Western wildfires send smoke across the country, so it sounds obvious that they always make air quality worse everywhere. New research shows that is not the whole story.



During severe fire seasons in the West, the intense heat from those <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forest-thinning-cuts-wildfire-severity-and-saves-carbon/">fires</a> can change weather patterns and rainfall in ways that actually lower fine particle pollution in the eastern United States. That result surprised even seasoned atmospheric scientists.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wildfire-heat-and-air-quality">Wildfire heat and air quality </h2>



Qihan Ma of <a href="https://www.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tsinghua University</a> and colleagues analyzed observations and climate simulations that account for the daily heat released by fires. The researchers found that strong fire heat can reduce fine particle levels in the East during the fire season.



Scientists track fine particle pollution called PM2.5, which refers to particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers across. PM2.5 gets deep into the lungs and bloodstream, and its <a href="https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/health-and-environmental-effects-particulate-matter-pm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">effects</a> include higher risks of heart and lung disease and premature death.



The results did not just point to smoke. The team showed how fire-driven <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-wildfire-exposure-rises-worldwide-despite-less-land-burning/">heat</a> boosts convection, the upward movement of warm air. This suppresses eastward smoke transport and increases rain that washes particles out of the air, a process called wet deposition. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-air-quality-in-the-east-and-west">Air quality in the East and West</h2>



Observations from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-seasons-are-now-overlapping-worldwide/">air</a> monitors revealed a dipole pattern during extreme western fire events, with PM2.5 rising in the West and falling in the East by a comparable amount. 



Model simulations for the full fire season showed similar contrasts of about 1.71 micrograms per cubic meter in the West and minus 1.21 micrograms per cubic meter in the East.



Satellite analysts also mapped smoke plumes over long distances during these events. NOAA confirmed that smoke often spread across parts of the East, yet many eastern monitors still recorded lower PM2.5.



To represent fire inputs day by day, the researchers used the <a href="https://www.globalfiredata.org/data.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GFED4.1s</a> dataset, which estimates burned area, emissions, and heat release. The data helped quantify how much energy the fires pumped into the atmosphere.



The air quality and weather responses were simulated with the Community Earth System Model (<a href="https://www.cesm.ucar.edu/models" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CESM</a>). To separate the drivers, the team ran simulations with smoke alone, heat alone, and with both.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wildfires-shift-weather-across-the-country">Wildfires shift weather across the country</h2>



Heat from large western fires increased convective available potential energy (CAPE) over the West, which favors stronger thunderstorms. It also nudged broader circulation patterns that reshaped wind and moisture across the country.



As the central United States dried and warmed near the surface, low level pressure dropped and winds shifted toward anomalous easterlies over the eastern half of the country.



The East grew more humid and unstable, and convective rain increased, which removed more particles from the air. These heat-driven shifts can modulate long range smoke impacts.



“Heat produced by wildfires, a commonly neglected effect, can reduce fine particle concentrations in the eastern United States,” wrote Ma.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-health-and-policy">Lessons for health and policy</h2>



The results do not suggest that wildfires are harmless. The West still sees higher PM2.5 during fire season, and people there bear the brunt of smoke exposure and related health burdens.



The research shows that ignoring fire heat in national assessments can skew results. The authors report that leaving heat out of models overestimates health and economic losses by about 1,200 premature deaths and 3.3 billion dollars nationwide for the fire season. 



Those numbers are driven by the East’s large population and the modeled reductions in PM2.5 when heat effects are included.



Public health guidance should still emphasize reducing exposure wherever smoke raises risk. Strategies include wearing masks during high pollution days and targeted help for sensitive groups like children, older adults, pregnant women, and those with heart or lung disease.



For modeling and policy, the message is straightforward. Future national air quality planning and wildfire risk assessments need to incorporate fire heat, not just smoke emissions, to capture regional differences accurately.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limitations-and-open-questions">Limitations and open questions</h2>



The researchers emphasize that no model is perfect. In global models with coarse grids, convection is parameterized, meaning certain local storm processes are simplified.



The team validated a subset of cases with a superparameterized model that more explicitly resolves clouds. The results showed the same overall pattern, though the heat effects were weaker in magnitude - providing a useful constraint for future research.



Better heat estimates at subdaily timescales will also help. Averaging heat over a day can smooth out fire bursts that may drive the strongest convective responses.



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



People in the West should continue to prepare for smoke season and protect their lungs, because local pollution still rises during major fires. 



Communities in the East should not assume they are safe, since many days still exceed health guidelines and smoke episodes remain disruptive.



The broader lesson is about getting the physics right. Accounting for heat shows how the same fires can worsen air in one region and temporarily ease it in another, and that nuance matters for equitable investments in health and resilience.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ads1957" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Wildfires in the West can actually improve air quality in the East

Western wildfires send smoke across the country, so it sounds obvious that they always make air quality worse everywhere. New research shows that is not the whole story. During severe fire seasons in the West, the intense heat from those fires can change weather patterns and rainfall in ways that actually lower fine particle pollution in the eastern United States. That result surprised even seasoned atmospheric scientists. Wildfire heat and air quality Qihan Ma of Tsinghua University and colleagues analyzed observations and climate simulations that account for...

A panel of scientists has now officially recognized that human activities have pushed our planet into a new geological era called the Anthropocene, which means "age of man." The <a href="https://theanthropocene.org/topics/anthropocene-working-group/">Anthropocene Working Group</a> (AWG) formally approved not only the term of the new epoch, but also its origin in the 1950s when humans began leaving their permanent mark on the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/venus-mars-insight-earth/">Earth</a>. 

As they define the beginning of the new era, the AWG scientists are working to pinpoint what geological feature best describes its initiation. This "golden spike" may encompass the hydrogen bomb tests of the 1950s, a spike in the burning of fossil fuels, or the emergence of widespread poultry farming. 

The AWG is chaired by Professor Jan Zalasiewicz from the University of Leicester. "The Anthropocene works as a geological unit of time, process and strata. It is distinguishable. It is distinctive," he explained.

The golden spike that the team is probing is technically called a Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP), which will produce an exact date and location for the signal of the beginning of the Anthropocene. The GSSP must be measurable in the geological record in rocks, lake sediments, ice cores, or other formations in order to qualify as the sign of a new epoch. 

Professor Zalasiewicz suggested that there are a lot of options. "We are spoiled for choice," he told <a href="https://www.afp.com/en">AFP</a> in 2016. "There's a whole array of potential signals out there." For example, a spike in atmospheric CO2 can be measured in ice cores, while microplastic pollution is appearing in sediments around the world.

The AWG will now construct a proposal to be considered in 2021 by the International Commission on Stratigraphy, which is in charge of the official geologic time chart.

--

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/NASA

Age of Man: Scientists officially recognize the Anthropocene era

A panel of scientists has now officially recognized that human...

A recent study led by the <a href="https://www.utas.edu.au/">University of Tasmania</a> has revealed that the global fishing fleet grew from 1.7 million vessels in 1950 to 3.7 million in 2015. However, the total catch dropped by more than 80 percent in the same time frame.

According to study lead author Yannick Rousseau, the findings reflect growing pressure on marine resources and a fall in the abundance of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/tiny-fish-coral-reefs-thrive/">fish</a>.

"What we have seen over the last 65 years is more and more fishing vessels chasing fewer fish," said Rousseau. "Since 1950, a dramatic increase in the size of the fishing fleet in Asia has more than offset small declines in North America and Western Europe."

"Most of the increase in vessel numbers has been in motorized fishing boats, a change from the unpowered 'artisanal' fishing vessels that once characterized Asian and African fishing fleets. But, despite its advanced technology and increased numbers, the modern motorized fleet is having to work much harder to catch fewer fish."

Rousseau explained that scientists use a measure of catch per unit of effort (CPUE) to evaluate fisheries management and the well-being of fish stocks.

"CPUE reflects how many fish are caught for the amount of effort expended, such as during a day's fishing, and this measure paints a dark picture of the state of the ocean's resources," said Rousseau.

"In recent years, a sharp drop in CPUE in Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Southern Mediterranean indicates their fisheries expanded at a much faster rate than fish stocks could support."

In developed countries such as Australia, the researchers found that CPUE has recently stabilized due to more effective fisheries management and a sharp fall in the size of the fishing fleet over the last decade.

"However, on current worldwide trends we can expect to see a further one-million vessels on the water by mid-century and the average engine power of the global fleet continues to increase," said Rousseau. "These changes will further challenge the sustainable use of fisheries resources in coming years."

"This is a particular concern for populations in regions such as Southeast Asia, where a high proportion of people rely on fish for sustenance. Our findings suggest that additional management measures are urgently warranted to ensure the future sustainability of global marine resources."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.

--

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/Irina Bg

Fishing vessels have doubled since 1950, but catch has dropped by 80 percent

A recent study led by the University of Tasmania has...

The <a href="https://www.epa.gov/">Environmental Protection Agency</a> (EPA) handed over hundreds of emails and internal documents to environmental groups <a href="https://www.cleanwisconsin.org/">Clean Wisconsin</a> and the <a href="https://www.sierraclub.org/home">Sierra Club</a> on Friday which show many agency scientists disagreed with a ruling that involved smog levels in the state. 

Scientists from the EPA voiced their objection to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pruitt-limit-research-epa/">Scott Pruitt’s </a>2018 decision to designate a highly polluted area of Wisconsin as complying with Federal ozone and smog standards, according to the<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/24/climate/epa-pruitt-wisconsin-foxconn.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share"> New York Times</a> which reported on the released emails. 

This decision excluded much of southeastern Wisconsin from having to adhere to federal smog limits when just a year prior, the EPA and the Trump Administration considered labeling Racine County’s high pollution and smog levels as violating air quality standards. 

Former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker appealed to the EPA to reconsider its decision as it would require the Taiwan-based company Foxconn, which had announced plans to build a plant in Wisconsin, to install expensive pollution controls to adhere to federal standards. 

As the factory would be operating in an already highly polluted area, there were concerns about how the plant’s emissions would create more smog. 

Ultimately, Pruitt reduced the areas of Wisconsin that would have to decrease emissions and smog, allowing the Foxconn plant to move forward as planned. 

Now, a federal public records request which released hundreds of EPA documents show that many EPA scientists were in “disbelief” when they heard about Pruitt’s decision, according to the New York Times. 

The emails and internal documents detail complaints made by senior EPA scientists. The data collected on smog levels did not support the decision, top agency officials said. 

Pruitt’s decision supported Walker’s campaign efforts as Walker was promoting the Foxconn factory as a bid to help win re-election, a bid Walker ultimately lost. 

“I do not see a sound technical basis for the areas we are being directed to finalize in Wisconsin,” Jennifer Liljegren, an EPA physical scientist involved in the decision-making, wrote to colleagues in an email dated April 11, 2018. “I will need the wordsmithing of the legal and policy experts if we are really going to do this — I am still in disbelief.”

There were also comments about the misleading information the EPA released to the public about the Wisconsin smog problem. EPA scientists said that important data was intentionally left out to help aid in Pruitt’s ruling. 

“Taking snippets of information out of context and not telling the whole story is inappropriate, misleading to the public and dilutes the clarity of the technical information,” Ms. Liljegren wrote.

Even though Walker lost the election and Pruitt resigned from the EPA, the emails highlight a concerning trend in the current Administration’s goal to promote industry and economic growth at any cost and with minimal regard for public health or the environment.

“To see apparent direction from political leadership that the technical staff is objecting to is disturbing,” Janet McCabe, the EPA’s former acting administrator for air quality, told <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-25/trump-appointees-shunted-scientists-on-pollution-at-foxconn-site">Bloomberg</a>. 

--

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: Tony Savino

EPA scientists opposed the agency’s industrial plant smog rulings

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) handed over hundreds of emails...

Lake Tahoe’s waters were once so clear that visitors in the 1960s could see clearly down nearly 100 feet. But more recently, the lake has experienced record low levels of clarity due to pollution, sediment runoff, and drought. 

But now, researchers from the <a href="https://tahoe.ucdavis.edu/">University of California, Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center </a>(TERC) have reported that water clarity in Lake Tahoe is in fact improving.

The team found that in 2018, lake clarity was measured at an average depth of 70.9 feet. This was a steady improvement from 2017 when lake <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-clouding-lake-tahoe/">clarity was at an all-time low</a> and measurements only reached 60.4 feet down below the surface. 

According to <a href="https://tahoe.ucdavis.edu/stateofthelake">TERC’s 2018 State of the Lake Report</a>, the record low water clarity was due to a winter with record high precipitation following a five-year drought.

Sediment from the mountainous region that surrounds Lake Tahoe wash into the lake which impacts clarity, and there was more sediment that washed into the lake in 2017 than in five of the previous years combined. 

To measure water-clarity, researchers lower a weighted disk down into the lake and record the lowest depth that the disk is still visible. In 2018, 26 depth measurements were recorded, and in March, water clarity was visible below 100 feet. 

Lake Tahoe’s clarity comeback is good news for the lake and for recent efforts to reduce pollution, sediment, and nutrient runoff from roads and agricultural activities. 

The ultimate goal for TERC and its partners is to return Lake Tahoe’s clarity to its 1950s and 1960s depths. 

“We are thrilled to see Lake Tahoe’s clarity improving from the all-time low of just 60 feet in 2017,” said Darcie Goodman Collins, the CEO of the <a href="https://www.keeptahoeblue.org/">League to Save Lake Tahoe</a>. “These results encourage us to continue restoring critical habitat and improving our urban areas to keep pollution from entering our lake.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Lake Tahoe water clarity steadily improving after an all-time low

Lake Tahoe’s waters were once so clear that visitors in...

A new study conducted by the ROSETTA-Ice team, who have spent three years collecting data on Antarctica’s Ross Ice Shelf and tracking its changes, has unveiled an ancient geologic structure that restricts the flow of ocean waters. This restriction could mean that ocean currents could determine the ice shelf’s future retreat. 

These findings are published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/ngeo/">Nature Geoscience</a>.

The <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/melting-worlds-largest-ice-shelf/">Ross Ice Shelf</a> slows the flow of Antarctic ice into the ocean by about 20% (about 38 feet of global sea level rise). In order to adeptly collect data from an area as big as Spain where the ice could be more than a thousand feet thick, the team used IcePod, a technological device that collects high-resolution data across polar regions via plane mount. It can measure ice shelf thickness, height, internal structure, and the magnetic and gravitational signal of the underlying rock. 

For the most part, IcePod detected a flat signal across the ice shelf. However, about half way across, the IcePod picked up large variations that made a “heartbeat”-like map. This heartbeat almost always occurred in the middle of the ice shelf.

"We could see that the geological boundary was making the seafloor on the East Antarctic side much deeper than the West, and that affects the way the ocean water circulates under the ice shelf," explained expedition leader and lead author Kirsty Tinto, a <a href="https://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/">Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory</a> research scientist.

Having a better understanding of the seabed under the ice shelf, the team used a model to map out ocean circulation and its effects on the melting of the ice shelf. There is an overall lack of warm water in the Ross Sea, and any warmth from the Sea’s deep ocean is cooled by the Ross Shelf Polynya before flowing under the ice shelf. This cool water does melt deeper portions of eastern Antarctic glaciers, but avoids the western Antarctic via depth change at the ancient tectonic boundary.

"We found that the ice loss from the Ross Ice Shelf and flow of the adjoining grounded ice are sensitive to changes in processes along the ice front, such as increased summer warming if sea ice or clouds decrease," said co-author Laurie Padman, a senior scientist at <a href="https://www.esr.org/">Earth and Space Research</a>.

"We found out that it's these local processes we need to understand to make sound predictions,” Tinto concluded.

--

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>

Image Credit: Susan Howard

Ancient geologic structures could shift melting beneath Antarctic ice shelf

A new study conducted by the ROSETTA-Ice team, who have...

One of the best ways to live with wildlife is to leave as much of the natural habitat around your home as undisturbed as possible. Unfortunately for many of us, we live in an already very disturbed environment with little of the complex ecological interactions found in undisturbed areas left intact. Because of this, it often falls on people to restore or reconstruct what they can of a habitat if they want to have the pleasure of wildlife encounters or simply wish to help non-humans. 

Water is often an incredibly important resource for animals. Living in the desert as I do, it’s easy to see birds bathing in any small puddle of water. I recently watched a hummingbird cleaning herself and splashing in a thin stream of water coming from the top of a small fountain in my neighborhood. It’s also important to realize that using large amounts of water for pools, artificial streams, or fountains can also fly in the face of common sense water conservation methods. 

One option is to collect rainwater, using some of it in pools for wildlife and perhaps even watering a garden, trees or other plants with it. Of course, water collection can go too far. Theoretically someone with hundreds of acres could create a massive personal reservoir that would in turn disrupt the local ecology. Because of this, there are some states with restrictions on how you can collect rainwater. In other areas, the government gives subsidies, encouraging the harvest of precious rainwater. <a href="https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/01/09/in-tucson-subsidies-for-rainwater-harvesting-produce-big-payoff">NewsDeeply</a> reported that the city of Tucson, Arizona had given out more than $2 million in rebates to those collecting rain water.

Of course, water isn’t the only resource useful for wildlife or the only factor that creates a habitat. Plants are also very important to most animals. Flowers attract pollinators from bees and butterflies to hummingbirds and even bats. Plants with fruits or tasty leaves also attract a new suite of animals that want to munch in your yard. If you’re not willing to share plants or their fruit with animals, it’s important to protect them in a way that doesn’t hurt wildlife. 

Nets over fruit trees or fences around gardens can often accomplish the task. If you’re ok with rabbits, birds, deer or other wildlife eating plants in your garden, it’s helpful to plant native plants that will attract native wildlife. In a <a href="https://zachofjungle.com/2019/05/11/plant-rescue/">recent interview</a>, Denise Gehring of Wild Ones, a non-profit that promotes natural gardening, highlighted the importance of native plants. Native trees support native insects, which in turn can support native birds and other wildlife. This is why it’s also important to not use pesticides in areas you want to attractive wildlife to – it’s not just about birds and larger animals but also about the insects they eat. Besides eating and drinking, animals also find shelter in their natural habitats. 

Leaving some sticks fallen from trees and rocks in an area is a start, which provide habitat for invertebrates and other small animals like lizards and snakes. Depending on where you live and your attitude, snakes may be a bigger problem than the benefit of providing habitat to other animals. Small amounts of grass, sticks and other debris may also be used by nesting birds besides being used as habitat in situ. According to <a href="https://extension.psu.edu/wildlife-habitat-relationships">Penn State Extension</a>, live trees such as pines provide nesting sites in summer as well as thermal cover in winter. 

It’s also possible to directly build homes for many animals. Nest boxes and bird houses are probably the most obvious examples of building homes for animals and that’s a good start. <a href="https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/downloads/w66343824">Oregon State University</a> offers instructions on how to do so. It’s surprising how many other animals are willing to live near humans, bats sometimes live in caves but certain species or populations prefer other habitats in which to roost. You can even provide bat houses in your yard, and <a href="https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/Cover/Build-a-Bat-House">The National Wildlife Federation</a> has detailed instructions on how to build them. 

If you’re concerned about native pollinators such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/save-native-bees/">bees</a>, you can also provide space for them to live. Many native bees are not colonial in the same way that honey bees are, so instead living alone in small holes, they sometimes live in holes inside of human structures. Because of this, you can provide places for mainly harmless native bees to live without attracting something that will swarm and harm humans. Attracting native pollinators has the added benefit of helping plants in your garden and perhaps providing more food for birds or other animals. <a href="https://modernfarmer.com/2017/02/build-native-bee-hotel/">Modern Farmer</a> has instructions for building a native ‘bee hotel’. Besides the needs for shelter, food and water, <a href="https://extension.psu.edu/wildlife-habitat-relationships">Penn State Extension</a> points out that wildlife needs one more thing to thrive – space.

It would be very easy to fill a yard with a clutter of bird houses and man-made ponds surrounded by dense thickets of trees. In the wild though, different animals require different landscapes and the same animal may rely on more than one environment for different things. A forest landscape isn’t simply a collection of old trees and shrubs or bushes that live beneath them combined with animals. Instead, a forest is a patchwork of old trees, barren areas that may have recently been burned turning slowly into meadows. Fallen trees rot and the sunny areas they leave open are filled in with an eruption of different plant life. Newer patches of forest are full of dense clumps of young trees, while older patches are more widely spaced. 

The conversion of one eco type to another and another until reaching a mature forest is called ecological succession. Instead of everything in a large forest reaching the mature stage, everything is constantly changing. It is the patchwork of different forest types that provides for an abundance of biodiversity in a healthy forest. Because of this, it’s important to space things out a bit, leave open space and see what happens to It, what grows in the bare patch of dirt will probably be better than anything you could plant. Remember, you’re trying to leave space for other things to come close, the rest is up to the animals themselves.   

--

By<a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com"> Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Gualberto Becerra

How to turn your backyard into a healthy habitat for animals

One of the best ways to live with wildlife is...

New research from <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Penn State University</a> shows that climate change marches actually have a positive effect on the American public. 

The team found that people who were bystanders at the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/washington-march-science-earth-day/">March for Science</a> and the People's Climate March in spring 2017 were more optimistic about being able to work together to address climate change issues, and they also had positive feelings toward those who participated in the marches.

"Marches serve two functions: to encourage people to join a movement and to enact change," said Janet Swim, professor of psychology at Penn State. "This study is consistent with the idea that people who participate in marches can gain public support, convince people that change can occur, and also normalize the participants themselves."

"There are several measures that predict people engaging and taking action in the future," Swim continued. "One of those is collective efficacy — the belief that people can work together to enact change. People don't want to do something if it's not going to have an effect. We were interested in whether marches increased this sense of efficacy, that once you see other people do something, you might think yes, it's possible."

Swim and her colleagues recruited 587 bystanders who observed the marches through media, and each bystander was asked to complete a survey asking them about their knowledge of the marches, their thoughts on people who participated in the marches, and their beliefs on whether people can come together to positively affect climate change. They were also asked about their preferred news source (these sources were then coded to be liberal or conservative).

302 of these bystanders completed a survey a day before the March of Science, and 285 completed a survey several days after the People’s Climate March.

"Activists are often seen negatively — that they're arrogant or eccentric or otherwise outside of the norm," Swim said. "There's a fine line between marchers and other activists expressing themselves and raising awareness of their cause, while also not confirming negative stereotypes. So, one of our questions was whether marches increase or decrease people's negative impressions of marchers."

The team found that people surveyed after the People’s Climate March were generally more optimistic about the idea of people coming together to thwart climate change (collective efficacy beliefs). They also had less negative thoughts about the activists involved. And those who consumed more conservative media were more likely to feel the need to get involved in the fight against climate change after the People’s Climate March.

"If conservative news sources only talk [about] the march after the fact, that might be why their viewers have more efficacy afterwards, because they didn't know about it before," Swim said. "Additionally, a more liberal news source may portray marchers as more sympathetic, which may be why their viewers had more favorable impressions of marchers."

Swim hopes to further look into hows news and media influences the public’s view on climate change.

--

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>

Image Credit: Rob Crandall / Shutterstock

Climate change protests can sway beliefs and actions, study shows

New research from Penn State University shows that climate change...

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.isglobal.org/en">Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)</a> have found that boys who are exposed to <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/children-develop-asthma-air-pollution/">air pollution</a> while in the womb may end up having poorer thinking skills and memory than boys who aren’t. 

These findings are published in <a href="https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/">Environmental Health Perspectives</a>.

The team narrowed their research to analyze the effects of PM2.5, a tiny pollutant emitted by diesel fumes, on schoolchildren. Boys who were exposed to PM2.5 within the womb and up to age 7 performed poorer on memory tests than their peers.

Furthermore, the researchers found that girls who were exposed to PM2.5 while in the womb were not affected the same way, possibly due to their different hormones and genetics. However, both sexes exposed to the pollutant performed poorly on computerized tasks.

“As yet, we don't understand what causes these differences [between boys and girls],” lead researcher Dr. Ioar Rivas told the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7063533/Baby-boys-exposed-toxic-air-womb-worse-thinking-skills.html">Daily Mail</a>. “But there are various hormonal and genetic mechanisms that could lead to girls having a better response to inflammatory processes triggered by fine particulate matter and being less susceptible to the toxicity of these particles.”

The researchers examined data collected from 2,221 schoolchildren, each aged between 7 and 10. Each child’s cognitive ability was tested via several computerized tests, and their pre-birth and childhood exposure to air pollution was also measured by the team.

The results showing that boys’ thinking and memory were affected by PM2.5 throughout childhood suggest that exposure to fine particulate matter over several years has a cumulative effect — an effect that worsens over time.

“This study reinforces our previous findings and confirms that exposure to air pollution at the beginning of life and throughout childhood is a threat to neurodevelopment and an obstacle that prevents children from reaching their full potential,” concluded study author Jordi Sunyer, childhood and environment programme coordinator at ISGlobal.

--

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>

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Kamonrat

Boys exposed to air pollution in the womb may have poorer thinking skills

Researchers from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) have...

A team of experts led by Dr. Matt Rigby at the <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a> is reporting that China has generated 7,000 tons of banned chemicals since 2013. According to the study, emissions from northeastern China have contributed between 40 and 60 percent of a recent spike in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/spike-atmospheric-cfcs-china/">CFC levels</a>. 

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are a group of manufactured chemicals that were once widely used in aerosols, refrigerators, air conditioners, and foam food packaging. After they were found to be severely damaging the earth's ozone layer, the chemicals were banned in 1996. 

"CFCs are the main culprit in depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer, which protects us from the Sun's ultraviolet radiation," explained Dr. Rigby. The reduction of trichlorofluoromethane, known as CFC-11, has been the second-largest contributor to the ongoing recovery of the ozone layer. 

Last year, NOAA scientists documented an unexpected global rise in CFCs. Measurements of atmospheric concentrations of CFC-11 showed that its emissions had declined at an accelerated rate up until 2002, followed by a decade of little change. However, the rate of decline slowed by 50 percent after 2012.

In the current study, an international team of scientists discovered that the mysterious CFC-11 emissions have been primarily emerging from the northeastern Chinese provinces of Shandong and Hebei. Across this region, CFC-11 levels were found to be significantly higher from 2014-2017 compared to 2008-2012.

"Through global monitoring networks such as the Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Global Monitoring Division (NOAA GMD), scientists have been making measurements of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the atmosphere for over 40 years," explained Dr. Rigby.

The measurements analyzed in the study did not come directly from mainland China, but were obtained from the global monitoring data and observations in Gosan, South Korea, and Hateruma, Japan. The researchers also used atmospheric chemical transport model simulations.

"CFC-11 was used primarily in foam blowing, so we looked at estimates of the amount of CFC-11 that could be locked up in insulating foams in buildings or refrigerators that were made before 2010, but the quantities were far too small to explain the recent rise," explained Dr. Rigby. "The most likely explanation is that new production has taken place, at least prior to the end of 2017, which is the period covered in our work."

"It is now vital that we find out which industries are responsible for the new emissions. If the emissions are due to the manufacture and use of products such as foams, it is possible that we have only seen part of the total amount of CFC-11 that was produced. The remainder could be locked up in buildings and chillers and will ultimately be released to the atmosphere over the coming decades."

According to study co-author Luke Western, there was no evidence of increased CFC emissions from Japan, the Korean peninsula, or any other country besides China.

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://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

Since 2013, China has generated 7,000 tons of banned CFC emissions

A team of experts led by Dr. Matt Rigby at...

The birth of a large underwater volcano was felt around the world. Last November, unexplained seismic activity was felt across the globe. It was centered near the eastern coast of Mayotte, a French island that is part of the Comoros archipelago in the Indian Ocean. 

An investigation led by experts at the <a href="http://www.cnrs.fr/en/cnrs">National Centre for Scientific Research</a> (CNRS) has revealed that the mysterious rumblings were caused by the birth of an underwater volcano. 

As the mountain erected from the seafloor, small quakes had been picked up by seismic sensors as far as 11,000 miles away over the course of six months. On the island of Mayotte, located between Africa and Madagascar, hundreds of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/50-day-earthquake-turkey/">earthquakes</a> had emanated offshore since May, the largest of which measured 5.8 on the Richter scale. The birth of a large underwater volcano was felt around the world

When France sent a team to investigate, the scientists found a large active volcano 2.1 miles below the ocean's surface. The volcano towers up to 2,624 feet over the seafloor and measures about three miles across. The team also reported that the mountain has a plume of volcanic fluids flowing from its crater that is 1.2 miles long.

"This thing was built from zero in 6 months!" said Marc Chaussidon, the director of the Institute of Geophysics in Paris (IPGP).

[caption id="attachment_1873070" align="aligncenter" width="627"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/CNRSIPGP-Universite-de-ParisFremerBRGM.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1873070 size-full" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/CNRSIPGP-Universite-de-ParisFremerBRGM.jpg" alt="" width="627" height="330" /></a> Sonar waves reveal the outline of the 800-meter-tall volcano (in red)[/caption]

The ​scientists are now processing the data that has been collected since their analysis began in February, including rocks that were dredged up from the volcano which were said to be "popping" as they were loaded onto the research vessel. According to the experts, this indicates that high-pressure gas is trapped inside the black volcanic material.

"The government, its administration, the scientific community are fully mobilized to continue understanding this exceptional geological phenomenon," the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_of_the_Interior_(France)">French Ministry of the Interior</a> said in a statement. "Deployment of the necessary measures to better characterize and prevent the risks that this new volcano could present for the population of Mayotte will be the subject of regular information."

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: JulesK/Shutterstock

The birth of a large underwater volcano was felt around the world

The birth of a large underwater volcano was felt around...

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.washington.edu/">University of Washington</a> analyzed stones that form in the ears of Alaskan Sockeye and Chinook salmon and found that these <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/pink-salmon-threat-orca-populations/">salmon populations</a> depend on hotspots in the Nushagak River watershed to thrive, and these hotspots change from year to year.

These ear stones, called otolith, displayed chemical signatures that led researchers to conclude that hotspots within the Nushagak River are responsible for successful salmon population growth. These favorable locations change yearly depending on climate conditions and topography, each of which affects potential salmon habitats.

"We found that the areas where fish are born and grow flicker on and off each year in terms of productivity," said lead author Sean Brennan, a postdoctoral researcher at the <a href="https://fish.uw.edu/">UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences</a>. "Habitat conditions aren't static, and optimal places shift around. If you want to stabilize fish production over the years, the only strategy is to keep all of the options on the table."

The study, published in <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>, butts against environmental analysis recently conducted to gain permits for the proposed copper and gold excavation site Pebble Mine, which would be located near the headwaters of the Nushagak River. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' analysis only took two to three years of fish counts into consideration, however, this new study proves that habitat shifts annually. Therefore, an area that is productive for a short amount of time does not represent its overall value to the fish or larger ecosystem.

"The overall system is more than just the sum of its parts, and small pieces of habitat can be disproportionately important," said senior author Daniel Schindler, a professor at the UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. "The arrows point to the need to protect or restore at the entire basin scale if we want rivers to continue to function as they should in nature."

The research team was able to reconstruct the geographic locations of about 1,400 salmon, just by analyzing the fish’s otolith, which grows as the fish matures. Each otolith has chemical signatures that are linked to the waters in which the fish has lived, and can be dissected using unique isotopes of the trace element strontium, found in bedrock.

"The otolith is this natural archive that basically provides a transcript of how a fish moved downstream through the river network," Schindler said. "Essentially, we're sampling the entire watershed and letting the fish tell us where the habitat conditions were most productive in that year."

Otolith analysis showed that fish populations shift all over the Nushagak watershed, including in areas near the proposed Pebble Mine. 

"The big thing we show is these types of dynamics are critical for stabilizing biological production through time,” Brennan explained. “When you have a range of habitat available, the total production from the system tends to be more stable, reliable and resilient to environmental change.”

The authors hope their findings will influence public opinion about the proposed mine, and potentially thwart the plan altogether.

"Results like those we're presenting in this paper hopefully will get people to think about what they stand to lose by starting to develop and eliminate habitat in places like the Nushagak River," Schindler said. "The Pebble Mine environmental impact statement, which is supposed to be a mature, state-of-the-science assessment of risks, really does a poor job of assessing risks of this specific project."

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Jason Ching/University of Washington

Nurturing hotspots for salmon in Alaskan rivers shift annually

Researchers from the University of Washington analyzed stones that form...

Coral reefs are usually found thriving in waters that are low in nutrients, and a new study may explain how they manage to support an abundance of life in such challenging conditions. Researchers at the Smithsonian's <a href="https://marinegeo.si.edu/">Tennenbaum Marine Observatories Network</a> have identified tiny, bottom-dwelling creatures known as cryptobenthic fish as a major driver of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/sponges-collapse-coral-reefs/">coral ecosystems</a>. 

According to the study, these fish constantly replenish their populations in a rapid cycle of life and death, providing nearly 60 percent of the food for the other reef fish. 

"Scientists have puzzled over coral reefs for centuries, wondering how such productive, diverse ecosystems survive in what is essentially a marine desert," said study lead author Simon Brandl. "It's remarkable to find that these tiny, almost universally overlooked fishes actually serve as the cornerstone of coral-reef fish communities."

Cryptobenthic reef fish include gobies, blennies, and cardinalfish. They are the smallest of all marine vertebrates, with the tiniest measuring less than an inch and weighing nearly nothing. 

The cryptobenthic fish are eaten in large quantities within a few weeks of their birth, yet their populations somehow manage to thrive. The researchers studied the larvae of reef fishes to get a better idea of how this is possible. They developed a population model and reviewed decades of data on coral-reef fish larvae.

The experts found that, while the larvae of most fish species are cast off into the open ocean where only a few survive, cryptobenthic fish use a different strategy. 

Cryptobenthic larvae remain close to the reefs of their parents, resulting in many more surviving offspring. The babies can rapidly replace cryptobenthic fish consumed on the reef, supporting the growth of larger reef fishes.

"We found that cryptobenthic fish larvae absolutely dominate the larval-fish communities near reefs, which provides a continuous stream of new generations of tiny fish as a food source for other reef creatures," said study co-author Carole Baldwin. "It's incredible that these fishes contribute so much to coral reefs. They're so small that historically we haven't recognized their enormous significance."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Tane Sinclair-Taylor

The rapid life cycle of tiny fish helps coral reefs thrive

Coral reefs are usually found thriving in waters that are...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHHxOej4QfE
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Researchers found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and traffic pollution.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-invisible-threat-in-urban-air">Invisible threat in urban air</h2>



City dwellers face an unseen danger with every breath. New findings from Emory University researchers suggest that fine particulate matter from <a href="http://earth.com/news/traffic-related-air-pollution-might-increase-alzheimers-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vehicle emissions may significantly elevate the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease</a>. The study examined brain tissue samples from 224 individuals who had confirmed diagnoses and volunteered their brains for scientific research.



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



Scientists analyzed neuritic plaques — protein clusters that characterize Alzheimer's — while mapping each participant's exposure to PM2.5 particles based on residential location and surrounding traffic density. The correlation proved more alarming than anticipated. Individuals experiencing higher pollution exposure showed nearly double the likelihood of elevated plaque accumulation in brain tissue.



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



The research team discovered that pollution exposure during the final year before death demonstrated the strongest association with brain changes. This timeline suggests relatively rapid impacts from environmental toxins on neural health. The connection remained robust even after accounting for various demographic and health factors.



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



Perhaps most concerning, people lacking the APOE gene—which naturally predisposes individuals to Alzheimer's — exhibited more than twice the susceptibility to pollution-related brain damage. Study author Dr. Anke Huels noted this indicates environmental elements like air contamination could trigger the disease in cases where hereditary factors don't explain.



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



These findings, published in <a href="https://www.neurology.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neurology</a>, underscore the critical importance of air quality regulations in urban planning. The research suggests that implementing stricter emission controls and promoting alternative transportation could serve as powerful tools in Alzheimer's prevention.



As cities worldwide grapple with growing traffic congestion and aging populations, this study highlights an urgent need for comprehensive approaches to environmental health that protect both our lungs and our minds.



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Traffic fumes may trigger Alzheimer's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHHxOej4QfE Researchers found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and traffic...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-waters-beneath-ancient-craters">Hidden waters beneath ancient craters</h2>



Scientists have made a startling discovery that challenges everything we thought we knew about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturn-moon-mimas-has-remarkably-young-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn's moon Mimas</a>. Beneath the heavily cratered surface that earned it the nickname "Death Star" lies a global ocean that formed just 5 to 15 million years ago—a remarkably young age by cosmic standards.



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



The discovery, led by Dr. Valéry Lainey of the <a href="https://observatoiredeparis.psl.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Observatoire de Paris</a>, emerged from careful analysis of <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>'s Cassini spacecraft data. By studying subtle irregularities in Mimas's orbit around Saturn, researchers detected the gravitational signature of liquid water hidden 20 to 30 kilometers beneath the moon's icy shell.



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



At only 400 kilometers in diameter, Mimas seemed like the least likely candidate to harbor a subsurface ocean. Unlike other ocean moons such as Europa and Enceladus, which show clear surface signs of internal activity, Mimas displays no obvious hints of the liquid water beneath its ancient, crater-scarred exterior.



"Mimas is a small moon, and its heavily cratered surface gave no hint of the hidden ocean beneath," explained Dr. Nick Cooper from <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University of London</a>, a study co-author.



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



The ocean's recent formation makes Mimas a prime target for studying how oceans develop and potentially support life. This discovery adds another member to the exclusive club of ocean worlds in our solar system, each offering unique insights into the conditions necessary for habitability.



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



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Scientists discover unexpected young ocean on Saturn's cratered moon Mimas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ 'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DuSr87SHY
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">57 million-year ice age mystery solved by Australian scientists.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-earth-became-a-frozen-wasteland">When Earth became a frozen wasteland</h2>



Imagine Earth as a giant snowball, frozen solid from the North Pole to the equator. This wasn't the plot of a science fiction movie – it was our planet's reality 700 million years ago during an extreme ice age that has puzzled scientists for decades.



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



Australian researchers from the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Sydney</a> have finally cracked one of geology's greatest mysteries: what caused the Sturtian glaciation and why it persisted for an unprecedented 57 million years. This period occurred long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, when no complex plants or multicellular animals existed.



Dr. Adriana Dutkiewicz, the study's lead author, describes a world completely unlike today's climate. "Imagine the Earth almost completely frozen over," she explained. "The planet was blanketed in ice from poles to equator, and temperatures plunged."



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



The research team discovered that this massive freeze resulted from a "double whammy" of geological events. First, plate tectonic activity reduced volcanic carbon dioxide emissions to historically low levels. Volcanic activity typically releases CO2 into the atmosphere, creating a greenhouse effect that keeps Earth warm.



Simultaneously, weathering of volcanic rocks in what is now Canada actively absorbed atmospheric CO2, further reducing greenhouse gas concentrations. When atmospheric carbon dioxide levels dropped below 200 parts per million – less than half of today's levels – glaciation engulfed the entire planet.



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



Published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/geology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geology</a>, this research provides crucial insights into Earth's climate system. While geological climate changes occur over millions of years, the study emphasizes that human-induced climate change is happening at a pace ten times faster than previously observed natural changes, highlighting the urgent need to understand our planet's delicate climate balance.



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What caused the planet's longest ice age

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DuSr87SHY 57 million-year ice age mystery solved by Australian scientists....

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXGGiynIjs
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the opposite.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-contrasting-climate-response">A contrasting climate response</h2>



Most coastal towns are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sinking-land-will-intensify-the-effects-of-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preparing for higher sea levels</a>, but <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-no-longer-has-to-worry-about-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greenland presents</a> a different scenario during climate change. The ground there is rising at a remarkable rate. Over the past decade, some areas have lifted about 20 centimeters, which translates to roughly 2 meters per century. This rate significantly exceeds current projections for sea level rise.



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



The mechanism behind this phenomenon is straightforward. As the ice sheet melts, the immense weight is removed from the bedrock, causing the land to rebound upward. This process resembles the way compressed material springs back when pressure is released.



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



Researchers at the <a href="https://www.dtu.dk/english/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Technical University of Denmark</a> are documenting this uplift using the GNET network, consisting of 61 GPS stations positioned around Greenland's coast. These sensors can detect movement with millimeter precision, providing detailed measurements of the ongoing changes.



The data reveal that current uplift rates exceed the gradual rebound occurring since the last ice age ended approximately 12,000 years ago. This acceleration corresponds directly with increased ice sheet melting rates.



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



This uplift is actively reshaping Greenland's coastline. New islands and rocky formations, called "skerries," are emerging as previously submerged land surfaces rise above the water level. This represents a notable contrast to global concerns about rising seas.



The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, demonstrates the varied regional impacts of climate change. While many locations face rising water levels, Greenland's bedrock is literally rising above the surrounding seas.



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



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Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXGGiynIjs Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSM3EVeGHJU
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to implement the latest AI Agent building platform.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-agent-training-transforms-the-workplace-fear-factor-into-a-competitive-advantage">AI agent training transforms the workplace 'fear factor' into a competitive advantage</h2>



Organizations that offer comprehensive artificial intelligence training to their workers find remarkable value that extends well beyond basic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mind-wandering-might-be-more-productive-than-you-think/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">productivity improvements</a>. Emerging research demonstrates that carefully crafted AI training programs <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-does-not-replace-human-creativity-but-enhances-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">enhance</a> corporate performance, lower operational costs, and dramatically improve employee psychological well-being by turning workplace uncertainty into professional empowerment.



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



A staggering 53% of employees expressed concern that the use of AI tools to automate work tasks could make them appear disposable to their employers, according to <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft</a>'s 2024 workplace survey. Such pervasive worry about being substituted by machines has caused what researchers have termed "AI technostress" – a psychological state that can result in occupational burnout and poorer mental well-being.



Data published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanities and Social Sciences Communications</a> showed that belief in AI learning ability was a moderator in the link between technology adoption and work pressure, and higher confidence significantly lowered negative psychological responses. Workers provided ample training to become competent with AI software have significantly lower stress.



Companies like <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindStudio</a> have platforms for building what are known as "AI Agents". In essence, AI Agents are simply tools that employees can build for themselves or their teams quickly and inexpensively. MindStudio will even train entire companies, from the CEO on down, at no cost. By letting MindStudio empower employees, companies avoid hiring more IT staff, buying more software, and implementing solutions to problems that do not exist.



MindStudio even has partners locally for companies, like <a href="http://www.dominnus.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dominnus</a> with offices in the Carolinas, California, and Denver, to help build AI Agents and support employees as they become resident AI experts for their organization. The training provided by MindStudio is applicable across other AI Agent building platforms as well.



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



Organizations that implement large-scale AI training programs achieve dramatic outcomes. Employees performed tasks significantly better when they utilized AI support compared to when they didn't, according to <a href="https://www.nngroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nielsen Norman Group</a> research findings. Their study documented productivity increases of 66% for a variety of professional tasks.



Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis research finds workers record 33% higher productivity in time working with generative AI tools. The benefit is equivalent to 5.4% of work time savings for AI users – around 2.2 hours per week for full-time workers.



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



The emotional transformation when employees are provided with proper technology training is a fundamental transformation from fear to professional confidence. A survey of 600 employees across industries, carried out by ScienceDirect, proved that AI capabilities strengthen work environment commitment and improve job satisfaction.



A <a href="https://www.lut.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LUT University</a> study discovered that AI adoption has no direct effect on workers' well-being but does so indirectly through working conditions like task optimization and safety protocols. Strategically deployed AI that involves correct training can actually increase workplace mental well-being.



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



Although 35% of those interviewed in recent McKinsey studies were concerned about workforce displacement, firms with large-scale training initiatives witness such fears dissipate quickly. The World Economic Forum found that two out of three respondents believe AI competencies will enhance their career prospects and job marketability.



This shift from fear to trust has measurable implications for job satisfaction. Applied Sciences research indicates AI can create tailored wellness programs based on individual employee requirements.



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



The mental health advantages of AI learning have a direct impact on organizational bottom lines in the form of a positive feedback cycle with high retention of employees. Recent ROI research validates that artificial intelligence learning has a beneficial impact on employee turnover and satisfaction levels.



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



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



AI training has unforeseen environmental benefits as it makes the work environment more efficient. According to a study in Scientific Reports, the carbon footprint in writing and illustrating work is significantly lower when AI performs it compared to humans. AI software produces 130 to 1,500 times less CO2 equivalent per page of text created than human authors.



In addition, AI-driven remote work functionality significantly reduces environmental impact. Research by Cornell University and Microsoft indicates that remote workers reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 54% by not commuting daily to offices. Hybrid workers working remotely two to four days a week can reduce their carbon footprint by 11% to 29%.



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



The compounding gains of better mental well-being, reduced turnover, increased productivity, and environmental benefits flow to enterprises from the pairing. McKinsey analysis estimates the long-term AI potential at $4.4 trillion in incremental productivity growth opportunity from business use cases.



As of now, 75% of knowledge workers globally utilize generative AI, mirroring widespread adoption patterns. Organizations that provide organized training and assistance see the most favorable results in productivity, worker satisfaction, and ecological sustainability.



The research overwhelmingly indicates that companies that invest in proper AI education, like that offered through <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindStudio</a>, establish win-win scenarios where employees are both more empowered and less stressed, and companies enjoy the gains of increased productivity, reduced turnover, and improved mental health outcomes throughout their workforce.



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



The research was published across a variety of peer-reviewed journals, including <a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanities and Social Sciences Communications</a>, <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence</a>, and <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci">Applied Sciences</a>.



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



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

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSM3EVeGHJU Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-natural-solution-to-disease-through-crop-modification">A natural solution to disease through crop modification.</h2>



The agricultural industry stands at a crossroads between productivity and environmental responsibility, and crop modification often carries a negative connotation. While chemical pesticides have long been the go-to solution for crop protection, their harmful effects on ecosystems and human health have prompted scientists to seek alternatives. The recent breakthrough by <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a> researchers offers a promising path forward through the precise manipulation of plant-associated microbial communities.



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



Plants naturally harbor diverse ecosystems of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that function as biological allies. These microscopic partners contribute to disease resistance, nutrient absorption, and stress tolerance. However, until now, scientists lacked the tools to deliberately reshape these communities to enhance crop protection.



The Southampton team's approach centered on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/engineered-plant-microbiomes-the-future-of-crop-protection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">modifying lignin biosynthesis genes in rice plants</a>. This strategic intervention altered the plant's metabolic output, creating conditions that favored beneficial bacterial populations while suppressing harmful ones. The result was a living defense system embedded within the plant itself.



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



The successful demonstration against Xanthomonas oryzae, the pathogen responsible for bacterial blight in rice, represents more than a laboratory achievement. Rice feeds nearly half the world's population, and bacterial blight causes devastating crop losses annually. Traditional control methods rely heavily on pesticides that contaminate soil and water systems.



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



While disease protection represents the immediate application, the research framework opens doors to broader agricultural improvements. Future developments could engineer microbiomes to enhance nutrient uptake, reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers. This dual benefit addresses both crop productivity and environmental sustainability.



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



As this technology advances from laboratory to field applications, it promises to reshape sustainable agriculture. The ability to program plants with their own biological defense systems could herald a new era where crops protect themselves naturally, reducing chemical inputs while maintaining yields necessary for global food security.



The study is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44335-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4 Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease A natural...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?



The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.



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



Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.



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



Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.



While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.



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



During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.



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



The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.



By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.



Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.



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



Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.



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



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



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



The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.



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



Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.



The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.



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



Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.



The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.



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



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



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



There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.



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



The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.



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



The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.



EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.



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



The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.



Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.



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



Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.



Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.



This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.



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



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



Sources: This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.



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



1. Is acid rain completely gone? No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.



2. How long did solving take? Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.



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



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



5. Could acid rain return? Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.



6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"? The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</a>



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The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

Green,Ecoduct,Over,An,Empty,Highway,During,Sunset.

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



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



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



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a>, in collaboration with local citizens and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, installed two underpass tunnels in 2015. 



Over a 12-year monitoring period, they observed an 80.2% reduction in amphibian deaths, and up to 94% for non-climbing species like salamanders. 



The study used a before-after-control-impact design and documented more than 5,200 amphibians, highlighting the tunnels’ effectiveness even in nearby buffer zones.



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



Local groups initiated the effort after observing mass amphibian deaths. Wildlife cameras later captured over 2,200 amphibians using a tunnel in just one spring, along with other species like raccoons and bobcats, indicating wider ecosystem benefits.



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



The study urges transportation departments to incorporate these designs into road planning and highlights how community action, thoughtful infrastructure, and persistence can make a real difference for biodiversity.



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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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



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.

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 



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.

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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.

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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



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



From devastating floods and wildfires to natural disasters like Hurricane Ian, 2022 showed us yet again how a warming climate affects people across the globe.&nbsp;



"As we look back at 20:22 and years past, we see that each year we better understand the challenges we face and how important it is to meet them," says NASA.



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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.

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



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.

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



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.

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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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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