rainfall </h2>



“The dry <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-seaweed-day-2025-saving-the-oceans-sustainable-powerhouse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">season</a> is the most vulnerable time for the Amazon rainforest. Our findings reveal that a weakening AMOC contributes to increased rainfall in the Southern Amazon during this time,” explained Högner.&nbsp;



To confirm the link, the team examined reanalysis datasets covering 40 years. They focused on how cooler northern waters influenced the <a href="https://rmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/joc.7843" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">teleconnection patterns</a> carrying moisture toward the southern Amazon. 



The researchers also studied the <a href="https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/clim/23/6/2009jcli3210.1.xml" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Caribbean low-level jet</a>, a key wind corridor that channels airflow into the region.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-balancing-effects-and-ongoing-concerns">Balancing effects and ongoing concerns</h2>



Study co-author Nico Wunderling is a professor at the Center for Critical Computational Studies and scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.



“The Amazon is still drying. The stabilizing interaction we found from the AMOC onto the Southern Amazon competes with other effects like those arising from deforestation and increasing temperatures,” noted Wunderling.



Experts stress that the added rainfall from the weakened AMOC has not been enough to halt the broader decline in water supply. The dryness is spreading because temperature spikes intensify evaporation, while land use changes reduce forest cover and moisture recycling.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-forest-health-from-space">Tracking forest health from space</h2>



The researchers used <a href="https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/dataprod/mod13.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">satellite-derived NDVI data</a> to assess vegetation greenness in the southern Amazon. This index helps measure how well plants are photosynthesizing, providing a direct window into forest vitality during stressful seasons.



By analyzing four decades of satellite records, the team linked higher NDVI values with years of boosted dry season rainfall. 



This connection reinforces the view that precipitation gains from weakened ocean currents are having a tangible, though limited, effect on Amazon forest health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emissions-cause-long-term-harm">Emissions cause long-term harm</h2>



Climate tipping elements may reinforce or oppose one another. In this instance, a softer AMOC has slowed the drop in dry season rain over certain areas, offsetting about 17% of the rainfall deficit since the early 1980s. 



Although this partial relief is important, it cannot overcome the warming trends that harm the region.



Researchers emphasize the need to lower greenhouse gases quickly, because the planet’s wide network of climatic interactions is complicated. 



A cooling effect in one corner of the Atlantic might help in small ways, but it does not override the damage caused by ever-rising temperatures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-land-use-and-future-rainfall">Climate, land use, and future rainfall</h2>



Analysts say it is vital to keep monitoring the Amazon and the AMOC. Satellite data and field observations could reveal if these current interactions hold steady in the next few decades. 



Shifts in <a href="https://earth.gsfc.nasa.gov/climate/data/deep-blue/aerosols" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aerosols</a>, land cover, and ocean conditions will likely shape future rainfall patterns.



The Amazon remains a centerpiece of global biodiversity, storing significant carbon and housing countless species. Insights into how ocean currents modulate rainfall are important for understanding new stressors on forest stability. 



Strengthening local protections also remains a priority. These measures can help the forest withstand the extra hits brought on by warming.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-ocean-currents-affect-amazon-health">How ocean currents affect Amazon health</h2>



The dry season is when the southern Amazon is most vulnerable to fire, tree mortality, and loss of ecosystem function. 



Even slight drops in rainfall during this period can create long-term stress that reduces forest density and lowers the forest’s ability to recycle moisture.



Studies show that dry season length and intensity are among the key variables predicting whether forests can remain stable. Any rainfall buffering during this season - even if partial - is particularly relevant to forest survival.



The study is published in <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/addb62" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental Research Letters</a>.



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Weakening ocean currents provide a rainfall boost in the Amazon

In a warming world, the health of forests can change...

Air pollution causes around 50,000 deaths each year in the U.S. Yet, not all pollutants are equally harmful. Among the most dangerous are fine airborne particles.



Historically, research has focused on PM 2.5, particles smaller than 2.5 microns. Now, scientists have turned to an even finer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-environment-day-2025-plastic-pollution-is-choking-our-planet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollutant</a>: PM 1. These particles, less than one micron wide, are small enough to infiltrate deep into human lungs.



A recent study&nbsp;by a team at <a href="https://washu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Washington University in St. Louis</a> offers the first high-resolution, 25-year dataset of PM 1 levels across the contiguous United States.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-particle-pollution-needs-to-be-mapped">Particle pollution needs to be mapped</h2>



“This measurement serves as a starting point to understand which <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/millions-of-people-die-from-air-pollution-each-year-yet-theres-still-a-lack-of-monitoring/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollutants</a> regulators could target to make the most effective health impact,” said study co-author Dr. Randall Martin.



Unlike PM 2.5, which includes larger particles like dust, PM 1 is mostly made up of combustion products: black carbon, sulphates, and organic matter. 



These smaller particles reach the alveolar regions of the lungs and cause more damage per unit mass. PM 1 can come from diesel exhaust, wildfires, and also industrial emissions.



Because the pollutant bypasses the body’s defenses more easily, its impact may be more severe. These particles are about six times smaller than red blood cells. Their size allows them to travel deep into lung tissues and even the bloodstream.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wildfires-are-a-setback">Wildfires are a setback</h2>



Thanks to environmental regulations, average PM 1 levels have dropped. From 1998 to 2022, the U.S. saw a significant decline in PM 1 levels at about 0.23 µg/m³ per year. This accounted for 86 percent of the total PM 2.5 reduction. 



But since 2010, this progress has slowed due to wildfires, especially in the western states. Areas like Los Angeles and Phoenix now show higher uncertainties in PM 1 estimates because wildfires boost organic matter concentrations. 



According the study, some western regions see annual PM 1 uncertainty levels exceeding 30 percent, mainly due to wildfire smoke.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uneven-distribution-of-particle-pollution">Uneven distribution of particle pollution </h2>



The study shows that PM 1 levels remain highest in the eastern U.S. and in major cities. PM 1 sources are mostly human-made, making it easier to manage compared to natural dust. 



Urban populations, especially Black and Asian communities, have seen the greatest improvements due to reduced combustion <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2025-our-power-our-planet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emissions</a>.



But not all communities benefit equally. Native American communities, often living in the arid west, saw smaller reductions. Wildfires and natural dust contribute more heavily to their exposure, and these are harder to control.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-term-monitoring-of-pm-1">Long-term monitoring of PM 1</h2>



This study used satellite data, chemical models, and ground stations to estimate particle levels across over eight million land pixels. The data aligns well with physical ground measurements from devices like MOUDI and TEOM.



According to the analysis, 83 percent of the U.S. population lived in areas with PM 1 uncertainty under 10 percent. “Putting the seven species together, we can calculate the total PM 1 concentration over the country,” said Dr. Chi Li, lead author of the study.



In 2022, the major components of PM 1 included organic matter, which made up 47 percent of the total, followed by sulphate at 22 percent, nitrate at 12 percent, black carbon at eight percent, and ammonium at seven percent. 



In contrast, dust and sea salt, which are more prominent in PM 2.5, contributed less than five percent to PM 1.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-this-means-for-future-policy">What this means for future policy</h2>



“When EPA first promulgated a fine PM air quality standard in 1997, there was considerable discussion about regulating PM 1 or PM 2.5,” said study co-author Professor Jay Turner. 



“For numerous reasons, including but not limited to the lack of health impacts studies for PM 1 compared to studies for PM 2.5, the latter was chosen.”



That may change. PM 1 is more closely tied to urban combustion, which makes it easier to regulate. Unlike mineral dust, these emissions can be managed through policy. The study strongly recommends integrating PM 1 into monitoring systems and health impact studies.



“This dataset offers unprecedented information for the United States about an important <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-can-reshape-a-babys-brain-before-birth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollutant</a> for which few other measurements exist,” said Dr. Martin.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-targeting-tiny-particles-to-save-lives">Targeting tiny particles to save lives</h2>



As air pollution continues to change due to shifting environmental conditions and human activities, it becomes increasingly important to pay closer attention to these specific particles. 



Although they are extremely small, they pose serious risks to human health and can penetrate deep into the body. For a long time, these harmful particles have not received enough attention in air quality regulations, making them a hidden danger in many communities. 



However, researchers now have access to better tools, advanced monitoring technologies, and long-term data that make it possible to track and understand their impact more clearly. 



With this new information, there is a real opportunity to create stronger protections and shape policies that respond more accurately to the health risks posed by particle pollution.



With continued efforts, PM 1 could become the next target for environmental health policy in the U.S. - a shift that might save thousands of lives each year.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(25)00094-4/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Lancet Planetary Health</a>.



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Air pollution map reveals health threats from tiny particles

Air pollution causes around 50,000 deaths each year in the...

Mercury levels in Arctic animals keep climbing even though the world has reduced new emissions. A new study shows that mercury already in the ocean is drifting northward on century-long currents and silently refueling pollution.



Researchers from <a href="https://international.au.dk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aarhus University</a> and the <a href="https://www.ku.dk/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Copenhagen</a> analyzed more than 700 samples collected across Greenland.



The experts compared modern tissues from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-polar-bear-day-keeping-moms-and-cubs-safe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polar bears</a>, seals, fish, peat, and even 40-year-old archives, then matched each sample’s six mercury isotopes - slight atomic variants that act like barcodes - to known ocean pathways.



“These isotope signatures act like fingerprints, revealing the sources and transport pathways of mercury,” explained lead author Jens Søndergaard, a senior researcher at Aarhus.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-old-emissions-ride-ocean-loops">Old emissions ride ocean loops</h2>



When smokestacks or gold mines release mercury, the vapor can circle the globe for a year before it falls out of the air. Once it sinks into seawater, however, the metal can linger for three hundred years.



The new study shows that this “legacy mercury” is now the main supplier to the Arctic. Water entering central West Greenland rides the North Atlantic’s Irminger Current and arrives with a different isotopic stamp than water feeding the north and east coasts, which drifts down from the Arctic Ocean.



In regions swept by the Atlantic branch, animals carry less total mercury but show higher values of the heavy isotope δ202Hg. Farther north and east, concentrations are higher and the isotope mix points to older Arctic stores.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mercury-climbs-in-arctic-predators">Mercury climbs in Arctic predators</h2>



Scientists have tracked Arctic mercury since the late 1970s, hoping to see a decline after many countries ratcheted down pollution.



Instead, concentrations in polar bears and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/newly-discovered-species-of-toothed-whale-is-the-earliest-ancestor-of-modern-dolphins/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">toothed whales</a> are now twenty- to thirtyfold above pre-industrial levels.



“We’ve monitored mercury in Arctic animals for over 40 years. Despite declining global emissions since the 1970s, we see no corresponding decrease in Arctic concentrations - on the contrary,” said senior author Rune Dietz, an ecologist at Aarhus.



The new isotope data show why: mercury carried by currents can take up to a century and a half to reach Greenland.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-isotopes-trace-mercury-s-path">Isotopes trace mercury's path</h2>



Mercury atoms come in several naturally occurring forms that differ slightly in mass. Industrial smokestacks, volcanic plumes, rivers, and ocean chemistry each leave a characteristic mix.



By scanning these mixes in muscle, fur, and ancient peat layers, the team drew a map of hidden routes. In central West Greenland the isotope blend matches Atlantic inflow; in north-eastern sites it matches the high-mercury Arctic Basin.



The peat cores also tell a time-lapse story: layers laid down in recent centuries hold heavier isotopes than layers deeper in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/permafrost-thaw-is-a-rising-threat-to-arctic-communities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">permafrost</a>, confirming that modern pollution is still piling up.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-impacts-of-mercury">Health impacts of mercury</h2>



“Mercury affects the immune system, reproduction, and possibly sensory functions in animals, which can impact their survival,” said co-author Christian Sonne, a professor at Aarhus.



Seals, polar bears, and seabirds already harbor levels linked to suppressed immunity and hormonal disruption. 



Indigenous communities that rely on marine mammals for food face the same toxic threat. With mercury reservoirs still drifting north, even the toughest emission cuts may not deliver quick relief.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-arctic-slow-to-reflect-progress">Arctic slow to reflect progress</h2>



The <a href="https://minamataconvention.org/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United Nations Minamata Convention</a> aims to curb new mercury emissions. The Danish team’s work explains why Arctic numbers refuse to fall despite progress elsewhere.



Ocean inventories of legacy mercury - much of it released during the 19th- and 20th-century coal age - are simply too vast and too slow-moving. Any evaluation of the treaty’s success, the authors warn, must account for that time lag.



The group is expanding its isotope surveys through the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbial-awakening-arctic-food-webs-are-transforming-from-green-to-brown/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GreenPaths project</a> and collaborating with international programs such as WhaleAdapt to follow mercury’s course through other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbial-awakening-arctic-food-webs-are-transforming-from-green-to-brown/">Arctic food webs</a>.



By stitching together isotope records from peat, glaciers, rivers, and marine life, they hope to predict hotspots years before the pollutant arrives.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-can-be-done-now"><a></a>What can be done now?</h2>



Reducing modern mercury still matters; every gram kept out of the water is one less gram entering the conveyor belt.



But policymakers must pair emission goals with long-term monitoring, dietary guidance for northern communities, and studies on how climate-driven shifts in currents could speed or slow the toxic flow.



The lesson is stark: once mercury reaches the sea, it becomes a traveler with no passport expiry. And as the new isotope “fingerprints” show, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forever-chemicals-threaten-arctic-wildlife-and-human-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic’s wildlife</a> - and the people who depend on it - will keep feeling the aftershocks of 19th- and 20th-century pollution well into the 22nd.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-60356-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Mercury pollution rides ocean currents north, threatening Arctic wildlife

Mercury levels in Arctic animals keep climbing even though the...

In one of the largest analyses of veteran medical records, experts have uncovered patterns that point to significant differences in dementia risk from one region of the United States to another.



The researchers used long-term data on more than one million older adults to highlight how location may link to memory-related health conditions.



The findings come from a study led by experts at the <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, San Francisco</a>. The team evaluated information spanning over two decades, offering detailed insights on where rates of this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dementia-is-a-growing-global-health-crisis-with-a-staggering-cost/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">condition</a> appear to rise more steeply.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-the-risk-of-dementia">Mapping the risk of dementia </h2>



The researchers compared several key regions to a Mid-Atlantic reference category, analyzing how frequently dementia appeared. There were substantial differences, even when accounting for health factors like cardiovascular disease.



According to the data, the Southeast region showed a 25% higher rate than the Mid-Atlantic. 



The Northwest and Rocky Mountains both measured a 23% increase, followed by the South at 18% higher. The Southwest recorded a 13% rise, and the Northeast posted a 7% growth in dementia cases.&nbsp;



Another striking aspect of the research was its inclusion of both rural and urban communities. 



Many assumed that people in cities might get earlier diagnoses, while those in remote towns might face more barriers to care. The results suggest that the overall regional gap remains, regardless of population density.



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



Experts have noted the importance of distinguishing dementia, which involves issues with thinking and daily function, from normal aging. 



Over six million Americans are believed to be living with <a href="https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">memory-related conditions</a>, based on the latest estimates.&nbsp;



“The study underscores the need to understand regional differences in dementia and the importance of region-specific prevention and intervention efforts,” said Dr. Kristin Yaffe, senior author of the research paper. 



The experts plan to delve deeper into the reasons behind these geographic disparities, but this study offers a map of where new cases emerge more often.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-local-factors-may-increase-dementia-risk">Local factors may increase dementia risk</h2>



These findings encourage a careful look at local <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/doctors-say-this-lifestyle-factor-smoking-is-biggest-contributor-to-cognitive-decline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">factors</a> that might increase the risk. A closer examination could involve social conditions, such as education opportunities or consistent access to nutritious foods.



“Quality of education, early life conditions, and environmental exposures may be among those factors,” said Dr. Christina Dintica, lead author of the study. 



Dr. Dintica plans to build on these observations in collaboration with other scientists to clarify what triggers or accelerates cognitive impairment in certain areas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strategies-for-early-intervention">Strategies for early intervention </h2>



Some professionals suggest that regional differences might reflect variations in diagnostic practices. 



Since many people rely on the <a href="https://www.va.gov/health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Veterans Health Administration</a>, there is a growing call for uniform screening tools that can identify problems in any setting.&nbsp;



Many focus on cardiovascular health and other physical conditions that impact brain aging. Approaches that integrate preventive care, like good blood pressure control, might reduce the risk.



These strategies could be critical because early intervention has shown promise in lessening the impact of memory-related conditions. 



Community organizations, local clinics, and broader public health campaigns can all work in tandem to educate people about signs of cognitive decline.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-targeted-outreach-to-reduce-dementia-risk">Targeted outreach to reduce dementia risk</h2>



Many families notice the toll that dementia takes on independence. When local healthcare resources lack specialized training, some conditions might slip through the cracks. 



As a result, individuals could miss early support that might preserve their daily functioning. Regional studies, like this one, help put a spotlight on areas that might benefit most from targeted outreach.



Some policy experts point to the wide range of lifestyles across the country. The study offers a framework for pinpointing regions that could strengthen their health services.



States with large rural regions face the challenge of connecting residents to regular checkups. Others with diverse populations may need culturally tailored tools for spotting early cognitive warning signs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-supporting-healthier-communities">Supporting healthier communities </h2>



Researchers see these results as a call to coordinate local and national resources. They hope improved data sharing will inform doctors, public officials, and community advocates.&nbsp;



Updated screening efforts may yield earlier detection and help patients avoid complications. By understanding which locales show higher incidence, health professionals can adapt their strategies to serve those neighborhoods more effectively.



Some experts also predict new collaborations across state lines. Groups that have implemented successful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stress-hijacks-the-brain-disrupting-sleep-and-memory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brain health</a> programs can show others how to replicate what works. 



Early education campaigns that encourage mental stimulation, balanced diets, and regular exercise may reduce the risk. These factors can support a healthier population and lessen the overall burden on healthcare systems.



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



This project is considered an important step for pinpointing the unique factors that drive memory concerns in different parts of the country. Research teams plan to examine multiple angles, from air quality to job markets, to see how they might influence older adults. 



While some of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/risk-of-dementia-is-much-higher-than-previously-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">risk factors</a> may overlap, clarifying their individual impact could improve healthcare planning.



The ultimate goal is to use this information to keep more people living independently in their communities. 



Whether through improved diagnosis, better treatment methods, or programs that promote social connectedness, knowledge of risk patterns can shape everything from local clinics to statewide policies.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/article-abstract/2834952" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JAMA Neurology</a>.



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Where you live may affect your dementia risk 

In one of the largest analyses of veteran medical records,...

The,Child,Examines,The,Water,With,A,Magnifying,Glass,In

Until about ten years ago, the idea that tiny microplastic fragments lurk in every glass of tap water poured from our home faucets sounded like a plot twist better suited to a dystopian novel than a kitchen conversation. 



Yet tests across the globe report tens to thousands of these flecks - known as nano- and microplastics - floating invisibly in container we fill.



Their impact on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-in-human-brains-may-affect-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human body</a> remains under intense investigation, but nobody invites plastic to dinner.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-could-it-really-be-this-easy">Could it really be this easy?</h2>



Chemists Zhanjun Li and Eddy Zeng, working with colleagues in Guangzhou, China, found that pairing heat with minerals already present in hard water removes up to ninety percent of microplastics before the kettle reaches the boiling point.



Apparently, boiling tap water, the same step families take to brew coffee or mix baby formula, can strip away a large share of those <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sounding-the-alarm-microplastics-are-disrupting-photosynthesis-around-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">invisible invaders</a>.



The discovery grew from a study that set out to see whether everyday habits might blunt a problem framed as too large for individuals to tackle.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microplastics-and-boiling-water">Microplastics and boiling water</h2>



When water rich in calcium heats past 212°F, minerals begin to crystallize into flakes of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562303/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">calcium carbonate</a>. The process produces the same chalky scale that lines well-used kettles. 



In the experiment, those newborn flakes drifted through the swirling water and latched onto free-floating plastic, wrapping each shard until it sank and knitted itself into the growing crust at the bottom of the pot.



Tests on three common resins - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/filter-feeders-transform-microplastics-into-a-bigger-threat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene</a> - showed that at least four-fifths of these particles wound up trapped after a five-minute boil and a short cool-down. 



That figure climbed near ninety percent when the water held about 300 milligrams of calcium carbonate per liter, a level typical of hard-water regions from San Antonio to Indianapolis.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-minerals-matter">Why minerals matter</h2>



Water chemistry varies wildly across the United States. In soft water, where dissolved calcium dips below roughly 60 milligrams per liter, the Guangzhou group still recorded a twenty-five percent plastic drop. That is helpful but leaves most debris adrift. 



Hard water, by contrast, supplies more building blocks for limescale. The higher the mineral load, the more surfaces form for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/kitchen-germs-are-an-underestimated-threat-to-public-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plastic to cling to</a>, so the removal rate rises quickly.



Because the flakes grow fast, they can be rinsed or brushed away from cookware, taking the microplastics with them. 



Any fragments that stay suspended can be caught in a paper coffee filter - an item already parked next to many kitchen sinks. 



The method costs pennies, requires no electricity beyond the burner, and fits households that lack space or funds for advanced filtration systems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evidence-outside-the-lab">Evidence outside the lab</h2>



The idea that everyday heat can curb<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-are-widespread-in-the-seafood-we-eat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> invisible plastics</a> meshes with recent field studies. 



In 2025, scientists sampling bottled and tap water across Europe tallied anywhere from 19 to 1,154 particles per liter, with the highest counts of microplastics found in municipal supplies drawn from mineral-rich aquifers. 



By targeting the same minerals, the boiling trick offers a stopgap while policymakers debate stricter water standards.



Health agencies such as the <a href="https://www.who.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Health Organization</a> state that current data are too thin to draw firm links between microplastic intake and disease, yet they encourage cutting exposure where practical. 



<a href="https://www.usgs.gov/programs/environmental-health-program" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The U.S. Geological Survey</a>, in its strategic blueprint on environmental health, echoes that stance and calls for simple interventions people can adopt today.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tips-for-the-kitchen">Tips for the kitchen</h2>



If your kettle already furs up between cleanings, you likely benefit most. Bring the water to a rolling boil for five minutes; let it stand until steam subsides, then pour slowly, leaving the whitish crust behind. 



Give the kettle a periodic scrub to wash the captured plastics down the drain - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-are-escaping-from-water-treatment-plants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">municipal treatment plants</a> are better equipped to trap larger, bonded particles than loose nanoscale ones.



Residents in soft-water zones can still gain a modest cut by adding food-grade calcium, such as a pinch of pharmaceutical lime, before heating. 



The research team cautions that mineral additives should stay within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (<a href="https://www.epa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EPA</a>) secondary limit of 120 milligrams per liter for calcium to avoid taste issues.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-boiling-water-vs-microplastics">Boiling water vs. microplastics</h2>



Boiling is no silver bullet. Engineers are experimenting with bio-based filters that trap plastic shreds in wastewater plants, while chemists <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-process-converts-microplastics-into-valuable-graphene-wonder-material/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">explore enzymes</a> that nibble bottles back into harmless molecules. 



Still, the Guangzhou study shows how an old-school practice can chip away at a modern pollutant without fancy gear. 



Pairing stovetop heat with a cheap paper filter slashes the largest doses that reach our mugs, even as science hunts for long-term fixes upstream.



Plastic pollution will not vanish overnight, yet this research reminds us that progress sometimes hides in plain sight.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.estlett.4c00081" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental Science and Technology Letters</a>.



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Scientists find a surprisingly simple way to remove microplastics from your tap water

Until about ten years ago, the idea that tiny microplastic...

A year-long experiment on a Central Valley dairy farm has confirmed that sealing manure lagoons under gas-tight tarps can trap roughly 80 percent of the methane they would otherwise release.



By capturing the gas and sending it to fuel markets, the system turns a potent climate threat into a usable resource.



Led by researchers from the <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Riverside</a> (UCR), the study gives the first independent, year-over-year check on dairy “digesters” that California regulators have counted on to meet aggressive methane-cutting goals.



More than 130 such systems already dot the state’s milk belt. Until now, officials had relied mainly on engineering models to judge their effectiveness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-capturing-methane-gas-on-a-dairy-farm">Capturing methane gas on a dairy farm</h2>



The test site sits in Tulare County, the nation’s top milk-producing region. Hot summers keep open manure ponds bubbling like low-grade cauldrons, releasing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-ai-can-help-reduce-methane-emissions-from-cows/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">methane</a> that warms the planet more than 80 times faster than carbon dioxide over two decades.



Engineers solved the problem by floating a heavy, flexible cover across the lagoon and piping the captured gas through scrubbers before sending it to truck fleets as a low-carbon diesel replacement.



“The digesters can leak, and they sometimes do,” said Francesca Hopkins, the UCR climate scientist who led the work. “But when the system is built well and managed carefully, the emissions really drop. That’s what we saw here.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-the-invisible"><a></a>Measuring the invisible</h2>



Hopkins’ team set up mobile gas analyzers inside a white research van. For 12 months before construction and twelve months after, they drove grid patterns around the dairy, logging hundreds of methane readings under different winds and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-warming-fuels-dangerous-methane-feedback-loop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">temperatures</a>.



The before-and-after comparison showed an 80 percent decline in methane drifting off the property once the cover and piping were in place.



That figure lines up closely with the reduction assumed in California’s official climate inventory.



Most earlier studies had relied on short snapshots or on-site sensors. The new roaming approach captured seasonal swings, day-night cycles, and operational hiccups, providing a more realistic picture of performance over time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-leaks-fixes-and-fast-improvements"><a></a>Leaks, fixes, and fast improvements</h2>



During early tests the team picked up sudden methane spikes. They alerted <a href="https://calbioenergy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">California Bioenergy</a>, the company that built and operates the digester. Technicians located torn seams and loose joints, repaired them, and the plumes vanished on subsequent drives.



“This was a textbook case of adaptive management,” Hopkins said. “The partnership between scientists, the company, and the farmer really made a huge difference.”



The episode underlines a broader lesson: digesters work best when operators monitor them closely and move quickly to plug leaks.



California’s new fleet of methane-tracking satellites could help, flagging large plumes so ground crews can respond in days instead of months.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-other-pollutants-remain-untouched">Other pollutants remain untouched</h2>



Digesters leave other pollution untouched. They do not curb <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-green-tech-ammonia-fertilizer-production-using-earths-natural-forces/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ammonia</a>, a lung-irritating gas, or tiny airborne particles that can hang over dairy counties on still summer days. 



The hardware is also expensive. Farmers need permits, financing, and maintenance contracts to keep covers inflated and engines running.



“They’re not for every farm,” Hopkins said. “But for dairies that can make it work, this is one of the most cost-effective ways we have to cut these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/2023-climate-change-report-record-high-temperatures-greenhouse-gases-sea-level-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">greenhouse gas emissions</a>.”



California’s climate program helps in this regard by awarding low-carbon fuel credits for each ton of methane kept out of the air. Those credits, sold to oil companies that need to hit clean-fuel targets, can repay installation costs in a few years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-slashing-methane-emissions-from-dairy-farms">Slashing methane emissions from dairy farms</h2>



State agencies plan to slash dairy methane 40 percent below 2013 levels by 2030. The new study suggests that target remains within reach if existing digesters keep performing and more come online. 



The research also shows that rigorous, transparent monitoring can build confidence among regulators, industry, and local communities.



“There’s so much division in the climate space,” Hopkins said. “But this is a real example of cooperation that leads to measurable results.”



Digesters will not solve every problem tied to large-scale dairying, yet the Tulare County project proves they can deliver the climate benefit promised on their labels.



With careful design, vigilant upkeep, and open data, farms can turn what was once a methane plume into fuel for trucks, revenue for operators, and progress toward a lower-carbon future.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcbb.70047">Global Change Biology Bioenergy</a>.



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Dairy farms can join the climate fight by trapping methane

A year-long experiment on a Central Valley dairy farm has...

That sea of manicured green grass stretching across parks, backyards, golf courses, and cemeteries may be doing more than just pleasing the eye.



A new study led by scientists at <a href="https://www.psu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pennsylvania State University</a> shows that turfgrass - typically overlooked in urban greenhouse gas models - plays a small but crucial role in shaping <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-carbon-dioxide-travels-in-the-atmosphere/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon dioxide</a> levels. And in winter, when most vegetation is thought to go dormant, these lawns are still quietly at work.



The findings stem from research conducted as part of the <a href="https://sites.psu.edu/influx/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Indianapolis Flux Experiment</a> (INFLUX). By adding turfgrass-specific data to carbon models, the team has improved how scientists account for the biological activity of vegetation, leading to more accurate estimates of human-caused emissions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lawns-role-in-carbon-emissions">Lawns' role in carbon emissions</h2>



The study could help reduce uncertainty in estimating human-caused emissions and guide more effective greenhouse gas policies.



Jason Horne is the lead author and a doctoral candidate in meteorology and atmospheric science at Penn State. “There has been a push to better understand the processes that are going on in these areas, because it’s really complex,” he said.



Urban greenhouse gas emissions mainly come from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-warnings-fossil-fuels-are-causing-climate-health-and-biodiversity-crises/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil fuel</a> combustion - cars, heating systems, industrial activity - but vegetation complicates the picture. 



Plants absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and release it through respiration and decay. 



Accurately separating these processes is essential when trying to isolate the human fingerprint on emissions. "And for that, we need to have a good idea of what the biology is doing,” Horne added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-grass-is-active-in-winter">Grass is active in winter</h2>



To get that biological snapshot, the team placed eddy covariance flux towers - sensors that track gas exchanges between the land and air - above two distinct turfgrass sites in Indianapolis: a golf course and a cemetery.



These measurements ran for a full year before and after grass was added to the simulation models.



The difference was clear. Existing vegetation types in the models couldn’t match the real seasonal behavior observed at these sites. One key moment stood out: winter.



“Our models were not able to capture the carbon dioxide being removed from the atmosphere by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-foundation-of-life-is-at-risk-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photosynthesis</a> in the middle of winter,” Horne said. “The model showed vegetation was a net source of carbon dioxide during the middle of the day.”



But field data showed that even during freezing temperatures, turfgrass was still performing photosynthesis, albeit at lower levels. That quiet activity matters more than it seems, especially in cities where lawn coverage is extensive.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-grass-improves-city-models">Grass improves city models</h2>



Armed with these observations, the researchers created a new turfgrass vegetation type within their simulation. This tweak allowed the model to better reflect actual winter photosynthesis rates and adjust for the role lawns in removing carbon dioxide from the air.



“Turfgrass photosynthesis is not highly active during the winter, but it’s active enough to make a difference in the models - and that could make a difference in how we understand every emission source,” Horne said.



Misrepresenting vegetation as emitting carbon can lead to inaccurate estimates of total human-caused emissions. For cities like Indianapolis, where 20% to 30% of the land area is covered in turfgrass, even subtle changes add up.



“Even if we see a small drawdown of carbon dioxide in the middle of winter, it’s not insignificant,” Horne emphasized. “If you are not considering that, you may be underestimating anthropogenic emissions.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lawn-care-affects-emissions">Lawn care affects emissions</h2>



The two study sites revealed additional insights. The golf course’s grass was irrigated, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fertilized-soil-pollution-california/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fertilized</a>, and mowed regularly, while the cemetery’s lawn was less intensely managed.



This difference likely affects both carbon uptake and release. It highlights the need for future research on maintenance practices and environmental factors.



“But it’s clear from our work that turfgrass lawns are worthy of dedicated study,” Horne said. “This could help reduce the amount of uncertainty when we're trying to estimate anthropogenic emissions to guide policy decisions.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-urban-green-spaces"><a></a>Rethinking urban green spaces</h2>



The work highlights the subtle but real influence of managed lawn grass on carbon dynamics. It also strengthens the case for refining urban emission models to include a broader, more accurate picture of vegetation activity.



By incorporating turfgrass into simulations, scientists are improving their grasp on how cities breathe - and how human behavior, through lawn care and landscaping, may shape that process.



As urban areas expand and climate policy sharpens, even the quietest blades of grass could help write the next chapter of emissions accounting.



The study is published in the <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024JG008477">Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences</a>.



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Your lawn plays a key role in absorbing urban carbon emissions

That sea of manicured green grass stretching across parks, backyards,...

Growing fetuses are more vulnerable than we think. A new study reveals how air pollution may subtly reshape brain structures before birth.



The research was conducted by experts at the&nbsp;Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and was supported by the&nbsp;<a href="https://lacaixafoundation.org/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">”la Caixa” Foundation</a>. The study is the first to assess fetal brain changes in relation to air pollution during pregnancy.



The researchers analyzed 754 mother-fetus pairs from the BiSC (Barcelona Life Study Cohort). The BISC project focused on brain development patterns and used high-resolution ultrasound imaging to identify early <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dust-storms-are-a-surprising-source-of-deadly-air-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">changes</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-air-pollution-exposure-in-pregnant-women">Air pollution exposure in pregnant women</h2>



The researchers used transvaginal neurosonography in the third trimester. This technique offered a detailed view of fetal brain structures. 



The team estimated exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), PM2.5, and black carbon using hybrid models. The models blended real-time environmental readings with statistical methods.



The researchers also tracked the microenvironments that were frequented by the pregnant participants. Homes, workplaces, and commuting routes were all considered.



A geolocation app on mobile phones helped map daily movement and link it to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-environment-day-2025-plastic-pollution-is-choking-our-planet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollution</a> exposure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changes-detected-in-brain-due-to-pollution">Changes detected in brain due to pollution</h2>



The study revealed that fetuses exposed to higher levels of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biofilms-could-change-the-way-we-track-plastic-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollutants</a> showed notable changes in brain structure. These included enlarged lateral ventricles and cisterna magna. Both are cavities filled with cerebrospinal fluid.



The cerebellar vermis, which supports balance and coordination, also appeared wider after pollution exposure.



Interestingly, black carbon exposure was associated with a shallower lateral sulcus. This groove in the brain is important for normal development. Shallower sulci may signal less mature cortical folding.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-critical-development-and-air-quality">Critical development and air quality</h2>



The second and third trimesters are critical for brain formation. “During mid to late gestation, the fetal brain enters a key phase of its development, making it particularly vulnerable to external factors such as pollution,” explained Payam Dadvand,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.isglobal.org/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ISGlobal</a>&nbsp;researcher and senior author.



These alterations were consistent across different types of pollutants. The effects were most evident when exposure occurred in later pregnancy.



“The associations we found were consistent for NO₂, PM2.5, and black carbon,” wrote the study authors. This strengthens the link between common urban pollutants and fetal brain development.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-healthcare-awareness-must-evolve">Healthcare awareness must evolve</h2>



Study co-authors Elisa Llurba and Lola Gómez-Roig are clinicians at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bcnatal.org/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BCNatal</a>. They noted that - even in pregnancies that appear healthy by all conventional measures - factors such as air pollution can subtly affect fetal brain development. 



"These findings underline the importance of increased awareness and education, both within the health community and across society."



The experts stress that traditional health metrics might miss these emerging <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/museum-specimens-preserve-traces-of-pollution-from-centuries-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">risks</a>. Early detection tools and preventative strategies must adapt to environmental realities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-changes-from-pollution">Brain changes from pollution </h2>



Although all of the measurements remained within the normal range, the researchers emphasize the broader implications of the findings. 



“The point is that these differences, although small at the individual level, are indeed relevant from a population perspective, as they inform us about how pollution affects the fetal brain and its vulnerability to environmental exposures,” said Laura Gómez-Herrera,&nbsp;co-lead author of the study.



These variations might not cause immediate medical concerns. But they offer insight into long-term neurodevelopment patterns that deserve attention.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-and-health-policies">Future research and health policies</h2>



The study concludes that more research is necessary to understand the long-term consequences. 



“At this stage, we can only report having observed differences in the brains of fetuses with higher exposure to pollution compared to those with lower exposure," noted Jordi Sunyer, senior author of the study.



"Additional research is needed to determine whether these effects are reversible after birth or if they persist, and whether they have any implications for neurodevelopmental outcomes in later stages."



According to Yu Zhao, co-lead author and&nbsp;ISGlobal&nbsp;researcher, the findings strengthen the evidence supporting the need to reduce pregnant women’s exposure to air pollution, particularly in urban settings.



Pregnant women might not have control over city air, but this research calls on society to take responsibility. Clean air is not just a health issue. It’s part of giving every child a safer start.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(25)00093-2/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Lancet Planetary Health</a>.



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Air pollution can reshape a baby’s brain before birth

Growing fetuses are more vulnerable than we think. A new...

Life almost ended 252 million years ago. The end-Permian mass extinction wiped out 81% of marine life and over half of land-based <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-lizards-help-keep-madagascars-forests-alive/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a>. But not everything perished. Among the survivors were the archosauromorphs, small early reptiles that would later give rise to crocodiles, dinosaurs, and birds.



These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animals-found-to-have-a-sixth-sense-gecko-hearing-vibrations-changing-science-view-of-sound/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creatures</a> were not supposed to survive the intense heat of the early Triassic tropics. Scientists considered this zone nearly lifeless. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-reptiles-crossed-deadly-zones">Ancient reptiles crossed deadly zones</h2>



New research published in the journal Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution&nbsp;reveals that archosauromorphs did more than endure the deadly zone. They moved through it.



Using a modeling system called TARDIS, which maps dispersal across time and space, researchers estimated the migration routes of 392 archosauromorph species. 



The model linked fossils with landscape data and climate reconstructions, exposing hidden paths through so-called inhospitable regions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-adaptability-and-niche-expansion">Climate adaptability and niche expansion</h2>



The study showed that these reptiles had much wider climate tolerances than fossil <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reptile-ancestors-appeared-40-million-years-earlier-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence</a> alone suggested. They adapted to extreme environments, including hot and dry zones with high temperature seasonality and low rainfall.



This ability to cross geographic and climatic barriers helped them enter new ecological niches. These movements likely shaped the evolutionary path that led to the rise of dinosaurs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-ancient-reptiles-outlived-extinction">How ancient reptiles outlived extinction</h2>



“Amid the worst climatic event in Earth’s history, where more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossil-discovery-pushes-back-reptile-evolution-by-40-million-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> died than at any period since, life still survived," said Dr. Joseph Flannery-Sutherland from the <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Birmingham</a>, who led the study.



"We know that archosauromorphs as a group managed to come out of this event and over the Triassic period became one of the main players in shaping life thereafter."



“Gaps in their fossil record have increasingly begun to tell us something about what we weren’t seeing when it comes to these reptiles. Using our modeling system, we have been able to build a picture of what was happening to the archosauromorphs in these gaps and how they dispersed across the ancient world."



According to Dr. Flannery-Sutherland, the results of the study suggest that these reptiles were much hardier to the extreme climate of the Pangaean tropical dead zone, able to endure these hellish conditions to reach the other side of the world. 



"It’s likely that this ability to survive the inhospitable tropics may have conferred an advantage that saw them thrive in the Triassic world," he noted. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-evolutionary-radiation">Tracking evolutionary radiation</h2>



The paper describes how the reptiles’ dispersal began in the northern supercontinent Laurasia. Over time, they crossed Central Pangaean mountains and entered southern Gondwana. 



By the Wordian stage, long-distance movements had begun. These ancient reptiles not only traveled across land but also ventured into regions that lacked any fossil record. These regions were once thought off-limits.



The team found that climate conditions during these travels included both very high temperatures and arid environments. Their movement wasn’t random. It often followed low-elevation coastal routes, sometimes aided by monsoon-like humidity along ancient seashores.



“The evolution of life has been controlled at times by the environment, but it is difficult to integrate our limited and uncertain knowledge about the ancient landscape with our limited and uncertain knowledge about the ecology of extinct organisms," noted Professor Michael Benton, senior author of the study.



"But by combining the fossils with reconstructed maps of the ancient world, in the context of evolutionary trees, we provide a way of overcoming these challenges.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-capturing-the-full-story-of-reptiles">Capturing the full story of reptiles</h2>



The oldest fossils were found in Europe, but that may reflect better sampling rather than true origins. The study's models show that archosauromorphs could have existed elsewhere long before they appeared in the fossil record. 



In fact, dispersal paths into South America and North America predate the oldest known fossils there by up to 15 million years.



By measuring climate variables along these ancient migration routes, the researchers captured broader ecological diversity than fossils alone could show. This reveals how species adapted as they moved through different environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-other-ancient-animals">Tracking other ancient animals</h2>



The authors suggest that similar modeling approaches could apply to other ancient lineages with poor fossil records. By coupling evolutionary trees with climate and terrain data, scientists can rebuild missing chapters of evolutionary history.



These early reptiles didn’t just bounce back from catastrophe. They reshaped their world through resilience and movement. Their journey laid the groundwork for the age of dinosaurs and ultimately modern birds and crocodiles.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-025-02739-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.



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Reptiles survived 'hellish' conditions during Earth's worst climate crisis

Life almost ended 252 million years ago. The end-Permian mass...

Volcanoes don’t always play by the rules. Most of the time, scientists can predict an eruption using early signs like ground swelling or a series of small earthquakes. These warnings happen when underground chambers fill with magma and gas, causing pressure to build. 



But not all volcanoes are as transparent. Some remain eerily quiet, showing no signs before erupting. These are known as “stealthy” volcanoes.



One such volcano is Veniaminof, a glacier-covered peak in Alaska’s Aleutian Arc. Researchers from the <a href="https://illinois.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Illinois</a> have taken a closer look at its behavior. They’ve developed a model that helps explain why Veniaminof - and volcanoes like it - can erupt without any obvious warning.



“Despite major advances in monitoring, some volcanoes erupt with little or no detectable precursors, significantly increasing the risk to nearby populations,” said Dr. Yuyu Li, lead author of the study. 



“Some of these volcanoes are located near major air routes or close to communities: examples include Popocatépetl and Colima in Mexico, Merapi in Indonesia, Galeras in Colombia, and Stromboli in Italy.



“Our work helps explain how this happens, by identifying the key internal conditions - such as low magma supply and warm host rock - that make eruptions stealthy.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-sleeping-giant-in-alaska">A sleeping giant in Alaska</h2>



Veniaminof isn’t just any volcano. Since 1993, it has erupted 13 times, but only twice did it show enough warning signs for scientists to catch it in advance. One eruption in 2021 wasn’t detected until three days after it began.



“Veniaminof is a case study in how a volcano can appear quiet while still being primed to erupt,” said Li. “It is one of the most <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drone-images-help-experts-monitor-active-volcanoes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">active volcanoes</a> in Alaska."



Li confirmed that, in recent decades, this volcano has produced several VEI 3 eruptions. These are moderately sized explosive events that can send ash up to nine miles high, disrupt air traffic, and pose regional hazards to nearby communities and infrastructure, often without any clear warning signs.



To better understand this behavior, the scientists focused on the time leading up to Veniaminof’s 2018 eruption, which was another stealthy one. 



The team gathered data from three summer seasons before the eruption and built computer models to simulate different volcanic conditions.



These models tested various scenarios. They changed the size and shape of the underground magma chamber, the depth at which it sat, and how quickly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-explosive-magmas-hidden-under-tame-volcanoes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">magma</a> flowed into it. 



The goal was to match the models with what actually happened in order to understand which conditions cause eruptions in stealthy volcanoes.



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



The simulations uncovered some patterns. A high flow of magma into a large chamber often causes the ground to swell, which is a visible warning. 



If magma rushes into a small chamber, it can trigger an eruption with clear signs like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-detect-major-earthquakes-months-in-advance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">earthquakes</a> or deformation. But when the flow of magma is slow and the chamber is relatively small, an eruption can sneak by with little to no warning.



In Veniaminof’s case, the data suggested that it has a small magma chamber and a slow magma flow. These factors work together to hide typical signs of an impending eruption.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-signs-of-stealthy-volcanoes">The signs of stealthy volcanoes </h2>



The model also explored how the shape and depth of the magma chamber affect what warnings we might see. Large, flat chambers might lead to quiet earthquakes. Long, narrow chambers might produce only subtle ground changes. 



However, stealthy eruptions only happen when everything lines up just right - from magma flow to chamber dimensions. 



Next, the researchers added one more factor: temperature. They found that when magma sticks around long enough, it warms the rock that surrounds the chamber. That heat changes everything.



Warm rock is less likely to crack or shift as magma fills the chamber. That means fewer earthquakes and less ground movement - both key signs that scientists look for. In warm rock, an eruption can be all but silent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-monitoring-stealthy-volcanoes">Monitoring stealthy volcanoes</h2>



"To mitigate the impact of these potential surprise eruptions, we need to integrate high-precision instruments like borehole tiltmeters and strainmeters and fiber optic sensing, as well as newer approaches such as infrasound and gas emission monitoring,” said Li.



“<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/machine-learning-may-help-with-earlier-tsunami-detection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Machine learning</a> has also shown promise in detecting subtle changes in volcanic behavior, especially in earthquake signal picking.”



At Veniaminof, installing more tiltmeters and strainmeters could help fill the gaps in current monitoring. Improved satellite coverage could also catch <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-research-enhances-predictions-on-volcanic-eruptions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eruptions</a> sooner.



Most importantly, scientists now know what kinds of volcanoes are more likely to erupt without warning. They’re the ones with small, warm magma reservoirs and slow-moving magma.



“Combining these models with real-time observations represents a promising direction for improving volcano forecasting,” said Li. 



“In the future, this approach can enable improved monitoring for these stealthy systems, ultimately leading to more effective responses to protect nearby communities.”



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/earth-science/articles/10.3389/feart.2025.1535083/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Earth Science</a>.



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Scientists discover why stealthy volcanoes erupt without warning

Volcanoes don’t always play by the rules. Most of the...

When you ask Americans how to reduce carbon emissions, you’ll likely hear answers like “switch to LED light bulbs” or “recycle more.” These are familiar habits, but they’re not the most effective ways to shrink your carbon footprint.



A new study from researchers at <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford University</a> and <a href="https://www.nyu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York University</a> shows just how far off public perception is.



People tend to overestimate the impact of small, visible actions and underestimate the power of major lifestyle changes - like cutting back on flying or eating less beef.



“People are very misinformed around how their actions can translate into actual impact in terms of reducing carbon,” said study senior author Madalina Vlasceanu. 



“We think, ‘I have to <a href="http://earth.com/search-results/?search=recycle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recycle</a> this and it will help the planet.’ It’s less likely you will hear that if you fly less, that’s the best you can possibly do, lifestyle-wise.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-knowledge-about-carbon-footprints">Knowledge about carbon footprints</h2>



The study included nearly 4,000 U.S. participants who completed an online survey. They were divided into three groups. One group actively rated 21 common behaviors - like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/car-tires-are-a-big-source-of-microplastics-pollution-but-what-about-mountain-bikes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biking</a> to work or using <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biden-moves-to-phase-out-energy-inefficient-light-bulbs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">energy-efficient</a> appliances - on how much they thought each reduced emissions. 



After submitting their guesses, the individuals received feedback comparing each action’s impact.



“We compared the actions to each other - not tons of carbon. That’s something nobody understands. It’s so abstract, you’ll forget it immediately,” Vlasceanu said.



Another group passively received the same information without first guessing. A third group received no information at all.



Then, all participants were asked about their willingness to adopt the same 21 behaviors, as well as five larger system-level actions, such as voting for climate-focused politicians or attending a protest.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-informed-but-disengaged">Informed but disengaged?</h2>



After the exercise, many participants showed a shift in thinking. They expressed stronger intentions to take meaningful steps, like choosing lower-carbon meats. Poultry, for example, has a far smaller climate impact than beef.



“Participants found this can be really easy to do, and has one of the highest impacts that has been actually documented,” Vlasceanu said.



Those who had the biggest gaps between perception and reality showed the most change. The clearer the feedback, the more likely they were to say they would make high-impact changes.



But there was an unexpected downside. When the study focused only on personal actions, participants were less inclined to support collective efforts - like voting or joining demonstrations. 



Even with better understanding, they became less likely to engage in actions that drive systemic change.



“These interventions also decreased commitment to collective action, where you’re really trying to influence some sort of policy, and this is a problem,” Vlasceanu said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-personal-vs-political-dilemma">The personal vs. political dilemma</h2>



This finding highlights a key challenge in climate communication: encouraging individuals to act without making them forget the power of public pressure and policy change.



“Now we have to go back and understand how we would better design these interventions so we don’t have those negative spillovers,” Vlasceanu said.



Individual actions are easier to measure. For instance, skipping one long flight can significantly cut your personal carbon emissions. But broader actions - like voting - may be harder to quantify even though they’re incredibly powerful.



One previous analysis found that a single vote in a Canadian national election was over 20 times more effective than skipping a long flight, in terms of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-impact-labeling-has-a-strong-influence-on-food-selection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate impact</a>.



“If you extrapolate from that, you can conclude that all the collective actions are way more effective than all the lifestyle changes you can do, although this still remains to be empirically quantified,” Vlasceanu said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-carbon-choices-we-make">The carbon choices we make</h2>



The study also revealed a deeper truth regarding how people make decisions about their lifestyle choices and carbon footprint.



“People will engage in lifestyle changes when they think it’s easy to do. It’s less important to them if it’s effective,” Vlasceanu said. “For collective action, it is more important to people that the action they engage in will actually result in a meaningful change.”



The research included a broad political spectrum: about half of participants identified as Democrats, 22% as Republicans, and 26% as independents or others.



“Democrats were more sensitive to incorporating what they learned into their behaviors compared to Republicans,” Vlasceanu said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-simple-tools-to-change-human-behavior">Simple tools to change human behavior </h2>



The researchers weren’t trying to push an agenda. Their goal was to learn more about how people think and how simple tools might help change behavior.



“Our job as academics is not to be activists or fight for a particular cause,” Vlasceanu said. “These are research questions we scientifically care about that uncover essential processes about the human mind.”



This work is part of a larger research effort looking at how low-cost, scalable interventions can influence people’s choices. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-power-of-imagination-in-climate-change-adaptation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Climate change</a> presents a perfect test case.



“We pick the context in which we apply these investigations such that they are societally relevant,” Vlasceanu said.



“If we understand how the mind works in this context, then we can document ways in which practitioners, policymakers - people whose job it is to address this crisis - can most effectively address it."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lifestyle-changes-and-carbon-footprints">Lifestyle changes and carbon footprints</h2>



Future studies might explore other ways to boost both personal and public engagement - such as using stories or emotional messages instead of facts alone.



“In order to meaningfully address climate change, experts have agreed that we will need lifestyle change and collective action,” Vlasceanu said. “This is a critical part of the pathway to net zero.”



Understanding how people perceive carbon impact isn't just about correcting facts. It's about shaping better conversations.



When education focuses on both personal habits and collective responsibility, it can build a more balanced response to climate change.



Getting carbon literacy right could be one of the most powerful tools we have - not just for reducing emissions, but for encouraging meaningful action on every level.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf191/8159053" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PNAS Nexus</a>.



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<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">

</blockquote>

Most Americans greatly underestimate their carbon footprint

When you ask Americans how to reduce carbon emissions, you’ll...

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



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



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



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.

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

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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"

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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

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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

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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



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.

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



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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

Closeup,Of,Fresh,Green,The,Napier,Bush,Grass,As,Animal

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="http://www.ntu.edu.sg/">NTU Singapore</a> reveals that some plants can remove toxic heavy metals from soil.&nbsp;



The researchers analyzed samples of various tropical plant species to test for levels of heavy metals and metalloids. The study showed that there are existing plants with high levels of these contaminants, which means that these species are great candidates for drawing pollutants out of the soil.&nbsp;



Among the plants examined in the study, 12 species had accumulated several types of heavy metals and metalloids. These plants are widely available, including species that are native to Singapore.



“In a small nation like Singapore, land may be repurposed to support new development plans, so it is important that we have a green and sustainable way to remediate land that is contaminated," said Professor Lam Yeng Ming.



"We set out to uncover how to better make use of tropical plants to do phytoremediation and through advanced characterization techniques, we showed how some of these tropical plant species can be an environmentally friendly and literally a 'green' way to remove contaminants in soil."&nbsp;



"Phytoremediation also has benefits of cost effectiveness, simplicity of management, aesthetic advantages, and long-term applicability and sustainability. The strategy prevents erosion and metal leaching by stabilizing or accumulating heavy metals, so that helps reduce the risk of contaminant spread.”



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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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.

Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

[sendtonews key="6SdlLLbt0t-1988946-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NTU...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes why herbicides are not as effective in killing weeds anymore. In the 20th century, chemical companies developed thousands of herbicides. The most commonly used herbicide was glyphosate, which was introduced in 1974.



Over the past few decades, dozens of species of weeds have evolved resistance to glyphosate. Depending on the site of action, the part of the plant that an herbicide interacts with, weeds may even be resistant to herbicides that have not been developed yet.&nbsp;



With increasing resistance to glyphosate and other herbicides, weeds are - once again - becoming a major concern for farmers.&nbsp;



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&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.

Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

[sendtonews key="gRpsplpwpe-2251464-12187" 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.jpl.nasa.gov/">NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a> (JPL) describes a dust storm on Mars that was nearly twice the size of the United States. As the storm covered the southern hemisphere of the planet, some of NASA’s explorers had to delay their normal activities.



NASA’s Insight lander put itself in a "safe mode" for 11 days to conserve battery power because solar power was disrupted by the dust. The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter postponed flights until conditions improved.



"A fleet of NASA orbiters monitor Martian dust storms like this one and serve as lifelines to Earth by relaying data from the rovers and lander on the ground back to the team. This includes the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MAVEN, and Odyssey," reports JPL.



"Dust storms like this recent one start close to the ground and are spread by wind as they rise – warming the cold Martian atmosphere."



The images in the video were captured by NASA’s Curiosity as the dust rolled in. A fleet of orbiters monitored the dust storm from above, relaying data from Mars’ explorers back to scientists on Earth.



Video &amp; Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS



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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.

NASA monitors giant dust storms on Mars

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