The Arctic, known for its icy landscapes and frozen permafrost, is rapidly transforming due to the intensifying effects of climate change. As temperatures rise, a silent but potent threat emerges: methane emissions. Unlike carbon dioxide, methane is not as widely discussed, yet its impact on global warming is profound. 



A new study published in the journal Nature highlights the growing concern over methane emissions in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-climate-will-permanently-change-by-2050-scientists-warn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic</a> and their role in creating a feedback loop that could accelerate climate change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-methane-traps-more-heat">Why methane traps more heat </h2>



Methane isn’t as abundant as carbon dioxide, but it’s far more potent. Over a century, it traps 30 times more heat. 



Xin (Lindsay) Lan, a climate scientist at <a href="https://www.colorado.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CU Boulder</a>’s Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), sees the urgency.



“Methane is a very potent greenhouse gas that we need to address urgently,” Lan said. “Our study suggests that a significant portion of the recent rise in atmospheric methane originates from natural <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-warming-may-fuel-the-spread-of-diseases-by-unleashing-frozen-viruses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sources</a> driven by climate change. Our emission reduction efforts need to be more aggressive.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-arctic-methane-levels-climb-steadily">Arctic methane levels climb steadily</h2>



For years, Lan has tracked methane levels at NOAA’s <a href="https://gml.noaa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Monitoring Laboratory</a> in Boulder. Methane emissions have steadily climbed since 2007. 



Scientists had pointed fingers at fossil fuels, responsible for 30% of emissions. Yet, Lan’s research points elsewhere - to tiny, ancient microbes thriving in new, warmer habitats.



Archaea - microbes that have lived for millennia in wetlands, landfills, and the guts of livestock - produce methane. They may be small, but they’re mighty emitters. Microbial emissions now make up nearly half of all global methane output. Yet, pinpointing specific sources remains tricky.



Lan isn’t just watching long-term trends. Seasonal fluctuations in methane also reveal what’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-meltdown-is-accelerating-global-warming-already-changing-earth-in-unimaginable-ways/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">changing</a> underground.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-permafrost-fuels-methane-emissions">Permafrost fuels methane emissions</h2>



Lan’s team dove into decades of data. Methane’s seasonal amplitude - the swing from highest to lowest levels in a year - is shrinking in northern latitudes. 



Why? Wetlands in the Arctic are expanding. Thawing permafrost is unlocking ancient carbon stores, creating perfect conditions for archaea.



Computer models show the Arctic’s wetlands have grown by 25% in the warmer months, feeding the microbes with more decomposing organic matter. The result: more methane.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-feedback-loop-accelerates">The feedback loop accelerates</h2>



When permafrost melts, more carbon enters the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drastic-warming-will-transform-the-arctic-beyond-recognition/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atmosphere</a>. As temperatures rise, more permafrost melts. A cycle begins. Lan’s research shows that since 2007, this loop has intensified. What was once a trickle of methane is becoming a flood.



“This study, along with a few previous studies, has provided indirect evidence on potential climate feedback on methane emissions, which would be beyond our ability to control directly,” Lan said.



In previous work, Lan's team analyzed connections between today’s methane surge and dramatic warming events that ended past ice ages.



As Arctic ice sheets melted, vast stores of methane escaped, causing rapid temperature increases. That was thousands of years ago. Now, it’s happening again - but faster.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-underestimated-methane-removal">Underestimated methane removal</h2>



Methane doesn’t linger forever. Hydroxyl (OH) radicals act like atmospheric scrubbers, breaking down methane. Lan’s team discovered that since 1984, these radicals have increased by 10%.



Unfortunately, OH levels are hard to measure - they disappear within seconds - scientists had assumed they remained constant. But Lan’s study suggests that the atmosphere has been removing more methane than previously thought.



“Our result showed that we’ve been underestimating how much methane the atmosphere has been removing, which means that there’s actually more methane being emitted than we previously estimated,” Lan said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-arctic-methane-feedback-loop">Arctic methane feedback loop</h2>



If the atmosphere is cleaning itself more efficiently, then methane emissions are higher than we realized. 



That’s a big problem. Emission reduction plans rely on accurate data. If those numbers are off, efforts to control methane may miss the mark.



Lan stresses that understanding methane’s sources is critical. Microbial emissions are surging, but fossil fuels still account for a major chunk of global output. 



And the Arctic’s permafrost holds double the carbon currently in the atmosphere. If warming continues, thawing permafrost could unleash catastrophic carbon releases.



“We need to aggressively cut all greenhouse gas emissions from the sources we can control,” Lan said. “We need to address the feedback loop before reaching that tipping point.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urgency-amid-uncertainty">Urgency amid uncertainty</h2>



Time is not on our side. Methane’s rise mirrors past warming events, but this time, human activities amplify the effect. 



Lan’s work highlights a critical truth: the Arctic is changing faster than expected, and methane is slipping through the cracks.



Now, the question is - how much longer before the feedback loop spirals beyond control?



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08900-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Arctic warming fuels dangerous methane feedback loop

The Arctic, known for its icy landscapes and frozen permafrost, is rapidly transforming due to the intensifying effects of climate change. As temperatures rise, a silent but potent threat emerges: methane emissions. Unlike carbon dioxide, methane is not as widely discussed, yet its impact on global warming is profound. A new study published in the journal Nature highlights the growing concern over methane emissions in the Arctic and their role in creating a feedback loop that could accelerate climate change. Why methane traps more heat Methane isn’t...

2019 is shaping up to be a year filled with amazing lunar events including not one but three supermoons, the second of which is scheduled to light up the night sky on Tuesday, February 19th. 

A supermoon occurs when the moon is at its fullest and at its closest point to Earth. This point is called the perigee, and when the moon is farthest from the Earth in its orbit it’s called the apogee. 

The first supermoon of the year was not just a super moon but a “<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/super-blood-wolf-moon-eclipse/">Super Blood Wolf Moon</a>” because of a lunar eclipse that tinted the moon a reddish coppery color. 

Tonight’s supermoon will not be quite as exciting as a lunar eclipse Blood Moon, but it will be fuller and brighter.

February’s supermoon is what’s known as a “Super Snow Moon.” 

A <a href="https://moon.nasa.gov/news/22/the-snow-moon/">Snow Moon</a> was the name given to the second full moon of winter by Native American tribes in the Northern and Eastern United STates, according to the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">National Aeronautics and Space Administration</a> (NASA).

The Snow Moon has the snowy months of January and February to thank for its name. 

If you’re hoping to get a glimpse of the Super Snow Moon this month, moonrise between 5:30 and 6:30 pm will be your best chance. During moonrise, an optical illusion makes the moon seems larger than it is because of how close the moon is to the horizon. 

<a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/">Time and Date</a> has a moonrise and moonset calculator so you can find out when is the best time in your local area to see the spectacle. The Super Snow Moon will be the second supermoon of 2019 with a third, less impressive supermoon expected in March. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Another supermoon arrives tonight and here’s the best way to see it

2019 is shaping up to be a year filled with...

The first time I saw bioluminescence in a fish, it was easy to think I might just be imagining it.  It’s never truly dark in the summer of Alaska and as I sat amid Rhinoceros Auklet burrows, the light was something like twilight.  The small, dead fish I held in my hand was taken from a parent auklet bringing food to her chicks. We took few samples so that the chicks still ate enough, but the research could conceivably impact how these birds were managed by government agencies like the one I was interning with.  I paused from my work to stare at the fish. The researchers I was working with confirmed that the fish was glowing, an interesting effect from very small organisms found in the ocean. Much more impressive night-time displays of marine bioluminescence can be found in other parts of the world.  

A friend of mine once visited Puerto Rico and told me of seeing the whole ocean alight with moving, tossing, glowing life in waves.  According to the <a href="https://www.si.edu/">Smithsonian Institute</a>, glowing marine organisms live throughout the water column from the seafloor to the crest of waves.  Glowing ocean animals also live from near the shore to far out in the open sea. 

Bioluminescence is often used as a form of communication and is very common in the ocean, and given the size of the sea, may even be the most commonly used form of communication.  That said, bioluminescence is not always so noticeable. Much like the tiny fish with a faint glow I saw in Alaska, many glows are too faint to notice. With the increase in human made lights on the ocean and especially on shore, oceanic bioluminescence is even harder to see.  Natural light from the moon also makes it hard to notice the glow sometimes. Even with these obstacles, there are a few places in the world where bioluminescence is so prevalent that it’s become something of a <a href="https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/eco-tourism/stories/5-incredible-places-where-the-ocean-glows">tourist attraction</a>.  

Puerto Rico, where my friend saw bioluminescence, along with Malta, Japan, Florida, California and Taiwan all boast their own night time spectacle of bioluminescent tides.  Researchers in Taiwan particularly looked at the bioluminescence of the Matsu Islands in Taiwan with an eye towards predicting a season for the spectacle and attracting tourism.

Since there is so much bioluminescence in the ocean, it’s no surprise that there are many different species that glow.  <a href="http://www.imas.utas.edu.au/zooplankton/image-key/noctiluca-scintillans">Noctiluca scintillans</a>, a dinoflagellate, not technically either animal or plant, was responsible for the glow on the Matsu Islands.  Dinoflagellates are phytoplankton and N. scintillans looks like a tiny (0.2 to 2mm) jellyfish.  The dinoflagellate eats its food rather than producing it through photosynthesis as a plant would, catching prey with tentacles.  N. scintillans glows when it’s disturbed, and this means if it’s attacked or if a boat passes through a group of the dinoflagellate, the ocean will appear to glow.  In the case of glowing tides, the disturbance is merely the movement of the water against land and rock. Other dinoflagellates glow as well. In <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/11/san-diego-bioluminescence-glowing-surf-california">California</a>, the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedra, has been found to cause glowing tides as well as the phenomena known as red tide.

Red tide is caused by large accumulation or organisms like these dinoflagellates.  Often called algal bloom, the red tide is actually caused by many different organisms, including dinoflagellates, diatoms, protozoans and algae.  These organisms are preceded by upwellings of nutrient dense water from deep in the ocean, sometimes caused by storms or seasonal temperature changes.  

Red tide can be devastating.  This rich soup of organisms creates many chemicals that are toxic for many larger animals.  As we reported in 2018, Florida was hit by one of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/red-tide-kills-sea-life/">worst cases of red tide in a decade</a>.  At least 400 sea turtles were poisoned by the red tide as well as fish, seabirds and other animals caught in the toxic algal bloom.  About 100 miles of Florida coast were affected by the red tide. The accumulation of toxins in the red tide even made beach goers cough and caused their eyes to water, according to one report from <a href="https://weather.com/science/environment/news/2018-07-28-florida-fort-myers-red-tide-dead-animals-turtles">Weather.com</a>.  It’s amazing that something so ugly during the day could look so beautiful at night.  Glowing tides aren’t always dangerous and bioluminescence certainly is not.

<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/11/san-diego-bioluminescence-glowing-surf-california">The Guardian</a> reports that the organisms responsible for that state’s red tide in May also caused incredible night time bioluminescence without being toxic.  There are many different species of dinoflagellates and other organisms glowing at night in the sea, some of them are poisonous and others are relatively harmless.  The reasons for the glowing isn’t entirely understood. Some feel that the light is meant to distract animals trying to prey on the glowing dinoflagellates. Other organisms like the nightmarish <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/bizarre-mating-practices-anglerfish/">anglerfish</a> live in constant darkness and use bioluminescence to lure prey to them.  Some squid use bioluminescence to <a href="https://news.mongabay.com/2007/02/giant-squid-use-bioluminescence-to-hunt-prey-communicate/">communicate as well as to hunt</a>.  

Bioluminescence all seems to come from one chemical: luciferase.  The word has the same root as ‘lucifer’ which simply means ‘light bearer’.  Luciferase is simply an enzyme that when exposed to oxygen creates light. There are different varieties of luciferase and they’re controlled differently in different organisms.  In squid, the animal doesn’t even create luciferase itself, and is instead host to micro-organisms that glow for them. Some bioluminescent organisms can control the color and brightness of the light they produce.  

Under the sea, the process is similar to what happens inside fireflies.  Fireflies themselves are amazing animals and have been observed coordinating their lights together by the thousands.  Whole trees and hillsides flash in the dark where this happens and we don’t know exactly why, just like we don’t fully understand the dazzling display in the oceans all around us.    

The whole sea is speaking one organism to another in a language older and broader than humanity, and all we can really fathom is the simplest point of its eloquent beauty.             

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Bioluminescent Tide: What makes the ocean glow

The first time I saw bioluminescence in a fish, it...

Experts have been looking into ways to improve beef production methods in an effort to reduce harmful <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/cowspiracy-film-review/">greenhouse gas emissions</a>. One environmentally-friendly option that is being explored is lab-grown meat. However, a new study from the <a href="http://www.ox.ac.uk/">University of Oxford</a> has revealed that cultured meat would not mitigate all of the negative impacts of beef production without a widespread shift to carbon-free energy.

The researchers determined that while some forms of cultured meat would be an improvement, others could actually drive higher global temperatures in the long term. The study authors emphasized that the climate impact of cultured meat production will depend on its energy demands and the availability of low-carbon power sources.

“There has been a great deal of public interest in cultured meat recently, and many articles highlight the potential for substituting cattle beef with cultured meat to provide an important climate benefit,” said study lead author Dr. John Lynch.

“We show that it is not yet clear whether this is the case, partly because of uncertainties about how cultured meat would be produced at scale. An important issue in comparing farmed and cultured beef is that the different warming impacts of greenhouse gases are also not well accounted for in the standard measure used in carbon footprints.”

Previous studies have established that agricultural greenhouse gas emissions are responsible for about 25 percent of the Earth's current warming. Replacing traditional beef with lab-grown meat has been widely discussed as a better alternative, but the emissions that result from creating meat in a lab may have been underestimated. 

“Cattle are very emissions-intensive because they produce a large amount of methane from fermentation in their gut,” explained study co-author Professor Raymond Pierrehumbert.

“Methane is an important greenhouse gas, but the way in which we generally describe methane emissions as ‘carbon dioxide equivalent’ amounts can be misleading because the two gases are very different. Per ton emitted, methane has a much larger warming impact than carbon dioxide, however, it only remains in the atmosphere for about 12 years whereas carbon dioxide persists and accumulates for millennia. This means methane's impact on long-term warming is not cumulative and is impacted greatly if emissions increase or decrease over time.”

A model created by the researchers showed that cattle have a greater initial warming effect through the release of methane, but some lab-grown meat techniques would ultimately result in more warming. 

“This is important because while reducing methane emissions would be good - and an important part of our climate policies - if we simply replace that methane with carbon dioxide it could actually have detrimental long-term consequences,” said Dr. Lynch.

“The climate impacts of cultured meat production will depend on what level of sustainable energy generation can be achieved, as well as the efficiency of future culture processes.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems">Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Cultured meat may not be the best substitute for conventional beef

Experts have been looking into ways to improve beef production...

A recent expedition has produced the first 3D map of the world’s largest underwater sinkhole, the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/plastic-belizes-great-blue-hole/">Great Blue Hole</a>, located off the coast of Belize. The team included Fabien Cousteau, the grandson of French oceanographer and filmmaker Jacques Cousteau, who made this region famous in the early 1970s.

The Great Blue Hole, which is 984 feet across and more than 400 feet deep, is ranked as one of the world's top dive sites. Surrounded by reefs and caves, the ancient sinkhole lies near the center of Lighthouse Reef Atoll.

Last December, a group of researchers set sail for the Great Blue Hole equipped with two submarines. In addition to capturing fascinating video and images, the team has created a 3D map of the hole’s interior.

Erika Bergman was the chief pilot, oceanographer, and operations manager on the expedition. She told <a href="https://www.cnn.com/">CNN</a>: “We did our complete 360 sonar map and that map is now almost complete. It looks really cool, it's this mesh-layered, sonar scan of the entire thousand-foot diameter hole.”

Near the bottom of the hole, the team found some previously undiscovered mineral foundations known as stalactites. There is also a hydrogen sulfide layer around 300 feet down that blocks out all the light, transitioning divers into total darkness. 

“You lose all of that Caribbean sunlight and it just turns completely black, and it's totally anoxic down there with absolutely no life,” Bergman told CNN.

High-resolution sonar enabled the researchers to view features that were 20 or 30 feet away in perfect detail. According to CNN, the team found some intriguing tracks at the bottom of the sinkhole that could not be identified. 

The explorers reported that the hole was essentially free from trash, and that it appeared to be almost unaffected by human activities. Bergman credited the work of the Belize Audubon Society, which helps to preserve the Great Blue Hole. 

“There were basically two or three little pieces of plastic - and other than that, it was really, really clear,” Bergman explained to CNN. “It's neat that there are spaces on our planet - and most of them in the oceans - that are exactly the way they were thousands of years ago and will remain exactly the way they are thousands of years in the future.”

On Sunday December 2, the Blue Hole Belize 2018 Expedition was live streamed on the Discovery Channel.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Researchers reveal what they found inside Belize’s Great Blue Hole

A recent expedition has produced the first 3D map of...

An international team of scientists from seven countries has identified sources of black carbon emissions in the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/arctic-warming-reveals-moss-covered/">Arctic</a>. Black carbon not only has a negative impact on the health of humans and ecosystems, but also accelerates the speed of snow and ice melt in the Arctic.

Black carbon (BC) aerosols are formed under incomplete fuel combustion in diesel engines. The substances are also produced by wildfires, wood-burning stoves, and other related sources. 

The main component of black carbon is soot, which falls on the surface of snow and ice and decreases the ability of the surface to reflect incoming solar radiation. As a result,  the effects of global warming are accelerated.


Study co-author Professor Igor Semiletov is the head of the <a href="https://tpu.ru/en/research/research_units/international_labs/arctic_lab">TPU International Research Laboratory for Arctic Seas Carbon</a>.

“The article, called Source apportionment of circum-Arctic atmospheric black carbon from isotopes and modeling, for the first time presents an analysis of source apportion for soot aerosols or BC into the atmosphere throughout the Arctic in different seasons,” said Professor Semiletov. “The significance of studying atmospheric pollution with BC is determined by its global climatic and environmental impact.”

Beyond melting snow and ice faster, black carbon interacts with clouds and affects their development and the amount of rainfall. According to the study, these effects make the Arctic a particularly vulnerable part of the planet. 

“In the present study, the seasonal contribution of various Arctic areas to BC emissions was revealed based on complex elemental and isotopic analysis of BC, known characteristics of main sources and the most contemporary transport models of atmospheric circulation,” said Professor Semiletov.

“The main BC sources were dominated by emissions from fossil fuel combustion in winter and by biomass burning, i.e. wildfires and other sources, in summer. The annual mean source of BC to the circum-Arctic made 39 ± 10% from biomass burning.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Tomsk Polytechnic University

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Black carbon emissions are making the Arctic even more vulnerable

An international team of scientists from seven countries has identified...

Australia’s changing human landscape is having an impact on the continent’s food webs – and not a good one. 

With the resettlement of indigenous Australians has come with a high rate of mammal extinction, the spread of invasive species, and other negative impacts on local food webs. Australia’s native mammals seem to be dying off faster in areas where humans have stopped interacting with the landscape altogether, said Dr. Rebecca Bliege Bird of <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Pennsylvania State University</a>.

"I was motivated by the mystery that has occurred in the last 50 years in Australia," Bird said in a press release. "The extinction of small-bodied mammals does not follow the same pattern we usually see with people changing the landscape and animals disappearing."

Bird and her team have been studying the Western Desert, where the Martu people traditionally lived and hunted. 

In the mid-1900s, the Martu were resettled to make room for a missile testing range. Over the short decades that they were absent from the land, several species went extinct. The desert food webs collapsed.

In the 1980s, the Martu returned to their traditional lands. They revived their hunting, gathering and controlled burning practices. Since their return, the ecosystems of the desert have stabilized. 

By looking at the food webs – which animals, including humans, prey on and eat other animals, and which species provide the food – Bird and her team found that indigenous hunters keep predators and invasive species under control.

"The absence of humans creates big holes in the network," Bird said. "Invading becomes easier for invasive species and it becomes easier for them to cause extinctions."

Bird and her team presented their research today at the <a href="https://meetings.aaas.org/">2019 annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science</a> in Washington, D.C. Funding was provided by the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a> and the <a href="https://www.eva.mpg.de/">Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology</a>.

—

By Kyla Cathey, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Indigenous hunters helped to balance Australia's food webs

Australia’s changing human landscape is having an impact on the...

Vinyl flooring is easy to clean, and a flame-retardant sofa seems like a smart, safe investment. But these and other common furnishings can produce household toxins that are now being found in the blood and urine of children.

A new study has found that children who live in homes where furniture has been treated with flame-retardant chemicals like polybrominated diphenyl ethers carry more evidence of semi-volatile organic compounds in their bodies than other children. So do those who live in homes with vinyl flooring.

"SVOCs are widely used in electronics, furniture and building materials and can be detected in nearly all indoor environments," Dr. Heather Stapleton of <a href="https://www.duke.edu/">Duke University</a>, who led the research, said in a press release. "Human exposure to them is widespread, particularly for young children who spend most of their time indoors and have greater exposure to chemicals found in household dust."

"Nonetheless, there has been little research on the relative contribution of specific products and materials to children's overall exposure to SVOCs," she added.

In 2014, Stapleton moved to address that. Joined by colleagues from Duke, <a href="http://www.bu.edu/">Boston University</a> and the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>, she kicked off a three-year study of 203 children from 190 families, monitoring evidence of exposure to household toxins that contain semi-volatile organic compounds.

The team analyzed indoor dust and air from each home, along with foam from inside furniture – including flame-retardant chairs and sofas. They also took urine and blood samples from the children to test for the presence of household toxins. 

"We quantified 44 biomarkers of exposure to phthalates, organophosphate esters, brominated flame retardants, parabens, phenols, antibacterial agents and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)," Stapleton said.

Children from homes that had vinyl flooring were found to have benzyl butyl phthalate metabolite in their urine. The chemical has been linked to respiratory and skin conditions and multiple myeloma, along with other issues.

Stapleton and her colleagues presented their findings today at the <a href="https://meetings.aaas.org/">2019 annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science</a> in Washington, D.C.

—

By Kyla Cathey, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Are household toxins poisoning your children?

Vinyl flooring is easy to clean, and a flame-retardant sofa...

New maps reveal state-by-state political divide over climate change. New research has revealed a state-by-state look at how the public’s perceived experiences with <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/dietary-changes-slow-global-warming/">global warming</a>, along with their political party affiliation, impact their belief in climate change science and support for government policy changes.

Matto Mildenberger of the <a href="https://www.ucsb.edu/">University of California Santa Barbara</a> has found that opinions on climate change can often be linked to political shifts in Congress, society, and culture.New maps reveal state-by-state political divide over climate change

These partisan opinions within the U.S. about the dangers of climate change can therefore change policymaking within Congress.

Illustrated in a shocking visual labeled “The Partisan Climate Opinion Maps,” there is a clear divide between Democrats and Republicans in terms of belief that climate change exists and is posing a threat to our future.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/belief-global-warming.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-1867898" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/belief-global-warming.png" alt="" width="700" height="270" /></a><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/experiences.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-1867899" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/experiences.png" alt="" width="700" height="270" /></a>

[caption id="attachment_1867900" align="aligncenter" width="700"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/renewable-energy.png"><img class="wp-image-1867900" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/renewable-energy.png" alt="" width="700" height="275" /></a> Image Credit: Matto Mildenberger[/caption]

80 to 95% of registered Democrats in the U.S. strongly feel that global warming is a reality, whereas Republicans are lukewarm on the issue, with only 30 to 60% of registered Republicans feeling concerned.

These maps have been updated through 2018, and give new information about partisan climate change and energy opinion within our current political climate.

They were constructed using a statistical model that combined nationally representative survey data obtained between 2008 and 2016 by the <a href="http://climatecommunication.yale.edu/">Yale Program on Climate Change Communication</a> and the <a href="https://www.climatechangecommunication.org/">George Mason Center for Climate Change Communication</a> with voter registration, U.S. census, and geographic data.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

New maps reveal state-by-state political divide over climate change

New maps reveal state-by-state political divide over climate change. New...

The world’s forests and the soil from which they grow play a major role in the carbon cycle, the health and growth of vegetation, and biodiversity. If the soil is in bad shape, everything that grows out of it and lives in it suffers. 

Trees get moisture from the soil through their roots, and organic matter decomposes and breaks down thanks to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-bacteria-greenhouse-gas/">microorganisms in the soil</a>. 

Forests and soils have a huge influence on climate change, which is why Thomas Crowther and <a href="http://crowtherlab.com/">Crowther Lab</a> are working to make one of the most comprehensive models of the global forest system to help better project future climate change. 

Crowther, an assistant professor of Environmental Systems Science at <a href="https://www.ethz.ch/en.html">ETH Zurich</a> in Switzerland presented the Crowther Lab dataset and model in a presentation at the 2019 annual meeting for the <a href="https://www.aaas.org/">American Association for the Advancement of Science</a>. 

To understand the impacts of climate change, the Crowther Lab argues that you must understand the processes that underlie the Earth’s biogeochemical cycles.

A Crowther Lab research team used the <a href="https://www.gfbinitiative.org/">Global Forest Biodiversity Initiative</a>, the largest global dataset of forest inventory data, and satellite data to examine the mechanisms of the global forest system. 

Tens of thousands of soil samples from the <a href="https://www.globalsoilbiodiversity.org/">Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative</a> dataset also revealed patterns in biomass and diversity within the global soil microbiome. 

Soil and satellite data helped create the first glimpse of the thriving world that inhabits the soils which the researchers used to determine soil fertility and predict future climate. 

Now, Crowther Lab can identify regions in need of conservation management and investigate how soil carbon sinks impact atmospheric CO2 levels. 

Like the ocean, as temperatures rise, the soil will release more carbon stores creating a dangerous feedback loop. 

The Crowther Lab model calculated that under a business-as-usual scenario, warming would cause the soil to release approximately 55 gigatons of carbon.

The research shows how forests and soil play a crucial role in both the carbon cycle and the rate of future climate change on Earth.

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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 

Image Credit: Andrew Coelho, Unsplash Photography

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The global forest system can help predict future climate change

The world’s forests and the soil from which they grow...

Biosynthetic fibers could be key to battling microplastic pollution. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, spanning an area <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-great-pacific-garbage-patch-is-now-twice-as-big-as-texas/">larger than the size of Texas</a>, is often cited in articles and studies that highlight the severity and scope of the world’s plastic pollution crisis. 

However, a large majority of the plastic polluting our oceans has been broken down to millimeter size particles that fish mistake for food and isn’t easily noticeable to the naked eye. Biosynthetic fibers could be key to battling microplastic pollution 

Millions of tons of microfibers and microplastics are added to the world’s oceans, lakes, and rivers each year. Microfibers and microplastics have turned the ocean into what scientists are calling a <a href="https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/08/ocean-life-eats-plastic-larvaceans-anchovy-environment/">plastic soup</a>, and the problem is only getting worse. 

A major contributor is synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon. Clothes and textiles using these materials shed small microfibers when washed. 

These synthetic fibers are not-biodegradable, and they pose a major environmental and health risk. As fish can easily ingest the fibers, humans also risk <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-ingest-microplastics/">consuming microplastics </a>when they eat harvested fish. 

In a presentation at the 2019 annual meeting of the <a href="https://www.aaas.org/">American Association for the Advancement of Science</a> (AAAS), Melik Demirel, a <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Penn State</a> materials scientist, suggested four different approaches to tackling the microfiber problem. 

“These materials, during production, processing and after use, break down into and release microfibers that can now be found in everything and everyone,” said Demirel. 

One solution is to reduce synthetic fibers and produce more textiles and fabrics made from natural materials like cotton and wool, but these put stress on water and land resources and are more expensive compared synthetic fibers. 

A second possibility would go a long way in trapping the fibers at the source to keep them out of waterways, and Demirel suggested that washing machines be fitted with microfiber filters that can be placed in outflow hoses. 

Advancements have been made in the development of plastic-eating bacteria, but it will be a long time before this third possibility becomes a viable, large-scale, alternative. 

Demirel’s last suggestion is one of the most promising because it could help make fibers and fabrics easily manufacturable and accessible but also produce recyclable and biodegradable clothing. According to Demirel, biosynthetic fibers, are recyclable, could be used as a substitute for synthetic fibers and blend with natural fibers. 

One example of a biosynthetic fiber developed by Demirel is Squitex, which is comparable to the silk found in squid ring teeth. Squitex, made from squid teeth proteins, is self-healing and completely biodegradable.

Soon the tags on your clothes may no longer list rayon or polyester blends, but rather, biosynthetic fibers that have the same durability and price point as the synthetic fabrics that flood the market today. 

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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

Image Credit: Patrick Mansell

Biosynthetic fibers could be key to battling microplastic pollution

Biosynthetic fibers could be key to battling microplastic pollution. The...

A team of experts at <a href="https://www.iastate.edu/">Iowa State University</a> has identified ways that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-2080-new-york-arkansas/">climate change</a> will increase the likelihood of violence, based on established models of aggression and violence. The most obvious is the effect of higher temperatures, which can cause irritability and hostility. The other effects are less direct, resulting from conditions such as failing crops and economic instability.

The study authors noted that these risk factors will become more prevalent as a result of climate change-induced disasters, including hurricanes, droughts, floods, and water shortages.

According to study co-author Professor Craig Anderson, some natural disasters are so extensive and long term that large groups of people are forced to migrate from their homeland. He explained that this “eco-migration” creates intergroup conflicts over resources, which can escalate into political violence, civil wars, or wars between nations.

“This is a global issue with very serious consequences. We need to plan for ways to reduce the negative impacts,” said Professor Anderson. “An inadequate food supply and economic disparity make it difficult to raise healthy and productive citizens, which is one way to reduce long-term violence. We also need to plan for and devote resources to aid eco-migrants in their relocation to new lands and countries.”

Professor Anderson fears the effects of eco-migration and conflict will be the most destructive. He pointed out that we are already seeing the migration of large groups in response to this type of instability, such as the ongoing conflict in Syria.

“Although the most extreme events, such as all-out war, are relatively unlikely, the consequences are so severe that we cannot afford to ignore them,” said Professor Anderson. “That is why the U.S. and other countries must make sure these regional conflicts and eco-migration problems don't get out of hand. One way to do that is to provide appropriate aid to refugees and make it easier for them to migrate to regions where they can be productive, healthy and happy.”

Professor Anderson and study lead author Andreas Miles-Novelo explained that the purpose of their research is to raise awareness among the scientific community to help prevent harmful consequences. They also want to educate the public on the potential for increased violence with climate change.

“From past experience with natural disasters, we should be able to prepare for future problems by setting aside emergency resources and funds,” said Miles-Novelo. “We should tear down negative stereotypes and prejudices about those who will need help and humanely assist refugees and others who are displaced. By doing all these things we can reduce conflict and hostility.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/journal/40641">Current Climate Change Reports</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

Image Credit: Christopher Gannon, Iowa State University News Service

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</a>

Climate change will increase potential for violence and aggression

A team of experts at Iowa State University has identified...

Global tiger populations have been on a steep decline as poaching, habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict continue to decimate the species. 

While poaching is seen as the most severe threat, habitat loss exacerbates the other threats by pushing <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/tigers-captive-us-nature/">tigers</a> closer to humans where they can be killed by poachers or during human-wildlife conflicts. But agroforestry has been used as a solution to benefit both humans and tigers by creating new habitats.

Today, there are fewer than 4,000 tigers left in the wild who <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/15955/50659951#population">inhabit less than 6% of their historic range</a>. In the past century, we have lost over 95% of the world’s wild tiger population, according to <a href="https://www.wwf.org.uk/what-we-do/projects/doubling-wild-tiger-numbers">World Wildlife Fund</a>.

These numbers paint a grim picture for the future of tiger conservation. But in recent years, the tiger has seen some conservation wins.  In 2010, the thirteen tiger range countries made an unprecedented pledge to double the world’s tiger population by 2022. India has already seen their tiger population increase from 1,411 in 2006 to 2,226. The uptick is due, in part, to agroforestry, reports<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/in-india-agroforestry-is-a-win-for-both-tigers-and-villagers/"> Scientific American</a>.

Agroforestry is also prominent in Sumatra, Indonesia which is home to the critically endangered Sumatran tiger.

Agroforestry is a land-use system that integrates agriculture and forestry by planting trees and shrubs around crops. This system diversifies the farmers’ agricultural outputs, provides an alternative to cutting down trees in the forest and enriches the local ecosystem by increasing soil, air and water quality. Agroforestry is hardly new; it has been used in the United States and abroad for centuries. But the system is gaining traction for its contribution to biodiversity conservation.

Many species, such as tigers, are seeing their habitats rapidly decline and degrade throughout their ranges. This habitat loss can reduce animals’ access to resources and isolate them into small, fragmented habitats. Compounding this issue further is the ever-growing human population that needs more space for homes, farms and roads.

Agroforestry works to counteract habitat loss by creating a buffer zone between humans and tigers. The tigers can roam the buffer zone and connect to previously fragmented habitats. Additionally, conservationists argue that agroforestry will decrease deforestation by allowing farmers to harvest their own wood instead of relying on forests.

One <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20967444">study</a> found that agroforestry built around protected habitats could reduce the chances of tiger extinction in Sumatra. In contrast, researchers found that surrounding protected areas with single-use land resulted in the extinction of tigers in their model.

Agroforestry does not come without its risks, as creating habitat near agricultural plots could increase conflicts between tigers and farmers. These human-tiger conflicts can quickly become fatal for both the tigers and farmers. 

A<a href="https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1048&amp;context=faculty_scholarship"> study</a> found that 47% of victims of human-tiger conflicts during a 20-year period in Sumatra, Indonesia were at the forest edge, 26% were in agricultural fields and 21% were in a forested area. Only 6% of victims were attacked in a village. The authors see the conservation value in agroforestry but stress the importance of addressing human-wildlife conflict in these systems.

By addressing human-wildlife conflict, conservationists will not only protect community members but also foster support towards tiger conservation. After all, tigers need all the help they can get.

--

By <a href="mailto:brianna.grant134@gmail.com">Brianna Lynne</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

How agroforestry can help plummeting tiger populations

Global tiger populations have been on a steep decline as...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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



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

Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/">NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a> (JPL) describes a dust storm on Mars that was nearly twice the size of the United States. As the storm covered the southern hemisphere of the planet, some of NASA’s explorers had to delay their normal activities.



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

NASA monitors giant dust storms on Mars

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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



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.

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



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.

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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