The thin line of gold behind every tap, swipe, and click on our electronic devices rarely enters daily conversation, yet the metal keeps digital life running, then eventually turn into landfills full of toxic e-waste. 



From the contacts in a phone jack to the chips inside a smartwatch, gold moves electrons smoothly and shrugs off corrosion. 



Mining more, however, blasts mountains, drains rivers, and spews carbon. With the global appetite for electronics still climbing, attention has turned to the growing junkyard of cast‑off gadgets.



E‑waste is now the quickest‑rising waste stream on the planet - roughly 63 million short tons in 2024 according to <a href="https://www.unep.org/ietc/what-we-do/e-waste-management" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United Nations estimates</a> - and only a small share gets recycled in certified facilities. 



Most of our old electronics end up in landfills or backyard workshops, which then leak metals into the groundwater, creating toxic brews. A cleaner strategy is to reclaim precious metals safely before our devices make their way into the garbage heaps.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cheese-e-waste-and-gold">Cheese, e-waste, and gold</h2>



A research team is now working to change that script. Professor Raffaele Mezzenga at <a href="https://ethz.ch/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ETH Zurich</a> and senior scientist Mohammad Peydayesh assembled colleagues in search of a simpler tool than acid vats or cyanide baths. Their unlikely inspiration bubbles up in cheese factories.



Cheese makers separate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cottage-cheese-is-making-a-comeback-due-to-its-nutritional-benefits/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">curds from whey</a>, leaving behind nearly nine pounds of watery by‑product for every pound of cheddar. Whey is rich in proteins that twist into hair‑thin amyloid fibrils when warmed in acid. 



The Zurich group realized those fibrils could be coaxed into a feather‑light sponge that prefers gold over the other metals lurking in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/electronic-waste-is-growing-five-times-faster-than-recycling/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shredded phones and laptops</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adding-a-cheesy-twist-to-golden-e-waste">Adding a cheesy twist to golden e-waste</h2>



The researchers stirred the fibrils into a gel, then dried it into an aerogel - think Styrofoam’s airiness on a nanoscale. Microscopic pores criss‑cross the material, offering miles of surface area inside a crumb‑sized cube. 



When a slice of this sponge meets a beaker filled with dissolved circuit boards, gold ions rush toward the proteins and cling tightly.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/electronic-devices_gold-extraction-process_schematic_credit-ETH-Zurich_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/electronic-devices_gold-extraction-process_schematic_credit-ETH-Zurich_1s.webp" alt="Schematic route followed to generate neat value via pure gold, extracted from food waste (whey) and e-waste as starting source materials. Credit: Advanced Materials" class="wp-image-1968796"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Schematic route followed to generate neat value via pure gold, extracted from food waste (whey) and e-waste as starting source materials. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Advanced Materials</figcaption></figure>



Early trials showed the aerogel collecting a far higher share of gold than plastic resins that recyclers often use. Better yet, the process skips noxious solvents. 



Water, moderate heat, and the natural chemistry of protein do the heavy lifting, which slashes both hazard and cost.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aerogel-and-a-protein-sponge">Aerogel and a protein sponge</h2>



For a head‑to‑head laboratory test, the team stripped metal parts from twenty <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-day-of-zero-waste-a-global-commitment-to-a-sustainable-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">discarded computer motherboards</a>, dissolved them in acid, and dropped in a fingernail‑sized piece of aerogel. 



Copper, nickel, and cobalt swirled in the brew, yet gold ions settled on the sponge far more efficiently. After a short soak, the solution cleared, signaling that most of the precious metal had left the liquid.



Numbers tell the story. The sponge drew out gold that was about 90.8 percent pure - close to 22‑karat jewelry - on its first pass. Competing adsorbents usually require extra purification steps to reach similar purity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-e-waste-ions-to-gold-nuggets">From e-waste ions to gold nuggets</h2>



Pulling ions from solution is useful; turning them back into solid metal is crucial. The Zurich group warmed the loaded sponge until the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fools-gold-may-be-a-valuable-source-of-lithium/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gold ions</a> shed their charge and merged into shimmering flakes. 



Heating continued until the flakes fused into a nugget weighing roughly 450 milligrams. Chemical analysis showed the lump was 91 percent gold and 9 percent copper, again hitting the mark for 22 carats.



This step also freed the protein skeleton. Burned away under controlled heat, the whey‑derived matrix leaves no synthetic residue, easing cleanup. Conventional resin beds cannot claim the same neat exit.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/electronic-devices_gold-extraction-process_gold-nuggets-recovered_Credit-ETH-Zurich_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/electronic-devices_gold-extraction-process_gold-nuggets-recovered_Credit-ETH-Zurich_1s.webp" alt="The gold nugget obtained from computer motherboards in three parts. The largest of these parts is around five millimeters wide. Credit: ETH Zurich/Alan Kovacevic" class="wp-image-1968794"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The gold nugget obtained from computer motherboards in three parts. The largest of these parts is around five millimeters wide. Click image to enlarge. Credit: ETH Zurich/Alan Kovacevic</figcaption></figure>



Recycling lives or dies on the balance sheet. Here the math looks encouraging. 



Procurement and energy costs for the entire operation are about fifty times lower than the market value of the gold retrieved. Even after accounting for labor and overhead, that margin hints at solid profit for commercial recyclers.



Lower operating costs open doors for smaller regional plants. Instead of shipping obsolete electronics overseas, communities could process them nearby, cutting transportation emissions and keeping revenue local.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-e-waste-has-more-than-just-gold">e-Waste has more than just gold</h2>



Gold steals headlines, yet the technique need not stop there. By tweaking pH or tailoring the protein structure, the same sort of sponge could sort copper, cobalt, or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/water-captured-on-video-forming-out-of-thin-air-for-the-first-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">palladium</a> - metals vital for batteries and sensors. 



The team is already experimenting with pea‑protein waste from plant‑based milk production and collagen from fish scales. Success would guard against supply bottlenecks tied to a single dairy stream.



E‑waste is not the only target. Industrial rinse water from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-computer-defeats-a-supercomputer-in-crucial-annealing-optimization-task/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microchip fabrication</a> and gold‑plating shops also carries trace metals worth reclaiming. A modular protein sponge could slip into those lines, trimming costs and curbing runoff.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-taking-the-next-steps">Taking the next steps</h2>



“The fact I love the most is that we’re using a food industry byproduct to obtain gold from electronic waste,” Mezzenga says. In a very real sense, the method transforms two waste products into gold. “You can’t get much more sustainable than that!”



If pilot projects scale as hoped, tomorrow’s recycling centers may sit beside creameries and food processors, quietly turning yesterday’s whey and last decade’s gadgets into tomorrow’s circuit traces. 



The approach will not halt mining overnight, but every recovered ounce delays a blast, a slurry pond, or a diesel haul truck. 



That shift, multiplied across millions of phones and laptops, offers a straightforward path toward lighter footprints and longer‑lived resources - no new mountains required.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.202310642" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Advanced Materials</a>.



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Invention turns our electronic waste into 22-carat gold nuggets instead of toxic trash

The thin line of gold behind every tap, swipe, and click on our electronic devices rarely enters daily conversation, yet the metal keeps digital life running, then eventually turn into landfills full of toxic e-waste. From the contacts in a phone jack to the chips inside a smartwatch, gold moves electrons smoothly and shrugs off corrosion. Mining more, however, blasts mountains, drains rivers, and spews carbon. With the global appetite for electronics still climbing, attention has turned to the growing junkyard of cast‑off gadgets. E‑waste is now...

The <a href="https://www.who.int/">World Health Organization</a> (WHO) is reporting that microplastics in drinking water do not appear to pose a threat to human health at the current levels. However, the organization is also emphasizing that this finding is based on limited data, and further research is needed.

"We urgently need to know more about the health impact of microplastics because they are everywhere - including in our drinking water," said Dr. Maria Neira.

Recent studies have raised concerns about the abundance of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/microplastic-contamination-groundwater-sources/">plastic particles</a> in drinking water, and the potential health risks associated with ingestion have been largely unknown. 

According to the WHO, microplastics infiltrate drinking water sources primarily through run-off and wastewater. Bottled water may be contaminated during the bottling process or from the plastic packaging itself.

On Thursday, the WHO delivered the results of its first investigation into the potential health hazards linked to microplastic contamination in drinking water. The researchers analyzed the physical particles, chemicals, and microorganisms that may attach themselves to microplastics.

Based on the available evidence, the experts determined that these chemicals and microbial pathogens pose a low threat to human health.

Microplastics that are larger than 150 micrometers cannot likely be absorbed by the body. Health concerns have centered around the uptake of smaller particles, explained Jennifer De France. 

"For these smallest size particles, where there is really limited evidence, we need to know more about what is being absorbed, the distribution and their impacts."

"To date there are no data available to show that microplastics pose a hazard to human health, however this does not necessarily mean that they are harmless," said Alice Horton of the National Oceanography Centre.

“It is important to put concerns about exposure to microplastics from drinking water into context: we are widely exposed to microplastics in our daily lives via a wide number of sources, of which drinking water is just one."

The WHO report said the biggest overall health threat in water is from microbial pathogens that cause deadly diarrheal disease, especially in poor countries lacking water treatment systems.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Antonio Guillem

Microplastics in water do not appear to pose a threat to human health… for now

The World Health Organization (WHO) is reporting that microplastics in...

Amid doubt over China’s air pollution solutions, Mongolia tries another tactic. When it comes to sources of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-early-death/">air pollution</a>, we often tend to think in terms of big factories or power plants. It’s true that industry creates a large amount of air pollution, but so do individuals and families. In most of the US, besides consumption of electricity that may be produced by coal, the most common individual contribution to air pollution is by driving a car.

The <a href="https://www.lung.org/local-content/_content-items/about-us/media/press-releases/sota-2019-alaska.html">American Lung Association</a> reports that in the northern reaches of the US, this changes. According to air quality reports from earlier this year, Alaska has some of the worst air quality in the US. Much of the particulate matter found in the air in some parts of Alaska come mainly from wood burning stoves. With this detail from the US in mind, we can reframe how we think about air pollution in the rest of the world, especially air pollution that harms lungs. 

Alaska is an odd example of a place with high air pollution, due to it’s small human population density. According to an Air Visual <a href="https://www.airvisual.com/world-most-polluted-cities">report</a>, 22 of the 30 cities with the most air pollution are located in India. India is a subcontinent nation with a population of over <a href="http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/india-population/">1.3 billion</a>, meaning that one of every six people on Earth lives in India. 

Similarly to the air pollution of Alaska, much of India’s poor air quality comes from cooking, heating, and even kerosene lamps for lighting. <a href="http://www.businessworld.in/article/1-3-Million-Deaths-Every-Year-In-India-Due-To-Indoor-Air-Pollution/09-09-2017-125739/">Business World</a> reported that on average, over 1 million people die annually in India from indoor air pollution alone. But India is part of a much broader growth in poor air quality due to pollution in Asia as a whole.

According to the <a href="https://www.ccacoalition.org/en/content/air-pollution-measures-asia-and-pacific">Climate and Clean Air Coalition</a>, 92% of people living in Asia and the Pacific region are exposed to levels of air pollution levels that represent a significant risk to health. This equates to 4 billion people, more than half of the global population living with unsafe levels of air pollution. China is one of the Asian countries long known for its air pollution, especially in large urban areas. 

China has made moves to improve air quality in their cities, but as <a href="https://grist.org/article/chinas-plan-to-reduce-smog-basically-just-moved-it-to-other-areas/">Grist</a> reports, efforts have highlighted the complicated nature of quickly reducing air pollution. Particulate air pollution in Beijing was reduced by 25%, but research showed that reducing air pollution in China’s large cities meant outsourcing coal power plants to more poor, rural areas. The end result was a reduction of air pollution in some areas but overall pollution for China as a whole. 

But China and India aren’t the only countries with air pollution problems. Mongolia’s air pollution problem is on the rise and it’s worth hoping that the country can learn from China, India and others before it reaches the pollution levels of these more populated nations.

<a href="https://tradingeconomics.com/mongolia/population-density-people-per-sq-km-wb-data.html">Trading Economics</a> reports that Mongolia’s population density in 2016 was only 1.9487 people per square kilometer. Mongolia is a large country of wide plateaus that have traditionally been the home of primarily nomadic people. Due to a shift in lifestyle and economic realities, 46% of Mongolia’s population is centered in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital city. 

Along with the move to the capital, Mongolia’s human population is on the rise, yet realities for those in the city are very different from those in rural areas. 95.81% of urban Mongolians have access to electricity but only 44.17% of rural populations have that same access. Along with the realities of heating and cooking with flame as well as industrial pollution, the air quality of Mongolia continues to decline creating an environmental as well as health travesty. 

The <a href="https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/97/2/19-020219.pdf">World Health Organization</a> (WHO) reported that in 2016, of an estimated population of 3 million people, 1,800 Mongolians died of diseases from household air pollution and 1,500 died of diseases from outdoor air pollution. The main cause of this disease causing pollution is similar to the air pollution in Alaska and India: cooking and heating stoves using coal as fuel. Amid doubt over China’s air pollution solutions, Mongolia tries another tactic

Coal seems like an obvious solution to an immediate problem, as Mongolia is a cold place. Temperatures at night in Ulaanbaatar can drop to 20 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. With not a lot of infrastructure to provide for clean ways to stay warm, the reality is that many people burn raw coal just to survive. Those living in the Ger (a ger is a traditional nomadic tent many Mongolians live in) district of Ulaanbaatar, where 80% of air pollution comes from are especially dependent on coal. Unsurprisingly, air quality is at its worst in winter months. Ulaanbaatar is also situated in a valley, where cold weather inversions trap not just household coal emissions but those of cars and power plants as well. But <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/07/30/727688757/mongolias-capital-banned-coal-to-fix-its-pollution-problem-will-it-work">NPR</a> reports that now, the government of Mongolia has come up with a solution.      

The government of Mongolia announced a <a href="https://montsame.mn/en/read/133813">ban on raw coal</a> in Ulaanbaatar, issuing fines to households and businesses that continue to burn the substance. In the place of coal, the government is offering a more expensive but more efficient briquette made from semicoke, a coal byproduct. Besides being more efficient, the briquettes burn cleaner as well. The government plans to distribute 600,000 tons of briquettes at selling points throughout the city. Some doubt whether many will actually purchase this alternative fuel source with its added financial cost. It takes a certain leap of faith that in the long run burning the briquettes will lead to better air. Another solution the government is working on is extending infrastructure to the Ger district of Ulaanbaatar which has little access to electricity. 

&nbsp;

Mongolia has traditionally been known as the ‘land of the blue sky’ and home of <a href="https://sites.psu.edu/ktrabblog/2014/09/10/tengriism-the-eternal-blue-sky/">Tengriism</a>, an ancient religion promoting harmony between humans and nature. Tengri, the main god of the religion, is personified by the blue sky. It remains to be seen whether the government of Ulaanbaatar can maintain enough of a balance to offer their people not only clean air to breathe but a place to live beneath a sacred blue sky.         

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Ganzorig Miimaa

Amid doubt over China’s air pollution solutions, Mongolia tries another tactic

Amid doubt over China’s air pollution solutions, Mongolia tries another...

While <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/flood-events-climate-change/">climate change</a> threatens the global food supply of the future, many experts are reporting on the potential for insects to be eaten as a renewable and eco-friendly protein source. New research from the <a href="https://www.bva.co.uk/">British Veterinary Association</a> (BVA) suggests that pets could also be fed insects as an alternative to meat-based foods.

According to the researchers, many pet owners will be opposed to the idea at first, but the study findings suggest that insect protein may offer better health benefits for animals compared to traditional pet food that is made from beef or chicken.

"There’s a really exciting future for the use of insect protein for companion animals," BVA President Simon Doherty told <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news">BBC News</a>. "It’s a fantastic opportunity - looking at insects to provide alternative sources of some of the nutrient ingredients we use in pet food diets."

Doherty emphasized that it is essential to find food sources that will not put any further strain on Earth's limited resources, including soil and water. In addition, he added that it is better for meat to be fed to people than to pets.

Insect-based pet food is currently more expensive than the budget meal options by as much as four times. The researchers hope that the environmental benefits will help make unconventional pet foods more appealing.

Doherty pointed out that insect protein may be especially attractive to vegetarian cat owners due to the fact that cats need an essential amino acid called taurine that is found in fish, meat, and insects.

"You’d still be killing insects but some vegetarians might find that more palatable than killing cows or chickens,” Doherty told the BBC.

Protix is a Dutch manufacturer and supplier of insect ingredients for animal feed and human consumption. The 0rganization, which has one of the world’s biggest insect farms, estimates that insect-based foods use only two percent of the land and four percent of the water that is used in the production of meat-based products. 

According to BBC News, Protix reported that one ton of insects can be grown on 20 square miles of land in just two weeks. The insects do not require fertilizers or pesticides and generate a very small carbon footprint.

"Round the world we are heating up the atmosphere and using up the land," Protix founder Kees Aarts told the BBC. "But we also have to feed a growing population in need of protein. We have to do something differently - and insects are part of the solution."

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Monkey Business Images

Insect-based pet foods have many health and environmental benefits

While climate change threatens the global food supply of the...

A new study has revealed how a neonicotinoid pesticide may pose a risk to wild songbird populations.

Neonicotinoids are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pesticide-exposure-impairs-flight-bees/">harmful to bees</a> and can disrupt how bees fly, collect pollen, and behave in the hive. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.usask.ca/">University of Saskatchewan</a> and <a href="https://www.yorku.ca/">York Universit</a>y linked a neonicotinoid pesticide called imidacloprid to songbird population declines in North America. 

Neonicotinoids are widely used to protect crops worldwide. While there has been a recent push to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/european-union-ban-pesticides/">ban neonicotinoid pesticides</a> because of the harmful impact the pesticides have on bee populations, birds may also be at risk.

“Our study shows that this is bigger than the bees--birds can also be harmed by modern neonicotinoid pesticides which should worry us all,” said Bridget Stutchbury, a member of the research team. 

Since 1966, three-quarters of bird species that depend on agricultural habitats have declined, and the researchers found that even minimal exposure to a pesticide can hinder reproduction and delay migrations. 

The study, published in the journal Science, is the first of its kind to examine how imidacloprid impacts wild songbirds. 

“We saw these effects using doses well within the range of what a bird could realistically consume in the wild--equivalent to eating just a few treated seeds,” said Margaret Eng, the lead author of the study.

The researchers attached lightweight radio transmitters to wild white-crowned sparrows in southern Ontario and tracked the birds’ movements. 

Individual sparrows were exposed to small doses of imidacloprid, and the researchers measured each bird’s weight and mass before and after being exposed to the pesticide. 

Within six hours, sparrows that received a higher dose of the pesticide lost six percent of their body mass. The same birds also stayed longer at the stopover site before continuing on with their annual migration. 

Delaying migration poses a risk to reproductive success for the sparrows, and the birds that were not exposed resumed their migration earlier. 

“Migration is a critical period for birds and timing matters,” said Christy Morrissey, a senior author of the study. “Any delays can seriously hinder their success in finding mates and nesting, so this may help explain, in part, why migrant and farmland bird species are declining so dramatically worldwide.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Tim Zurowski

Songbird population declines may be linked to a widely used pesticide

A new study has revealed how a neonicotinoid pesticide may...

A pairing of two new studies reveal why mountains — tropical mountains, specifically — are so biologically diverse compared to other regions on Earth. While in the process of conducting these studies, scientists realized the high levels of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/plants-vanishing-biodiversity-hotspots/">biodiversity</a> on mountains is far greater than what they expected.

"The challenge is that, although it is evident that much of the global variation in biodiversity is so clearly driven by the extraordinary richness of tropical mountain regions, it is this very richness that current biodiversity models, based on contemporary climate, cannot explain: mountains are simply too rich in species, and we are falling short of explaining global hotspots of biodiversity," said lead author of both studies Professor Carsten Rahbek.

Scientists from the <a href="https://macroecology.ku.dk/">Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate</a> (CMEC) and the <a href="https://globe.ku.dk/">GLOBE Institute of the University of Copenhagen</a> synthesized data from several different fields including macroecology, evolutionary biology, earth sciences, and geology to gain a firmer grasp on why mountains are so rich in biodiversity.

They found that the climate of rugged tropical mountain regions is different than that of lowland regions in terms of complexity and diversity.

"People often think of mountain climates as bleak and harsh," said study co-leader Michael K. Borregaard. "But the most species-rich mountain region in the world, the Northern Andes, captures, for example, roughly half of the world's climate types in a relatively small region — much more than is captured in nearby Amazon, a region that is more than 12 times larger.”

"Tropical mountains, based in fertile and wet equatorial lowlands and extending into climatic conditions superficially similar to those found in the Arctic, span a gradient of annual mean temperatures over just a few km as large as that found over 10,000 km from the tropical lowlands at Equator to the arctic regions at the poles,” Borregaard added. “It's pretty amazing if you think about it.”

Furthermore, the team found that high biodiversity is also connected to the geological dynaimcis, which interact with complex climate changes over time, of mountain building. These geological dynamics allow for evolutionary processes to take place. 

"The global pattern of biodiversity shows that mountain biodiversity exhibits a visible signature of past evolutionary processes,” said Rahbek. “Mountains, with their uniquely complex environments and geology, have allowed the continued persistence of ancient species deeply rooted in the tree of life, as well as being cradles where new species have arisen at a much higher rate than in lowland areas, even in areas as amazingly biodiverse as the Amazonian rainforest.”

The interaction between geology and biology may also contribute to mountain biodiversity richness. The researchers found that high diversity in most tropical mountains is tightly linked to bedrock geology — especially those mountains containing ancient oceanic crust. Therefore, the researchers hypothesize that tropical mountains, with soil originating from oceanic bedrock, provide exceptional environmental conditions that help plants to adapt and change more easily than locations elsewhere.

And these plant adaptations may, in turn, drive speciation cascades, in which the speciation of one group leads to the speciation of another group, therefore affecting animal life and overall biodiversity.

These two papers are published in <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Jesper Sonne/CMEC

Why mountains are biodiversity hotspots

A pairing of two new studies reveal why mountains —...

Addressing short-term climate change threats will benefit future generations. While most climate mitigation strategies are focused on the remainder of this century, a new study led by <a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/">Imperial College London</a> suggests that such strategies should be focused on the next couple of decades. The researchers found that addressing the short-term threats of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/studying-past-climate-change/">climate change</a> will leave less of a burden for future generations.

Climate mitigation projects may include the deployment of renewable technologies, atmospheric carbon removal through planting trees and other methods, or new legislation to reach energy efficiency targets.

The logic behind the Imperial research is that climate plans which are designed to limit warming by 2100 leave too much time for complacency or harmful emissions earlier in the century. A long-term goal may ultimately rely on removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in later decades, for example.

According to the researchers, climate strategies should account for when maximum warming will occur, what that level of warming should be, and whether warming is stabilized afterward.

The experts propose a sensible approach that is aimed at limiting global warming before 2050, which would depend less on unproven technologies and investment by future generations.

"When climate-change strategies were first proposed, more than 20 years ago, the planet had only warmed about 0.5°C, so there was time for a long, smooth transition to energy systems and economies that kept warming below 2°C by 2100," said study lead author Dr. Joeri Rogelj.

"Now, however, we are at around 1°C warming and science of the last decade has shown that 2°C cannot be considered a safe limit. The need to stabilize warming more quickly is paramount, and therefore we suggest a focus on reaching net zero carbon emissions as a key milestone of any climate strategy.

"Turning the focus from the far future to the next decades, where push will come to shove in terms of adequate climate action, will help us reach the Paris Agreement goals without placing undue burden on future generations."

In order to limit warming in the next couple of decades until it is stabilized, the research team suggests that net zero carbon emissions should be the focus of climate change efforts in the short term. Beyond net zero emissions, countries could develop a plan based on how much they need to reduce their contribution to global warming through additional carbon removal.

"Shifting the focus to more short-term warming will underpin the next assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and we hope it will also help policymakers formulate realistic strategies," said Dr. Rogelj. "Policymakers want to know how and when we can reach net zero carbon, and our new logic for strategies could make these questions answerable."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Phil McDonald

Addressing short-term climate change threats will benefit future generations

Addressing short-term climate change threats will benefit future generations. While...

Why sharks are so important to global ecosystems. Sharks were among the first animals on our planet to have a spine. They evolved in a world of the sea, at a time when life on land was barely underway. Fossilized shark scales over 420 million years old have been found, nearly 200 million years older than the oldest dinosaurs. 

The <a href="https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/sharks/fossil/basics/">Florida Museum</a> compares the 400 million year history of sharks to the 2 million years of human history, calling the later ‘insignificant’ by comparison. Since their early beginnings, sharks have proven to be incredibly resilient, surviving mass extinctions, spreading over the globe and becoming an integral part of marine ecosystems. Why sharks are so important to global ecosystems 

Some sharks can an indicator of reef health. Reefs need sharks to be healthy and sharks prefer healthy reefs for habitat. Sharks are important for a much broader spectrum of the oceans than just reefs, though. There are an estimated 350 species of sharks worldwide. Sharks range from the largest shark – the enormous whale shark, a strange example of a 40 foot long fish evolving to live like a whale, as a filter feeder. The other extreme is the tiny dwarf lantern shark, measuring only about six inches long at adulthood. <a href="https://www.si.edu/">Smithsonian Institute</a> reports that the dwarf lantern shark, true to its name, has a belly that glows in the dark 950 feet deep waters off the coast of Columbia where it lives.  

Of course, sharks have been demonized, feared and actually devastated by human activities, such as fishing. Because of the perceived danger that sharks pose to humans, protections for them are less popular than for many other iconic animals. Because of this, I asked Stefanie Brendl, founder and president of the non-profit <a href="https://www.sharkallies.com">Shark Allies</a>, some questions about sharks. Stefanie explained the importance of sharks to humans. Also Why sharks are so important to global ecosystems.

“Sharks play a critical role in the health of the ocean, they have a deep cultural significance to many coastal and island cultures around the world,” Brendl said. “In short, if you like your planet and would like to continue getting food from the ocean, then sharks are important to you. We don’t get the luxury to focus on single causes in isolation based on what we care about the most. The plight of sharks is actually considered one of the most pressing issues we face, with regards to ocean health, and we can’t afford to ignore this. The damage done from plastic pollution, deforestation, runoff and climate change will be exponentially more damaging if fish populations and coral reefs are decimated, which are both outcomes we will suffer if we do not take care of shark populations.”

Stefanie’s explanation makes perfect sense if you consider the long history of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/sharks-threatened-fishing-boats/">sharks</a>. How could they not have evolved as an integral part of a massive and complex global ecology? Ocean ecology is in fact what humans exploit for food as well as what we depend on for clean air and water. Despite the crucial role oceans play in our lives, even far inland, humans have a poor track record of according them respect and protections. Sharks are no different, as Brendl explained to me.

“Sharks are severely threatened, but their plight receives the least amount of attention and funding. They are the underdog of ocean conservation and animal advocacy…There is a drastic decline in shark populations that is caused by industrial overfishing, the high demand for shark products, and the poorly controlled trade of the products. Scientists estimate that more than 100 million sharks are killed every year.” 

[caption id="attachment_1875776" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Stef-Oceanic-Whitetip.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1875776" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Stef-Oceanic-Whitetip.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="400" /></a> Image Credit: Shark Allies[/caption]

One of the most notorious causes of shark declines is sadly a complete luxury. Shark fin soup is a dish reserved as a symbol of wealth and power for many. Sharks often have a fin cut off cruelty only to be tossed back into the ocean for a slow, agonizing but inevitable death. For this reason, Shark Allies was involved in the ban of shark fins in Hawaii in 2010 and is continuing the work by pushing for a similar ban in Florida, the current center of the US shark fin industry. 

One of the ways individuals can help sharks, besides supporting conservation organizations and legislation is being careful to avoid shark products, such as shark meat. As with any wild animal, one of the keys to fighting for it is understanding it. 

Stefanie Brendl told me there’s more information than an individual can absorb on sharks out there – in books, on the internet, in documentary films. All of these sources of information can prepare a person for the most important part of studying sharks – seeing a live shark in the wild. Stefanie Brendl was inspired by her hands on work as a diver and working on documentary films around sharks. 

“When you have the opportunity to visit a location with reputable shark diving operators, take the plunge,” Brendl told me. “It will change your life! Meeting a shark in person is impossible to describe. It changes your DNA and you will never feel the same.”

She’s right. I remember seeing sharks, just small ones on my first SCUBA diving trips in Mexico. Nurse sharks like some I saw are shy and yet there’s something fierce and ancient in the reflection of their eyes. Even shark teeth alone can change your perspective. Ancient teeth sprinkled in dry places show the dynamic nature of Earth’s history and the important role sharks have played, it’s written even in desert rocks. Sharks have always been a part of the human world and often an important part of who we are. Shark Allies points out the often central role sharks have played in the human consciousness,

“Sharks are part of every indigenous culture that lives near the sea. Humans have felt the power and presence of sharks since they have first laid eyes on the ocean” the organization writes. “They have revered them as deities, gods, manifestations of ancestors and guardians for as long as cultures have existed. We have all come from the ocean and sharks have been part of our world for as long as we have been human.”

Consider that the next time you think of sharks.        

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Main Image Credit: Shark Allies

Why sharks are so important to global ecosystems

Why sharks are so important to global ecosystems. Sharks were...

Dams are typically seen as the enemy by environmentalists, ever since Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite was flooded against the protests of John Muir. Ed Abbey painted dams as the enemy of his band of misfit ecoterrorists in The Monkey Wrench Gang. 

The reasons why dams are unpopular among environmentalists are numerous. Some are horrified by the loss of beautiful places like Hetch Hetchy or Glen Canyon. Flooding behind a dam not only destroys wildlife habitat but sometimes covers important paleontological, geological or archaeological sites. Others worry about the impact of dams on <a href="http://www.fao.org/3/Y2785E/y2785e03.htm">fish populations</a>. 

Silt builds up behind dams, and the water is warmer in a reservoir created by a dam than in the original river. All of this leads to a release of methane created in the new aquatic environment and a loss of biodiversity. In fact, as the original life drowned by flooding die and decay, as much as <a href="https://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/renewable-energy/environmental-impacts-hydroelectric-power.html">0.5 pounds</a> of carbon dioxide equivalent is released per kilowatt hour, barely better than the 0.6 - 2 pounds produced from natural gas generated electricity. 

Migratory fish are stopped or delayed in their movement by dams. Sometimes dams favor invasive non-native fish populations adapted to different environments. Populations of fish in Europe have declined after the building of dams. In China, fish species declined from 107 to 83 after the Xinanjiang dam was built. The same trend of a decline in biodiversity, not only in the flooded region of a river but also downstream, has been shown in Australia and Latin America as well. Dams also impact native fishes negatively in the US.

Political battles have been fought over dams throughout the western US and mostly environmentalists have lost and dams sprouted everywhere people lived out west. For the most part, we’ve passed the time in US history for major dam building. According to <a href="https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1849-25045-6913/02_hydrosafetydam_ch_2_4.pdf">FEMA</a> numbers, only 92 dams of any stature were built before 1800 in the United States. The number of dams built increased until 27,715 dams were built in the US between 1951 and 1970. Dam building has slowed down considerably since that time, with 19,506 dams built between 1971 and 1990. Only 5,105 dams were constructed between 1991 and 2007. Now, many of these dams are growing old and there’s a discussion of what should be done. 

<a href="https://headwaterseconomics.org/economic-development/local-studies/dam-removal-case-studies/">Headwaters Economics</a> reports that the US has 87,000 dams more than six feet high and 2 million all together. Of the dams, there are 2,603 in the lower 48 states that generate electricity. It’s estimated that by 2020, 70% of dams will be over fifty years old and will require more and more costly maintenance. It’s estimated that repairing the United States non federally owned dams could cost $51.5 billion. 

Some of those dams still serve a useful purpose while others are potentially reaching the end of their service. With realities such as these, dams across the US have been removed as well as constructed. Since 1912, more than 1,300 dams in the US have been removed, and 62 were removed in 2015 alone.. With the removal of dams and the decommissioning of the connected hydropower plants that many of them keep alive, electrical power becomes an issue. 

Hydroelectricity currently provides about 6% of the United States electricity needs and give constant steady electricity to the grid. New research in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-019-0362-7.epdf?referrer_access_token=vagRrqLiiqhKj3WU0-jCW9RgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0PKLW205v4XAxuAPHOliRvt4XFPF715VUkj8kRkGH68-VNejQSjD5m6_Udtyt1xI1keiVnrbaMmMkmqaThD3umnEV7hSCArprpbxxdOmawxGtkisDCghyatSqWYHGEiBF6QEACTHIQxLHTYN5G9tVhinfZyBXBHviz6lplG3pu0_MjtgO3Tejb6XEtUcmkM4c_KoMu2PIhCv0rMBLAwf9qB9Ad_Be-De69yHRdiE5Zsc7KxdwhOzY8J8ScjBfqtfIg%3D&amp;tracking_referrer=www.carbonbrief.org">Nature</a> suggests that solar electricity could potentially replace the lost electricity from hydroelectric. The research indicates that theoretically, the same amount of electricity as currently generated by dams could be generated by solar panels using only 13% of the land currently occupied by reservoirs. 

Of course, some of the land used by reservoirs wouldn’t necessarily be appropriate for solar panels, so other land might have to be used to make the same amount of electricity. If all hydroelectric dams were removed and only half of the land area they occupied was replaced with solar, it could generate 3.44 times the amount of electricity currently created by hydroelectric. 

Replacing hydroelectric dams with <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/green-solar-panels-appealing/">solar panels</a> is an interesting idea, but it’s more complicated than a straight trade of one thing for another. Without a way to store electricity like batteries, solar power is unlikely to be a good replacement for hydroelectricity, which is generated 24 hours a day. Solar also varies per season and not every location that currently uses hydroelectric has equal opportunity for solar. Washington State, for example, has 107 hydroelectric dams, Arizona has 9. On average, Phoenix, Arizona has 299 <a href="https://www.bestplaces.net/climate/city/arizona/phoenix">sunny days</a> per year while Seattle, WA has only <a href="https://www.bestplaces.net/climate/city/washington/seattle">152</a>. Just from this one comparison it’s obvious that some places have a huge advantage than others for solar or hydroelectric. 

All of this leads to a lot of uncertainty about the potential cost of replacing hydroelectric plants with solar panels as well as the local feasibility. Replacing the energy Arizona gets from hydroelectricity seems a lot more doable than doing the same for Washington. There is also the question of environmental impact and what the impact of solar panels is in the long run.

Both solar and hydroelectric systems are forms of renewable energy, with solar having less of a direct impact, mainly coming from the manufacturing of the solar panel itself. Due to the carbon footprint of producing a solar panel, solar actually produces <a href="https://grist.org/living/whats-better-new-solar-panels-or-old-hydropower/">more carbon</a> on average over its lifetime than hydro. There are also some serious problems related to disposing of solar panels. 

Over time, solar panels become <a href="https://earth911.com/eco-tech/recycle-solar-panels/">less and less efficient</a>, with most functioning at a rate of 85% after 25 years or less. The <a href="https://www.irena.org/events/2016/Jun/EU-PVSEC-Conference-sideevent-Photovoltaic-EndofLife-Management-PV-EOL-workshop">International Renewable Energy Agency</a> (IRENA) estimates that by 2050 there will be 60 to 78 million tons of solar panel waste. Solar panels are hard to recycle because they’re made from so many different materials and very few facilities exist that are capable of recycling them at all. So, that leaves us with the question: is it better to replace hydroelectricity with solar?

The best way to reduce carbon emissions is to decrease consumption and increase efficiency. Whether solar makes sense as an alternative to hydroelectricity might change depending on the region, and it might also become less problematic as technology develops. For the moment, it’s something that deserves further consideration.                                   

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Gary Saxe

Does it make sense to replace America’s aging dams with solar panels?

Dams are typically seen as the enemy by environmentalists, ever...

A new poll has found that a growing number of young Republican voters are concerned about human-induced climate change.

The polling agency <a href="https://www.glocalities.com/">Glocalities</a>, which is based in Amsterdam, conducted a survey of 20 countries worldwide, including the US, Germany, China, and Brazil to see how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-questions-worded/">global attitudes about climate change are changing. </a>

The average level of concern about human-driven climate change was 77 percent in all 20 countries surveyed, a six percent increase since 2014. 

In the US specifically, the number of Republicans who said they were worried about how much humans are negatively impacting the environment and climate has increased to 58 percent. 

67 percent of Republican voters aged 18 to 34 are worried about climate change, an 18 percent increase since earlier polls. 

<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-environment-poll-republicans/surge-in-young-republicans-worried-about-the-environment-survey-idUSKCN1VJ17V">Reuters,</a> which reported on the poll results, also said there was a ten percent increase in Republicans who are trying to act more sustainably and environmentally conscious.

Meanwhile, 83 percent of Democrat voters expressed concern about climate change in the environment and a majority of all those surveyed (69 percent) agreed that humans were damaging the planet. 

What may be influencing young Republican voters is the increase in youth-led climate activism. 

“When looking deeper into the data it becomes clear that the highest rise in environmental concern (worldwide) is visible among younger Republicans,” Martijn Lampert, a pollster for Glocalities, told Reuters. “If Donald Trump keeps on denying climate change and refrains from standing up for the environment he won’t be able to increase support among the young and be heavily reliant on older generations of Republican voters for winning again.”

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By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Christopher Penler

An increasing number of young Republicans are concerned about climate change

A new poll has found that a growing number of...

South Africa is of course known for its variety of iconic animals from penguins and great white sharks to elephants and lions. The country is also <a href="https://www.awf.org/country/south-africa">ranked</a> as number six in the world’s 17 mega diverse countries.

Additionally, South Africa is home to the largest population of rhinoceros in Africa. South Africa’s animals are often targeted for poaching as well, and rhinos, elephants and other animals are valuable for their body parts sold on the international black market. This is what has long made Africa one of the frontlines of the battle for biological conservation.  

Considering the animal life in South Africa, it’s unsurprising that there is an enormous amount of plant diversity in the country as well. There are approximately 20,000 <a href="https://www.fauna-flora.org/countries/south-africa">plant species</a> found in South Africa, which is home to one of only six floral kingdoms worldwide – the Cape Floral Kingdom. 70% of the Cape Floral Kingdom’s 9,000+ plant species don’t occur outside of the local region. Unfortunately, plant life in South Africa is threatened as well.

Over the period of 300 years, 79 plants were confirmed to have gone extinct in several biodiversity hotspots in South Africa. New research shows that this represents a shockingly large percentage of plant biodiversity for South Africa. According to research published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(19)30943-1?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982219309431%3Fshowall%3Dtrue">Current Biology</a>, this loss of biodiversity in South Africa represents 45.4% of all known plant extinctions from 10 of the world’s top biodiversity hotspots. 

The plant loss in South Africa goes as far back as the 1700s when the first recorded loss of a plant species occurred. The plant was a species of fountainbush (Psoralea cataracta) that lived near streams. Plant extinctions in South Africa have also occurred as recently as 2012 when a rare species of vygie went extinct due to urbanization and human development. It’s sometimes more challenging to determine the extinction of a plant species than it is with the more charismatic animals. 

As many as 431 plant species have been declared extinct, only to be later rediscovered. Plants, small, nondescript, many of which require a specialist to identify are easier to overlook than many animals. Plants can also hide out as seeds or very small immature specimens that can be missed. Some of the plants now declared extinct could potentially be rediscovered, but the plant extinction rates are still something to take very seriously, not just in South Africa but across the world as well. 

A <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333679673_Global_dataset_shows_geography_and_life_form_predict_modern_plant_extinction_and_rediscovery">new study</a> found that since 1750, 571 plant species have gone extinct worldwide. Although some plant extinction is normal and not all of it can be attributed to humans, the number of plant extinctions rose sharply after the industrial revolution. The rate of plant extinctions now is 500 times greater than before the industrial revolution. What may be most disturbing is that there are likely even more plant extinctions than those recorded and 571 species is likely an underestimate. 

Islands are some of the most likely places to find confirmed plant extinctions. It’s easier to be sure that a plant has been wiped out from a limited area such as an island, and it’s also easier for a plant in such an area to be threatened. 

Hawaii was the one place surveyed in the study that had a higher number of plant extinctions than South Africa. <a href="https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/rare-plants/">Hawaii</a> is home to 1,400 vascular plant taxa, 90% of which are found only in Hawaii. More than 100 plant taxa have already gone extinct there.

Hawaii has also lost its share of animal species and more may die off in the near future. The <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/is-hawaii-the-extinction-capital-of-the-world-exhibit-a-the-alala-bird/2016/04/25/3f45c6ac-f210-11e5-89c3-a647fcce95e0_story.html">Washington Post</a> reports that of the 1,225 endangered species listed by the <a href="https://www.fws.gov/">US Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, 481 of them are from Hawaii. 

The island state contains <a href="https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/rare-plants/">44%</a> of all endangered and threatened plant species in the US. Invasive threats like <a href="https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/info/">non-native</a> avian malaria and fire ants have devastated many native species. Unfortunately, often the loss of one species in an area can lead to the loss of more. Even extinctions that don’t lead to a cascade effect are often indicative of an underlying problem that may cause more extinctions. The high rate of plant extinctions in particular doesn’t bode well for animals. 

Plants are of course support almost all life on Earth. By synthesizing their own food from the sun and soil nutrients, plants are the basis of food webs. Plants are also vital in creating oxygen and are used for habitat by numerous species. Birds make nests in trees, caterpillars weave cocoons on particular plants, tigers stalk through grass, even humans build houses from trees or bamboo. Plants are used as tools by primates and birds. Sea grasses are both hiding spots and food sources. Cavities made into saguaro cactus turn into places to hide from the desert sun. Habitats are made cooler and wetter by the presence of plants, which sometimes even partially create the climate of a region. The importance of plants makes it unsurprising that high plant extinctions lead to high animal extinctions. 

The <a href="https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2019/05/nature-decline-unprecedented-report/">United Nations reported</a> earlier this year that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/extinction-crisis-solutions/">extinction rates</a> are at an unprecedented high. According to the UN, as many as 1 million species are threatened with extinction. The report called for ‘transformative change’ in human society from local to national and international levels to stop the disintegration of global ecosystems. The average abundance of native species in continental habitats has dropped by 20% the world over, and even the native species not threatened with extinction are less common. 

The loss of diversity driven by humans has the potential to hurt us as well. Not only wild species have gone extinct. More than 9% of mammal breeds used in agriculture had gone extinct by 2016. Combined with a loss of natural environments, this puts humanity’s food supply in a precarious position. The loss of wild plants can lead to the loss of pollinators and indeed the loss of domestic crops. If humanity is to save itself as well as the beautiful forms it shares Earth with, the time is now.         

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Hawaii and South Africa lead the world in global extinctions

South Africa is of course known for its variety of...

Thick slabs of ice are rapidly replacing thinner ice across the interior of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/new-lakes-greenland-ice-sheet/">Greenland's ice sheet</a> as a result of global warming. Because the thicker ice is not porous, it cannot reabsorb meltwater, which is spilling straight into the ocean. 

In a new study, experts have discovered that this transformation has the potential to increase Greenland's contribution to sea level rise by as much as 2.9 inches this century. 

"Interestingly, decades ago scientists hypothesized what meltwater in a warming climate could do to Greenland's snow layers, based on measurements and theory." said study second author Horst Machguth. "Our results show that their hypotheses were close to what is playing out in Greenland today."

Mike MacFerrin is a researcher at <a href="https://cires.colorado.edu/">CIRES</a> and <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/">UC Boulder</a> who led the study. He explained that although runoff from ice slabs has added less than a millimeter to global sea levels so far, this contribution will grow substantially as ice slabs continue to expand in a warming climate.

"Even under moderate climate projections, ice slabs could double the size of the runoff zone by 2100," said MacFerrin. "Under higher emissions scenarios, the runoff zone nearly triples in size."

In 2000, Greenland's runoff zone was roughly the size of New Mexico. By 2013, ice slabs had expanded the runoff zone by about 65,000 km2, which is an average increase of two football fields per minute. 

The team found that under a moderate emissions scenario, the runoff zone would likely expand by the size of Colorado during this century, contributing about one inch to sea level rise. Under a higher emissions scenario, the runoff zone could increase by the size of Texas, contributing as much as 2.9 inches to sea level rise.

In 2012, MacFerrin's team noticed large sections of solid ice in ice core samples, instead of the thin ice lenses they expected. According to MacFerrin, they had never seen anything like it before. 

Since the initial discovery of ice slabs, the researchers have used ground-penetrating radars to map the extent of slabs. The scientists also used NASA Icebridge data and climate models to understand how the slabs have expanded and to predict how they may continue to grow.

"As the climate continues to warm, these ice slabs will continue to grow and enhance other meltwater feedbacks," said study co-author Mahsa Moussavi. "It's a snowball effect: more melting creates more ice slabs, which create more melting, which creates again more ice slabs."

The future contribution of the ice slabs to sea-level rise will be determined by the rate of greenhouse gas emissions. "Humans have a choice about which way this goes," said MacFerrin.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Ulannaq Ingemann

Thick ice slabs are rapidly increasing meltwater runoff in Greenland

Thick slabs of ice are rapidly replacing thinner ice across...

Why combating climate change is a smart business investment. A new study urges that climate change is an economic issue, and the authors are calling on world leaders to invest in and implement policies to reduce the impacts.

You can find <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/swedens-tallest-mountain-peak-melted/">evidence of climate change</a> in every corner of the globe, with some regions showing accelerated warming that exceeds <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-temperatures-climbing-faster/">previous predictions</a>. 

The projected costs of climate change’s impact on the ecosystem, infrastructure, and people will far outweigh the costs associated with implementing solutions like investing in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/renewable-energy-carbon-capture/">renewable energy </a>or slashing greenhouse gas emissions. 

An international team of respected scientists compiled evidence of the accelerating impacts of climate change. Their study, published in the journal Science, emphasizes the concerning implications for the future of humankind unless more is done to combat global warming.  

Investing in climate change mitigation is not just good business, it is also critical in order to prevent widespread devastation, global food shortages, and mass displacement of people due to sea-level rise and increasing temperatures. 

“Acting on climate change, has a good return on investment when one considers the damages avoided by acting,” said Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg from the<a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/"> University of Queensland</a> in Australia and lead author of the study. 

According to the researchers, the economic toll of climate change has been underestimated. On their own, the calculable costs of storm surges, sea-level rise, and flooding may be manageable, but climate change is exacerbating these issues. 

“The scientific community has quantified these risks in order to inform policymakers about the benefits of avoiding them,” said Professor Rachel Warren from the <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/">University of East Anglia</a>, an author of the study.

Professor Warren investigated the projected impacts that warming of 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius would have on the forest, biodiversity, crops, and food systems.

Research has shown that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/limit-global-warming/">limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius </a>above pre-industrial levels would result in fewer catastrophic impacts. 

“If such policy is not implemented, we will continue on the current upward trajectory of burning fossil fuels and continuing deforestation, which will expand the already large-scale degradation of ecosystems,” said Warren. “To be honest, the overall picture is very grim unless we act.” 

Most at risk are developing nations where already unstable economies could collapse due to malnutrition, infrastructure damage, and displacement. 

“Current emission reduction commitments are inadequate and risk throwing many nations into chaos and harm, with a particular vulnerability of poor peoples,” said Hoegh-Guldberg “To avoid this, we must accelerate action and tighten emission reduction targets so that they fall in line with the Paris Agreement. As we show, this is much less costly than suffering the impacts of 2oC or more of climate change.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Image Credit: AMFPhotography/Shutterstock

Why combating climate change is a smart business investment

Why combating climate change is a smart business investment. A...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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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

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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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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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

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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



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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



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Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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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



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Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

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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



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NASA monitors giant dust storms on Mars

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="http://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. This strait provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean.



Qeshm is separated from the Iranian coast by the Clarence Strait, also known as Khuran.&nbsp;The Hara Forest Protected Area is a network of shallow waterways and forest located between the island and the mainland. This protected region is home to sea turtles, snakes, and more than 150 species of migrating birds.



Qeshm is famous for its wide range of&nbsp;ecotourist&nbsp;attractions, such as the&nbsp;Hara marine forests. According to environmentalists, about 1.5 percent of the world birds and 25 percent of Iran's native <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/female-hummingbirds-avoid-sexual-harassment-by-looking-like-males/">birds</a> annually migrate to the forests, which are the first national geo park in Iran.



Tourists are also drawn to the island to see an age-old Portuguese&nbsp;fort, historic mosques, the&nbsp;Seyyed Mozaffar&nbsp;and&nbsp;Bibi Maryam&nbsp;shrines, and the "Valley of Stars."



The average temperature on the island is 81 degress and the region is often hot and humid. From June to August, the island is described as being oppressively hot. The ideal time to visit is during the winter season. 



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique.&nbsp;



"Inhambane Bay is a deep inlet into which the small Mutamba River flows," says ESA. "On one side of the bay lies the historical city of Inhambane, capital of the Inhambane Province, while the sister city of Maxixe, the economic capital of Inhambane, sits across from it. The province is the second largest grower of cashews, after Nampula, and it also produces coconut and citrus fruits."



The beaches of Barra and Tofo are popular with tourists. There are also coral reefs along the long coastline of Inhambane, making it an ideal destination for scuba diving and snorkeling.



"Mozambique’s extensive coastline heightens the country’s vulnerability to tropical cyclones that develop in the Indian Ocean as well as storm surge flooding," says ESA.



"More than half of the population lives in low lying coastal areas, putting communities at risk. Inhambane Bay was dangerously close to where Cyclone Idai made landfall in 2019 causing widespread destruction to the country."



Video/ Image 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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Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency </a>&nbsp;features the Kangerlussuaq Glacier, one of the largest tidewater outlet glaciers in Greenland. The glacier is located on the east coast of the Greenland ice sheet.



As human-induced climate change continues to drive up temperatures, global ice loss is accelerating at an alarming rate. ESA reports that, over the past decade alone, 3.5 trillion tons of ice have melted from the Greenland ice sheet. This is enough to cover the UK with meltwater 15 meters deep.



Based on satellite imagery, researchers determined that Kangerlussuaq entered a new phase of rapid retreat and acceleration in 2017. In their study, published in <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2019.00123/full">Frontiers in Earth Science</a>,&nbsp; the experts report that the glacier's ice front is now at its most retreated position since the early 20th century.



"Given Kangerlussuaq’s previous impacts on both the magnitude and pattern of ice sheet wide mass loss, we predict that its new phase of retreat, acceleration and thinning will markedly enhance the south-east region’s contribution to increasing discharge from the ice sheet," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;&nbsp;



"More broadly, accurate forecasting of the ice sheet’s contribution to sea level rise will require a deeper understanding of, and responses to, these non-linear ice dynamic processes."



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Kangerlussuaq Glacier on the Greenland ice sheet

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes the complex relationship between ocean and climate. ESA's Climate Change Initiative will help us understand how oceans influence the climate and how climate change is impacting the oceans.&nbsp;



"Earth’s oceans are huge heat stores, soaking up 93% of the excess heat from human activity over the past 70 years. Ocean currents redistribute heat around the planet, from the Equator to the poles. Where this ocean heat goes influences weather patterns and regional climate," explains ESA.



"As well as absorbing heat, oceans are a natural carbon sink, absorbing a quarter of carbon dioxide emissions from human activity. This has led to the acidification of ocean water, threating marine life."



The amount of heat and carbon dioxide soaked up by the ocean depends on specific variables, including phytoplankton, temperatures, waves, salinity, and ice cover. Satellites can be used to measure these variables from space.



"From their unique vantage point, satellites provide key information for understanding the complexities of our planet and monitoring environmental issues," says ESA.



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Ocean heat influences regional climate

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes the importance of monitoring the shape of the sea surface, which is constantly changing. These observations have many applications, such as ship routing, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-modem-ocean-is-a-tough-place-for-whales-to-survive/">ocean</a> current forecasting, and debris tracking.



"A project supported by the Discovery element of ESA’s Basic Activities recently investigated a new technique to measure sea surface topography very precisely," reports ESA.



"The technique involves looking at satellite navigation (GNSS) signals that have been reflected off of the sea surface at very low angles. At these so-called grazing angles, waves and surface roughness have very little impact on the reflection process; the sea surface acts as a very smooth mirror."



Estel Cardellach is the principal investigator at the Institute for Space Studies of Catalonia, who first submitted the idea for the project.



“In a mirror-like reflection the phase of the signal can be tracked – it is continuous," said Cardellach. "Different surface heights result in different phase measurements. It gives a very precise measurement of the surface altitude at a few centimetres’ precision.”



The researchers developed a GNSS receiver and set up an experiment in the Balaeric Islands to collect signals from the receiver that were reflected off the sea surface. Ultimately, these signals will provide improved measurements of the shape of the sea surface.



Image/ Video Credit: ESA



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

Monitoring the dynamic shape of the sea surface

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