The Mediterranean has long been a crossroads of trade and tourism, yet its deepest pocket, the Calypso Deep, seemed beyond the reach of day-to-day pollution. 



That hope ended earlier this year when researchers reported plastic bags, glass shards, and crumpled cans resting 16,770 feet beneath the waves in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionian_Sea" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ionian Sea</a>.



Their survey logged 167 items on the trench floor - 148 confirmed pieces of marine litter and 19 more that almost certainly came from people. 



By any measure, it is one of the densest concentrations of trash ever recorded in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-ocean-buffet-big-fish-are-surprisingly-reliant-on-the-twilight-zone/">dark zone</a> of the ocean.



The discovery arrives as global attention continues to focus on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/surprise-study-some-scientists-call-for-halting-ocean-plastic-cleanup-efforts/">plastic waste</a>. 



Videos of snagged sea turtles and bottle-strewn beaches have already ignited public concern, but those images barely hint at what sinks far below the reach of sunlight.



Now evidence from Calypso Deep shows that even the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/calypso" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mediterranean’s farthest recesses</a> are filling up.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-calypso-deep-is-full-of-plastic-waste">Calypso Deep is full of plastic waste</h2>



The team used the submersible <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSV_Limiting_Factor" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Limiting Factor</a> to reach the bottom of a kidney-shaped trench roughly 12.4 miles long and 3.1 miles across. 



During a 43-minute trek near the seafloor of the Calypso Deep, cameras captured thousands of objects per square mile, mostly plastic waste discarded by humans.



A single straight-line pass of 2,130 feet was enough to confirm that human trash blankets large stretches of the basin. Most pieces were flexible plastics; glass, metal, and paper rounded out the list. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/marine-trash_Calypso-Deep-region_Mediterranean_study-map_UBarcelona_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/marine-trash_Calypso-Deep-region_Mediterranean_study-map_UBarcelona_1s.webp" alt="(A) General location of the Calypso Deep (box) in the Ionian Sea. PP: Peloponnese Peninsula. (B) Close up and general bathymetry of Calypso Deep (box) and surrounding area. For depth ranges, see color scale. (C) Detailed bathymetry of Calypso Deep with depth contours in meters. The position of the deepest point is indicated by the white dot, while the dive area is indicated by the red dot. Credit: University of Barcelona" class="wp-image-1976573"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(A) General location of the Calypso Deep (box) in the Ionian Sea. PP: Peloponnese Peninsula. (B) Close up and general bathymetry of Calypso Deep (box) and surrounding area. For depth ranges, see color scale. (C) Detailed bathymetry of Calypso Deep with depth contours in meters. The position of the deepest point is indicated by the white dot, while the dive area is indicated by the red dot. Click image to enlarge. Credit: University of Barcelona</figcaption></figure>



Even without animals caught on camera, the piles raise alarms because deep-sea communities recover slowly from disturbance.



Calypso Deep lies about 37 miles west of the Peloponnese coast inside the Hellenic Trench, a zone of steep, stepped walls prone to earthquakes. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-waste-rides-currents">Plastic waste rides currents</h2>



Weak currents, usually under 0.8 inches per second and rarely reaching 7 inches per second, let debris settle instead of sweeping it away.



“It comes from various sources, both terrestrial and marine. It could have arrived by various routes, including long-distance transport by ocean currents or direct dumping,” explains <a href="https://web.ub.edu/en/web/directori/?accio=SEL&amp;id=v759w8s35bo5v72r&amp;lang=ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miquel Canals</a>, professor at the Department of Earth and Ocean Dynamics at the University of Barcelona.



“Some light waste, such as plastics, comes from the coast and escapes to Calypso Deep, just about 37 miles away. Certain plastics, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-bag-bans-have-drastically-reduced-ocean-pollution/">like bags</a>, drift just above the seabed until they are partially or completely buried or break down into smaller fragments," Canals continued.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/marine-trash_Calypso-Deep-region_Mediterranean_litter-photos_UBarcelona_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/marine-trash_Calypso-Deep-region_Mediterranean_litter-photos_UBarcelona_1s.webp" alt="Examples of identified litter items with category attribution per material type (cf. Table 2). (A) Plastic bag, J3. (B) Plastic heavy-duty sack, J36. (C) Plastic sheet, J67. (D) Plastic food container made of hard plastic, J225. (E) Plastic heavy-duty sack, J36. (F) Plastic bag, J3 (G) Cups and lids of hard plastic, J227. (H) Plastic rope &gt; 1 cm in diameter, J49. (I) Paper cartons/Tetrapak (non-milk), J151. (J) Metal drink can, J175. (K) Glass bottle. Note sediment shadow with side scouring downwards of the bottle J200. (L) Plastic drink bottle. Credit: University of Barcelona" class="wp-image-1976569"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Examples of identified litter items with category attribution per material type. (A) Plastic bag, J3. (B) Plastic heavy-duty sack, J36. (C) Plastic sheet, J67. (D) Plastic food container made of hard plastic, J225. (E) Plastic heavy-duty sack, J36. (F) Plastic bag, J3 (G) Cups and lids of hard plastic, J227. (H) Plastic rope > 1 cm in diameter, J49. (I) Paper cartons/Tetrapak (non-milk), J151. (J) Metal drink can, J175. (K) Glass bottle. Note sediment shadow with side scouring downwards of the bottle J200. (L) Plastic drink bottle. Click image to enlarge. Credit: University of Barcelona</figcaption></figure>



Rivers, wind, and ship traffic all feed the stream of refuse heading offshore. As algae and other organisms cling to floating polymers, the added weight turns buoyant scraps into sinking hazards. The trench’s closed shape then locks the pieces in place.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-calypso-deep-as-a-plastic-graveyard">Calypso Deep as a plastic graveyard</h2>



Surface eddies often corral floating trash into the trench. When these eddies form over the Calypso Trench, some debris slowly falls to the bottom, aided by degradation and ballasting processes that increase its density. 



Surface currents can also carry debris northward from the Adriatic Sea through the Strait of Otranto and from waters off northwestern Greece. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/marine-trash_Calypso-Deep-region_Mediterranean_3D-model_UBarcelona_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/marine-trash_Calypso-Deep-region_Mediterranean_3D-model_UBarcelona_1s.webp" alt="(A) 3D model generated from a subset of video frames by reference to a litter item of known size shown in B. The white dashed line in A represents the camera frames along the Deep Submergence Vehicle (DSV) Limiting Factor moving path, whereas the red dashed line represents the frames counted between two items identified on the seabed. (B) Accumulation of litter items in the inner Calypso Deep with a litter item of known size (12 cm) used as a reference for 3D model generation. Credit: University of Barcelona" class="wp-image-1976567"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(A) 3D model generated from a subset of video frames by reference to a litter item of known size shown in B. The white dashed line in A represents the camera frames along the Deep Submergence Vehicle (DSV) Limiting Factor moving path, whereas the red dashed line represents the frames counted between two items identified on the seabed. (B) Accumulation of litter items in the inner Calypso Deep with a litter item of known size (12 cm) used as a reference for 3D model generation. Click image to enlarge. Credit: University of Barcelona</figcaption></figure>



The same circular flows that drive marine life cycles are now channeling waste into permanent graveyards at the very bottom of Earth's deepest bodies of water.



<a href="https://web.ub.edu/ca/web/actualitat/w/a-sea-of-rubbish-ocean-floor-landfills-?" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earlier work in 2021</a> showed the Strait of Messina carrying the world’s heaviest load of undersea garbage, confirming that the Mediterranean is especially at risk.



“We have also found evidence of boats dumping bags of rubbish, indicated by piles of assorted waste followed by an almost straight furrow," said Canals, expressing his frustration.



That is why the bottom of the Calypso Deep is littered with humans' plastic waste, and also why the problem will do nothing but continue to worsen.



"Unfortunately, when it comes to the Mediterranean, it is fair to say that ‘not a single inch of it is clean.’”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-do-we-go-from-here">Where do we go from here?</h2>



Unlike beaches and coastlines, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/99-percent-of-the-deep-ocean-floor-has-still-never-been-seen-by-humans/">ocean floor</a> remains largely out of sight, making it difficult to build social and political momentum for its conservation. 



Yet what settles at the bottom can influence marine life, food webs, fisheries, climate feedback loops, and even geological stability.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-mediterranean-nearly-lost-all-of-its-water-6-million-years-ago/">The Mediterranean</a> is an enclosed sea, surrounded by humanity, with intense maritime traffic and widespread fishing activity.



“Scientists, communicators, journalists, influencers - everyone with a platform - must work together. The problem is vast, even if it is not directly visible, and we cannot ignore it," Canals implored.



The trail of refuse from shorelines to Calypso Deep underlines a plain truth: plastics and other debris do not vanish once tossed aside. They ride currents, sink in stages, and ultimately collect in the planet’s most secluded hollows. 



The evidence provided by this research should galvanize global efforts - especially in the Mediterranean - to curb dumping, particularly of plastics, in line with the pending <a href="https://www.globalplasticlaws.org/un-global-plastics-treaty" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UN Global Plastics Treaty</a>.



From the North Atlantic’s first recorded litter in 1975 to the record densities documented across the Mediterranean today, the pattern remains the same - human waste reaches everywhere water flows.



We must do more, we must do better, and we must do it now.



-----



Thanks to the leaders of this research team - Miquel Canals of the <a href="https://web.ub.edu/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Barcelona</a>, Georg Hanke of the European Commission’s <a href="https://commission.europa.eu/about/departments-and-executive-agencies/joint-research-centre_en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Joint Research Centre</a>, François Galgani of <a href="https://www.ifremer.fr/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IFREMER</a>, and Victor Vescovo of <a href="https://caladanoceanic.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Caladan Oceanic</a>



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X25000852">Marine Pollution Bulletin</a>.



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Scientists make disturbing discovery on the deepest parts of the seafloor: 'Not a single inch of it is clean'

The Mediterranean has long been a crossroads of trade and tourism, yet its deepest pocket, the Calypso Deep, seemed beyond the reach of day-to-day pollution. That hope ended earlier this year when researchers reported plastic bags, glass shards, and crumpled cans resting 16,770 feet beneath the waves in the Ionian Sea. Their survey logged 167 items on the trench floor - 148 confirmed pieces of marine litter and 19 more that almost certainly came from people. By any measure, it is one of the densest concentrations of...

Underneath London lies a network of tributaries that flow into the River Thames and River Lea. These rivers and waterways were once an important part of daily <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fault-lines-london-earthquake/">London</a> life as they powered mills and provided water for cooking to city residents. 

The rivers have since been buried under pavement and concrete as London expanded through the years, but there have been several calls to unearth the rivers so they can once again be used and enjoyed. 

A <a href="http://files.1010global.org.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/LostRivers_heat_seeking_report.pdf">recent report</a> conducted by the climate charity <a href="https://1010uk.org/">10:10 Climate Action</a> and social enterprise Scene suggests that these rivers are an untapped source of low carbon energy that could provide heat to London’s neighborhoods with fuel pumps. 

If heat pumps were employed, it could potentially create a surplus of clean energy to the city and help London meet its zero-emission goals. 

“Of course, the water temperature is not warm enough to directly heat buildings. But through a combination of energy efficiency measures and the use of heat pumps, we have an incredible opportunity: lower costs, lower carbon emissions, better air quality, and greater energy resilience,” writes Louise Waters, Alex Schlicke and Vijay Bhopal, who authored the report. 

While the use of heat pumps placed in London's underground rivers could potentially provide low carbon heat, the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5933337/A-new-way-tackle-climate-change-Lost-rivers-heat-London-cut-capitals-emissions.html">Daily Mail</a> noted that these pumps have never been used at a scale this large and the report did not consider the financial ramifications of such a project. 

10:10 Climate Action explained the heat pump process and found that a sealed tube containing a gas refrigerant would be placed between a building and a nearby underwater river. 

The refrigerant would change from a gas to liquid as it passed through the tube and release huge amounts of energy in the process, more than enough to meet the heating needs of even Buckingham Palace during the coldest days of the year. 

The rivers carry the same name as the streets under which they currently lie such as the Fleet and Strand. 

One of the rivers, the Effra, was once the second largest river in London and today it could provide heat to several city areas all year round. 

“The Effra by Brockwell Park carries a sizeable flow – some 180 liters per second on average, rising to 250 liters per second at peak times – which represents a heat resource of around 3 megawatts,” the report authors stated. “Tapping into just a tenth of this resource could allow the lido to be kept at a comfortable temperature for swimming in the cooler spring and autumn months.”

London’s current mayor has stated that he wants the city to be a zero-carbon city by 2050, but reaching that lofty aim would require a major shift towards renewable energy and carbon regulations. 

“The mayor has set ambitious targets for phasing out gas burning in London over the coming years and we are going to need every bit of low-carbon heat we can get our hands on to meet these goals,” Leo Murray, director of campaigns at 10:10, told <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/jul/09/lost-rivers-could-heat-london-to-cut-emissions">The Guardian. </a>

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

London’s lost rivers could heat the city, reduce emissions

Underneath London lies a network of tributaries that flow into...

In an article written for <a href="http://theconversation.com/au">The Conversation</a>, Dr. David Redding and Dr. Elizabeth Boakes of the <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/">University College London</a> (UCL) provide some troubling insight into the impact of human activities on our planet's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biodiversity-key-measure-success/">biodiversity</a>.

According to the researchers, “fossil records show that current extinction levels are around 1,000 times the natural background rate.” The experts explain that habitat loss, hunting, climate change, and the introduction of invasive species are all accelerating this loss.

“Amphibians seem particularly sensitive to environmental change, with estimated extinction rates up to 45,000 times their natural speed,” write the researchers. “Most of these extinctions are unrecorded, so we do not even know what species we are losing.”

The experts point to the loss of the last male white rhino, Sudan, and question how we will be affected by species that are not as iconic or that we do not even know exist. They stress how healthy ecosystems provide invaluable services to humans and keep the planet balanced.

“Forests and wetlands prevent pollutants entering our water supplies, mangroves provide coastal defence by reducing storm surges, and green spaces in urban areas lower city-dwellers’ rates of mental illness,” the authors write in The Conversation. “A continued loss of biodiversity will disrupt these services even further.”

According to the experts, the stress that we are putting on ecosystems and the disturbances that we are causing to the Earth have never before occurred simultaneously. They warn that it is “quite a gamble to assume that we can so damage our planet while at the same time maintaining the seven billion humans that live on it.”


Dr. Redding and Dr. Boakes also emphasize that while some of the environmental damage we have done can still be reversed, extinction cannot. 


“Extinction is irrevocably final,” write the authors.


“We may not all agree, but extinction is broadening its reach, so consensus and urgent action are needed if we hope to control it.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Human activities are prompting alarming extinction rates

In an article written for The Conversation, Dr. David Redding...

A new survey by the <a href="https://eia-global.org/">Environmental Investigations Agency</a> (EIA) has found that China is at least partially responsible for the mysterious spike of atmospheric levels of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), heat-trapping substances that have been banned worldwide for years.

The elimination of CFCs was established by the Montreal Protocol in 1987 as a critical measure to support the recovery of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-antarctic-ozone-layer-is-healing/">ozone layer</a>, which acts like a shield to protect the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.

According to the <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/">Natural Resources Defense Council</a> (NRDC), CFC-11 has 4,660 times the heat-trapping ability of carbon dioxide.

The investigation by the EIA produced evidence that at least 18 companies in 10 provinces are using CFC-11. The potent greenhouse gas is being used in the creation of cheap home insulation, which is in high demand because it cuts back on energy expenses and carbon emissions.

The EIA report states: “Detailed discussions with company executives make clear that these are not isolated incidents but instead represent common practice across the industry.”

CFCs became officially illegal in China in 2007, and Chinese officials have said that the country stopped producing and using the harmful substances.

According to the EIA researchers, they were told by traders of CFC-11 that the majority of Chinese companies which manufacture foam continue to use CFC-11 because it has a better quality and a lower price.

Some companies even reported making their own CFC agents, producing up to 40 tons per day. The researchers said that other countries have likely been unknowingly importing products made with CFCs, considering the volume of Chinese exports.

Alexander von Bismarck is the executive director of the Environmental Investigation Agency US.

“If China doesn't stop this illegal production, it will imperil our slowly healing ozone layer,” said Bismarck. “CFC-11 is also a super global warmer, making this a serious threat for our climate as well.”


The EIA is urging China’s government and members of the Montreal Protocol to “acknowledge the scale of this environmental crime and take immediate action to investigate further, implement legislative reform and ensure effective intelligence-led enforcement.”

The full report from the EIA can be found on the agency's <a href="https://eia-global.org/reports/20180709-blowing-it-illegal-production-and-use-of-banned-cfc-11-in-chinas-foam-blowing-industry">website</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Spike in atmospheric CFCs due to illegal use in China

A new survey by the Environmental Investigations Agency (EIA) has...

Perhaps you live in the western United States and have seen the impact of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfires-southern-california/">wildfires</a> this year in person or at least heard about it.  Perhaps you’ve been hiking in the forest and seen the aftermath of a forest fire. Maybe wildfires are simply an abstract concern and not an immediate danger to your home.  Either way, one should ask: why are there so many wildfires in the US, especially in the western part of the country? Are the number of wildfires simply natural or are we in some way causing or increasing the number of fires?  

As I write this, according to <a href="https://www.fireweatheravalanche.org/fire/">FireWeatherAvalanche</a> there are 1,690 active fires in the US, all of them in the west.  According to the <a href="https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-wildfires">Insurance Information Institute</a> quoting the Department of the Interior, up to 90% of wildfires are caused by humans.  Financial loss from wildfire added up to $5.1 billion over a decade. 

From January 1 to June 6, 2018, there have been 24,760 wildfires in the US, a little bit less than over the same period in 2017.  Fires in general are normal. But if 90% of wildfires are caused by humans, what role do land management agencies play in fires and their causes and how is this similar to the older history of fire in North America?  

The history of how wildfires have been managed in the United States proceeded from large fires near the beginning of the 20th Century.  The Peshtigo fire of 1871 was the deadliest wildfire in American history, which burned around Peshtigo Wisconsin killing 1,500 to 2,500 people.  Peshtigo occurred on the same day as the more famous Chicago fire and has been largely overshadowed and forgotten. According to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peshtigo_fire">Wikipedia</a>, setting small fires was a common way to clear land at the time; an unexpected windstorm fanned these small fires out of control, leading to the deadly blaze.    

More important to history than Peshtigo is the Great Fire of 1910 that burned about 3 million acres of land in Idaho, Washington and Montana.  The 1910 fire is believed to be the largest fire in US history in terms of land. At the time of the 1910 fire, the <a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/">US Forest Service</a> was on the verge of being defunded and defunct.  The heroics of those fighting the fire, including Forest Service Rangers and Buffalo Soldiers, captured the imagination of the nation.  Work on suppressing the fire impressed the importance of the Forest Service upon lawmakers and fortified their funding. 

Unfortunately the Great Fire of 1910 also set the direction of the Forest Service in relation to wildfires for nearly the next 100 years.  In 1911, the Weeks Act allowed the Forest Service to obtain more land, especially in the eastern US. The Weeks Act also allowed for more cooperation between federal and state agencies involved in fire control. 

It wasn’t until 1944 that the now familiar Smokey Bear appeared on posters exhorting people to be careful with fires.  1947 brought his slogan “Remember, Only YOU can prevent forest fires” but by then the mission of suppressing fires at every turn was already deeply embedded in the Forest Service.  Smokey is said to be inspired by a bear cub rescued from a forest fire, similar to the one rescued from a forest fire in Colorado <a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2018/06/29/bear-cub-rescued-colorado-wildfire/">this year</a>.

Ferdinand A. Silcox was the chief of the Forest Service from 1933 to 1939. As recounted on <a href="https://foresthistory.org/research-explore/us-forest-service-history/people/chiefs/ferdinand-silcox-1882-1939/">ForestHistory</a>, Silcox also served as the quartermaster during the 1910 fire, and much of his views on fire suppression seem to stem from that experience.  Silcox believed that fire could be eliminated entirely from the land. Such thinking lead to heavy fire suppression in the US, especially in the arid western US in the forest service and other agencies.  

Interestingly, there is evidence of pre-Columbian Native Americans taking the exact opposite approach in the Appalachian region.  A study in <a href="http://faculty.fortlewis.edu/korb_j/global%20fire/fire%20and%20culure%20and%20appalachia.pdf">Conservation Biology</a> by Hazel and Paul Delcourt points out the importance of human started fire in maintaining the diversity of tree assemblages in pre-Columbian forests,

“Fire suppression in the southern Appalachians is widely considered responsible for decreased regeneration in oak (Quercus) and fire-adapted species such as table mountain pine (Pinus rigida) and pitch pine (Pinus pungens).”

The study looked at the composition of pollen throughout time and compared it to evidence of fires in the area.  The study showed that fires in pre-Columbian times happened more often than would be expected by natural causes such as lightning.  Lightning caused fires being relatively rare in the area, with an average of 7 years between lightning fires. 

The study also showed that fire adapted species and overall biodiversity was improved by fires, many of these fires likely caused purposefully by Native Americans.  Native Australians have also been known to start controlled wildfires to chase game and improve habitats. Many of Australia’s prescribed burns have taken place for so long that plants have adapted to regular human caused fires.  

Ironically during the Great Fire of 1910, as many as 4,000 soldiers and other people fighting the fire gained less recognition than the Forest Service, perhaps in part because some of these soldiers were black.  Also in the aftermath of the Great Fire, despite the new objectives of the forest service to stop wildfires altogether, some contemporary foresters dissented. The <a href="https://foresthistory.org/research-explore/us-forest-service-history/policy-and-law/fire-u-s-forest-service/famous-fires/the-1910-fires/">Forest History Society’s website</a> says:

“Contemporary critics, however, pointed out the flaws in the fire suppression policy. Elers Koch, a forester who had fought the Big Blowup on the Lolo National Forest in Montana, argued afterward in favor of letting backcountry fires burn themselves out. Professor Herman Chapman of Yale Forest School, who was studying Southern forests, argued that fire had an important if little understood ecological role in the landscape. And Secretary of the Interior Richard Ballinger, whose department had seen part of the newly created Glacier National Park burn along with surrounding national forest land, argued for allowing annual burning to reduce fuel loads like the Native Americans did.”           

These arguments did little to change official policy of the Forest Service.  Gifford Pinchot and others leading the Forest Service pushed a fire suppression policy.  The model of fire suppression is embodied in the icon of Smokey Bear and was adopted by other countries and agencies.  

A paper in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112707004379">Forest Ecology and Management</a> estimates that in prehistoric California, an area of land equal to 88% of burned land in a decade burned in a single year.  This means that before 1800, 1.8 million hectares of land burning in California was a normal year. The paper goes on to say that 2 million hectares of land burning being considered extreme is a modern perspective, without historic insight.  

Today, controlled burns are commonly used but only minimally to stop what we now consider large scale, dangerous fires.  Fires are common in the west but are regarded as a known but still horrible menace, much like hurricanes on the Gulf Coast.  

Other threats to forests in the west include native insects such as the Mountain Pine Beetle.  According to the <a href="https://csfs.colostate.edu/forest-management/common-forest-insects-diseases/mountain-pine-beetle/">Colorado State Forest Service</a>, 3.4 million acres of trees have been impacted by the beetle in Colorado from 1996 to 2014.  The infestation of beetles is declining in Colorado but it’s also widespread across the west. I’ve hiked through wilderness areas in South Dakota where the forest is a mere skeleton of standing dead trees from beetle kill.  The Colorado State Forest Service website lists a few ways to combat beetle kill, including thinning trees by cutting. Fire isn’t listed as a way to control beetles but historically it must have played a role in beetle ecology.  It’s impossible to imagine a native beetle not being limited in some way by natural (and human caused) fires in the US. 

If you’re in the west and day after day you see news of new fires springing up, if you see the haze of wildfire smoke blurring the panoramic view of mountains or mesas, ask yourself why.  Is fire suppression good science or is it political expediency and concession to logging interests? 

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Why are there so many wildfires in the western United States?

Perhaps you live in the western United States and have...

A study from the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a> (U-M) has identified a new threat to monarch butterflies. The researchers have found that rising carbon dioxide levels diminish the medicinal properties of milkweed plants, which make the butterflies more resilient against disease.

For the investigation, the research team raised four milkweed species that have different levels of protective compounds known as cardenolides. 

While half of the plants were grown under typical carbon dioxide conditions, the other half were exposed to double the amount of atmospheric <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carbon-storage-ocean-floor/">CO2</a>. The plants were then fed to hundreds of monarch caterpillars.

The study revealed that the most protective of the four milkweed species lost its medicinal properties when grown under elevated CO2, which substantially affected the monarch’s ability to endure a parasite and reduced its lifespan by a week.

“We discovered a previously unrecognized, indirect mechanism by which ongoing environmental change--in this case, rising levels of atmospheric CO2--can act on disease in monarch butterflies,” said study first author Leslie Decker.

“Our results emphasize that global environmental change may influence parasite-host interactions through changes in the medicinal properties of plants.”

Study co-author and ecologist Mark Hunter has studied monarchs at the U-M Biological Station, located in Michigan's Northern Peninsula, for more than a decade. He explained that the findings of the monarch study have broad implications. 

“If elevated carbon dioxide reduces the concentration of medicines in plants that monarchs use, it could be changing the concentration of drugs for all animals that self-medicate, including humans,” said Hunter.

“When we play Russian roulette with the concentration of atmospheric gases, we are playing Russian roulette with our ability to find new medicines in nature.”

The researchers were able to determine how changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels altered toxin concentrations in the four milkweed species and how the monarch's lifespan and disease susceptibility was affected.

The largest impacts were observed in monarchs that fed on A. curassavica, a milkweed species in which cardenolide production was lowered by nearly 25 percent when raised under elevated CO2 conditions.

In caterpillars that fed on A. curassavica milkweed grown under accelerated climate conditions, tolerance to the parasite declined by 77 percent when compared to caterpillars that fed on A. curassavica grown under typical levels of CO2. 

Furthermore, these insects lost seven days of their life span due to parasitic infection. Among monarchs that ate A. curassavica grown under ambient CO2 levels, parasites reduced their average lifespan by only two days.

“We've been able to show that a medicinal milkweed species loses its protective abilities under elevated carbon dioxide,” said Decker. “Our results suggest that rising CO2 will reduce the tolerance of monarch butterflies to their common parasite and will increase parasite virulence.”

“Habitat loss, problems during migration and climate change all contribute to monarch declines,” added Hunter. “Unfortunately, our results add to that list and suggest that parasite-infected monarchs will become steadily sicker if atmospheric concentrations of CO2 continue to rise.”

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14610248">Ecology Letters</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: Austin Thomason/Michigan Photography

Monarch butterflies facing new threats with rising CO2 levels

A study from the University of Michigan (U-M) has identified...

Most of us learn when we are young that trees intake <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carbon-storage-ocean-floor/">carbon dioxide</a> and produce oxygen. And while this is a well-known and useful fact, we often don’t dive much deeper than that. How efficient are trees as carbon consumers? In a world that is desperately looking for a solution to greenhouse gas emissions, are there more efficient natural ways to remove the carbon dioxide from our atmosphere? A new study published in the journal <a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/journal/1748-9326">Environmental Research Letters</a> may just answer these questions.

While forests consume roughly a quarter of the human-caused carbon dioxide pollution worldwide, there are some forested areas that are now lacking in efficiency. Researchers from the <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/">University of California, Davis</a> have found that grasslands and rangelands are better carbon sinks than forests in present-day California. Years of warming temperatures, fire suppression, and drought have increased wildfire risks – which has turned California’s forests into carbon producers more than carbon consumers.

Trees store much of their carbon within their leave and woody biomass, while grass stores most of its carbon underground. This means that when a tree catches fire, it releases its stores of carbon back into the atmosphere. But when a fire burns through grasslands, the carbon fixed underground tends to stay in the roots and soil.

“In a stable climate, trees store more carbon than grasslands,” says co-author Benjamin Houlton, director of the John Muir Institute of the Environment at UC Davis. “But in a vulnerable, warming, drought-likely future, we could lose some of the most productive carbon sinks on the planet. California is on the frontlines of the extreme weather changes that are beginning to occur all over the world. We really need to start thinking about the vulnerability of ecosystem carbon, and use this information to de-risk our carbon investment and conservation strategies in the 21st century.”

The authors of the study suggest that grasslands and rangelands should be given opportunities in California’s cap-and-trade market, which was designed to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. Their findings could also influence other carbon offset efforts around the world, especially those in semi-arid environments.

The researchers ran model simulations of four scenarios: global carbon emissions largely cease, carbon emissions continue, periodic drought intervals (similar to La Niña/El Niño weather patterns), and megadrought – which could last for a century or more. The only scenario in which California’s trees were better carbon sinks than grasslands was the first one, which is an unlikely scenario at best. Our current path of global carbon emissions dictates that grasslands are the most viable net carbon dioxide sink through 2101, as they’re able to store carbon even during extreme drought simulations.

“Looking ahead, our model simulations show that grasslands store more carbon than forests because they are impacted less by droughts and wildfires," says lead author Pawlok Dass, a postdoctoral scholar at UC Davis. “This doesn’t even include the potential benefits of good land management to help boost soil health and increase carbon stocks in rangelands.”

This study doesn’t suggest that grasslands should replace forests or diminish the many benefits of trees. Instead, it states that, from a cap-and-trade and carbon-offset perspective, conserving grasslands and promoting rangeland practices that lead to reliable rates of carbon sequestration may help meet the state’s emission-reduction goals.

“Trees and forests in California are a national treasure and an ecological necessity,” says Houlton. “But when you put them in assuming they’re carbon sinks and trading them for pollution credits while they’re not behaving as carbon sinks, emissions may not decrease as much as we hope.”

The author’s findings can help California – and similar climates around the world – better meet greenhouse gas reduction goals, and help improve our chances of surviving climate change in the future.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Joe Proudman/<a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/">UC Davis</a>

Trees versus grass: Which is the better carbon sink?

Most of us learn when we are young that trees...

Starbucks <a href="https://news.starbucks.com/press-releases/starbucks-to-eliminate-plastic-straws-globally-by-2020">announced</a> on Monday that they will be phasing out their single-use plastic straws worldwide by 2020. This move comes at a time when scientists are calling our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-pollution-galapagos-islands/">plastic pollution</a> problem a “global crisis” and advocacy groups are warning that plastic poses one of the greatest threats to our oceans.

Phasing out the plastic straw could have huge positive impacts. Starbucks gives out an estimated 1 billion straws a year. By 2020, the coffee chain will replace their straws with a recyclable straw-less lid, made from biodegradable materials.

In a press release, Starbucks said “Starbucks has designed, developed and manufactured a strawless lid, which will become the standard for all iced coffee, tea and espresso beverages. The lid is currently available in more than 8,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada for select beverages including Starbucks Draft Nitro and Cold Foam.”

Customers who need straws for medical and other reasons can still help protect our oceans. Starbucks will start providing straws made from more sustainable sources such as paper and compostable plastic by request.

Currently, Starbucks is the largest food and beverage retailer to phase out plastic straws worldwide. Plastic straws are far from the only plastic destroying our oceans, but their impacts are certainly severe.

A<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wH878t78bw"> 2015 video</a> of a sea turtle with a straw stuck up its nostril quickly went viral with over 30 million views to date. The difficult-to-watch video shows a person trying to dislodge a straw from the turtle’s nostril as the turtle struggles.

When plastic is polluted into our waterways, it stays in the environment forever. The <a href="https://www.nps.gov/index.htm">United States National Park Service</a> says, “Once in the water, plastic never fully biodegrades, but breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, eventually being dubbed a ‘microplastic’ —something that is less than 5mm long and still able to cause problems for marine life.”

Plastic, whether in large or small pieces, can wreak havoc on marine animals by choking them, entangling them and entering their stomachs, potentially causing them to starve to death.

A pivotal<a href="http://science.sciencemag.org/content/347/6223/768"> study</a> in 2015, published in Science, found that 4.8 to 12.7 metric tons of plastic waste entered our oceans in 2010 alone.

Starbucks policy change is much needed but not enough on its own. While addressing plastic straws is a great start, our society is now addicted to plastic. Single-use plastic can be found everywhere: from our utensils to our bags and water bottles.

Policy changes surrounding plastic are also occurring at the local government level. The city of Seattle recently became the first US city to ban plastic utensils and straws. The ban affects bars and restaurants in the city and went into effect last week. 

"Plastic pollution is surpassing crisis levels in the world's oceans, and I'm proud Seattle is leading the way and setting an example for the nation by enacting a plastic straw ban," Seattle Public Utilities General Manager Mami Hara said in a statement about the ban.

Starbucks and Seattle have both set good examples for how we should be handling the plastic pollution crisis. Actions from both corporations and governments will help to most efficiently protect our oceans.

--

By <a href="mailto:brianna.grant134@gmail.com">Brianna Lynne</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Starbucks to phase out plastic straws worldwide by 2020

Starbucks announced on Monday that they will be phasing out...

Hawaii is the first state to ban the sale of sunscreens with oxybenzone or octinoxate thanks a new bill signed by Hawaii Governor David Ige on Tuesday, July 3rd. 

The bill prohibits the sale or distribution of certain sunscreens because of their impact on coral reefs and will be enacted in 2021. 

Sunscreen used for medical purposes that contain either of the two chemicals will still be allowed to be worn by patients and the ban does not include products that are considered for cosmetic use. 

Coral reefs around the world have experienced staggering amounts of decline, loss, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/great-barrier-reef-mass-bleachings/">bleaching</a> in recent years and studies have shown that oxybenzone and octinoxate are toxic to coral larvae. 

“Studies have documented the negative impact of these chemicals on corals and other marine life,” said Governor Ige. “Our natural environment is fragile, and our own interaction with the earth can have lasting impacts. This new law is just one step toward protecting the health and resiliency of Hawaii's coral reefs.”

Corals play an important role in providing habitat to marine wildlife, protecting coastlines from flooding, and attracting tourism. 

“Healthy reefs are a fundamental part of a larger ecosystem which is important to the health of our planet,” said Senator Roz Baker in a statement. “This bill has enormous significance and I’m so happy on behalf of the Senate to be here participating in the signing of this very important bill. Governor, by signing this measure, you are presenting our community with a unique moment in time to protect our coral reefs.” 

While the ban is good news for corals and marine conservation, not everyone is in support of the bill, namely the makers of sunscreen products. 

According to a piece by <a href="https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/hawaii-governor-signs-bill-making-hawaii-the-1st-state-to-ban-sunscreens-that-harm-coral-reefs/70005401">Accuweather</a>, there are more 3,500 sunscreens currently on the market that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate. The two chemicals are specifically used to block damaging UV rays and there are concerns that the bill could raise the risk of skin cancer and sunburn. 

It was reported by the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/05/02/hawaii-might-be-about-to-ban-your-favorite-sunscreen-to-protect-its-coral-reefs/?noredirect=on&amp;utm_term=.20661254b5e9">Washington Post</a> in May of this year that the <a href="https://www.chpa.org/">Consumer Healthcare Products Association</a> felt the bill could put millions at risk by removing 70 percent of sunscreens on the market today. 

The risks that harmful UV rays pose to people are well documented and sunscreen is a proven method to guard against the sun. However corals are also in clear and present danger and measures must be taken to ensure that the world’s remaining reefs have a fighting chance in the face of climate change. 

“In my lifetime, our planet has lost about half its coral reefs,” said Rep. Chris Lee about the new bill. “We’ve got to take action to make sure we can protect the other half as best we can because we know that time is against us.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Hawaii bans sale of sunscreens that hurt corals

Hawaii is the first state to ban the sale of...

As <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/epa-head-scott-pruitt-resigns/">we reported</a>, <a href="https://www.epa.gov/">Environmental Protection Agency</a> (EPA) head Scott Pruitt resigned last week after an endless sequence of ethical scandals. Pruitt denied the basic scientific facts of climate change and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pruitt-clean-power-plan/">oversaw the repeal</a> of Obama’s Clean Power Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

But the main question is, with Pruitt resigning, is planet Earth better or worse off with his replacement?  Who are the winners and losers under Pruitt and now Andrew Wheeler as head of the Trump EPA? 

The consensus appears to be that Wheeler is unlikely to change the direction of the EPA and in fact may actually be more effective in advancing Trump’s EPA agenda. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/andrew-wheeler-inew-epa-head/">Wheeler</a> has been both a lobbyist for coal (and nuclear energy) as well as formerly an aide for climate change denying Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma.  Jim Inhofe has gone on record stating that climate change is “the greatest hoax ever” and that “God promised to maintain hot &amp; cold seasons.” Wheeler has also worked at the EPA and is no stranger to the workings of the agency.  This work history seems a sure sign of his ability to get things done at least. The goals that Wheeler will pursue in the EPA are another matter. 

What seems clear in the Trump administration in general is that money making is central, where issues of environment, race and equality play a distant second fiddle.  Earlier I <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drilling-oil-sangre-de-cristos/">discussed</a> the ethics issues with head of the Department of the Interior head Ryan Zinke related to drilling leases.  <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/conservation-ryan-zinke/">Zinke</a> also stands in opposition of much of what the Department of the Interior has historically stood for.     

<a href="https://www.vox.com/2018/6/9/17441484/scott-pruitt-epa-chemicals-cost-benefit-analysis">Vox</a> reported that air quality regulations are likely to benefit minorities who are more likely to live near pollution sources at the cost of wealthy capitalists.  The report also reveals that under the Obama administration, the social cost of carbon was valued at $36 per ton while under Trump it’s rated at $5. Under the current administration, this sort of detail seems especially important. 

It’s important to note that Jim Inhofe who Wheeler served as an aid is also no friend to those interested in civil rights.  According to <a href="http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/James_Inhofe.htm">ontheissues.org</a> Inhofe voted yes for a constitutional ban on same sex marriage and no on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act.  Overall, Inhofe was rated 20% by the ACLU on his voting record on civil rights, 0% by the Human Rights Campaign for his anti-gay stance.  Inhofe was also 7% by the NAACP on his poor voting record on affirmative action. Senator Inhofe has an almost mirror opposite record on business issues, earning him a 100% by US COC indicating a pro-business record.  Wheeler’s views on civil rights are a little harder to tease out than his former boss since he’s mostly worked for the EPA and as a business lobbyist not directly involved in civil rights issues. Environmental policy can affect civil rights though indirectly and Wheeler seems to champion big, unregulated business.

A study at <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2705126/">ncbi.gov</a> shows that non-Hispanic black people live in areas on average with environmental toxins 1.45 times greater than non-Hispanic white people.  <a href="http://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/outdoor/air-pollution/disparities.html">Lung.org</a> explains the difference in exposure to pollutants between different races this way:

“The burden of air pollution is not evenly shared. Poorer people and some racial and ethnic groups are among those who often face higher exposure to pollutants and who may experience greater responses to such pollution.”

The Luna report explains how some studies have shown greater risk of dying young from air particle exposure and asthma for African Americans and those of lower income.  

A <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/14/us-people-of-color-still-more-likely-to-be-exposed-to-pollution-than-white-people">Guardian</a> report from 2017 points to a government study that shows exposure to Nitrous Oxide (NO2) is influenced by race, even more than by income, education or age.  The study quoted by The Guardian showed that in 2010 Black and Hispanic people were exposed to 37% more NO2 than white people.  It was estimated that if black people breathed the same amount of NO2 as their white counterparts, 5,000 deaths from heart disease could have been avoided in 2010.

At one time, American cities were forcibly segregated.  Neighborhoods in undesirable parts of cities were left for minorities alone while most people of color were excluded from desirable areas.  The same process to a certain degree played out across the whole nation. The Trail of Tears is a prime example of a minority group being forced out of prime land (in this case agricultural land) and moved to less desirable settlements.  The same pattern played out throughout the US as settlers moved west and pushed native peoples out of areas with desirable resources from gold to lumber or access to fresh water. 

The 1968 Fair Housing Act was supposed to stop racial discrimination by landlords and others, allowing equal access to housing for people of all races.  An article from <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2017/12/08/metro-areas-are-still-racially-segregated/">The Brookings Institute</a> reveals that in many areas segregation has declined over the last 50 years.  However, the article goes on to show that segregated neighborhoods are still a very real thing in practice.  Certain neighborhoods in cities are dominated by disproportionately Black, Hispanic, White or Asian people. There is a trend of Black people of higher incomes moving out of less desirable neighborhoods leaving lower income Blacks behind. 

It’s worth noting research from <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/every-moment-donald-trumps-long-complicated-history-race">PBS</a> showing that Trump was accused of violating the Fair Housing Act in 1973 by discriminating against minorities with his rental properties.  In 1975, Trump settled with the DOJ over housing discrimination charges but charges were renewed in 1978. A <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/">New York Time</a>s report in 1983 showed two of Trump’s properties to be disproportionately white, with 95% white renters.  Trump’s relationship to other races is complicated; he also opened a racially inclusive club in Florida in 1995 against the trend of other exclusive clubs in the area.  

The ambivalence or even animosity towards other races or backgrounds by Trump is reflected by the EPA policies under Pruitt, likely to be continued by Wheeler.  As <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/">The Atlantic</a> reported:

“Under the guidance of President Trump and Administrator Scott Pruitt, the EPA has begun to walk back already anemic federal environmental-justice work, putting a stop to some civil-rights investigations and replacing or firing many of the scientists with deep technical knowledge of the subject. Last year, facing cuts to the environmental-justice program that seem likely to continue, former assistant associate administrator Mustafa Santiago Ali resigned. Further changes to move the offices of environmental justice into a policy office staffed by Pruitt hires promise to further reduce the autonomy of life-long environmental-justice staffers and reduce the effectiveness of their work.”

Under Pruitt, stalling environmental regulations were stalled to the point that Earth Justice sued him on behalf of both health and environmental groups. In the <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/opinion-garcia-pruitt-environmental-justice_us_5a565eede4b03bc4d03d77b2">Huffington Post</a>, Lisa Garcia opined:

“Pruitt’s inaction is one of many examples of how the Trump administration has attempted to stall the implementation of required health protections so that corporations can focus on their bottom lines, rather than on the communities or neighborhoods they may be polluting.”      

Pruitt went so far as proposing to eliminate the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice, something first initiated under President Clinton to look at disproportionate burden of environmental impact on minorities and the poor.

Trump seems quick to attack his enemies and laud those who support him, no matter their views on issues such as race.  It’s not surprising then that on issues of race, Trump is quick to use derisive rhetoric unless it’s helpful for his finances or the finances of his supporters.  Trump has secretly paid for ads suggesting that Native Americans planning on opening casinos were organized criminals and drug addicts. At the same time period, Trump also made deals with other Native American casinos and ran his own gaming institutions.  In the end, it’s not so important whether Trump’s people knowingly hurt minorities with lack of EPA oversight. More pollution will hurt minorities more than it will hurt white people. 

According to research by <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/09/behind-trumps-victory-divisions-by-race-gender-education/">Pew</a>, white non-Hispanic voters favored Trump of Clinton by 21 percentage points, while 80% of black voters favored Clinton compared to the 8% who voted Trump.  Trump also won more supporters without college education; college graduates voting Clinton by a 9% margin. With numbers like these it’s easy to see why Trump and the EPA under his command would care less about people of color.  Trump might say to himself what he once said to black voters, “What do you have to lose?” Indeed Trump, a wealthy white man will certainly not pay the direct environmental cost of his policies nor will his appointees in the EPA; they have nothing to lose and everything to gain from industrial pollution.  

<a href="https://thinkprogress.org/pruitt-epa-utah-oil-gas-744aa492627e/">ThinkProgress</a> reported earlier this month how an energy lobbying firm set up a phone call between Pruitt and Utah lawmakers.  Part of the discussion was air pollution over tribal land in the Uinta Basin, where regulations were likely to restrict further oil and gas drilling.  After the call, the EPA signed amendments to regulations for natural gas emissions on tribal lands, allowing more drilling to continue.

When Wheeler was waiting for confirmation as the deputy director of the EPA, he attended a meeting related to the shrinking of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/canyon-tree-frogs-bears/">Bear’s Ears National Monument</a> as a lobbyist along with an executive for a uranium mining firm working adjacent to the monument.  It’s important to bear in mind that Bear’s Ears was promoted by four Native American tribes with historic claim to the area.  

With a history like Wheeler’s it seems likely that we will face continued injustice and a harder time breathing well into the future under the new head of the EPA.                                   

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Wheeler likely to continue environmental injustice as head of EPA

As we reported, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) head Scott Pruitt...

A team of Chinese scientists has developed a plan to store liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) below the ocean floor. According to the researchers, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/urban-forests-store-co2/">CO2</a> could form hydrates that would prevent the reserve from leaking out into the sea.

The team tested the model under 22 different simulated scenarios that accounted for variations in temperature and pressure. 

Previous research has shown that liquid CO2 can promote the production of hydrates in conditions with high pressure and low temperatures. The experts explained that these hydrates could create a sealed barrier to secure the CO2 beneath the seabed.

This is one of many carbon capture and storage strategies that have been proposed to combat global warming. While this is not the first time that this particular method of carbon sequestration has been explored, the new study may resolve some of the complications that were identified in previous research.

“CO2’s buoyancy has posed problems, as it can escape back into the ocean and atmosphere through pathways within the sediments,” wrote the study authors.

“The results show that low buoyancy and high viscosity slow down the ascending plume and the forming of the hydrate cap effectively reduces permeability and finally becomes an impermeable seal, thus limiting the movement of CO2 toward the seafloor.”

The researchers said that the liquid and hydrate CO2 would eventually dissolve into pore fluids. The team has found that cold temperatures and deeper injection are critical to the success of their technique.

“Under a deep-sea setting, the high density and viscosity of CO2 result in a small footprint and, thus, high storage efficiency,” said the researchers. “This ensures great storage potential due to the wide distribution of deep-sea sediments globally.”

“Compared with terrestrial sequestration, less lateral expansion reduces the possibility of CO2 reaching a potential permeable pathway to the seafloor. The generation of a hydrate cap and the possible negative buoyancy make this option free from reliance on the caprock in terrestrial storage. In our assumption, the unconsolidated marine sediment is intact.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New carbon storage method would bury CO2 beneath the ocean floor

A team of Chinese scientists has developed a plan to...

Spending time in the great outdoors can lift your mood. Now, researchers believe time in green spaces can improve your health, too.

A new study led by Dr. Caoimhe Twohig-Bennett of <a href="http://www.uea.ac.uk/medicine">Norwich Medical School</a> has found that being exposed to green spaces can have a number of different health benefits, including reducing the risk of disorders like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, pre-term birth and high blood pressure, among others.

The team of researchers analyzed more than 140 studies from throughout the world to determine whether time in the great outdoors really offers a boost to health. They defined green spaces as both open rural land and parkland in cities and urban areas.

"Spending time in nature certainly makes us feel healthier, but until now the impact on our long-term wellbeing hasn't been fully understood,” Twohig-Bennett said.

They discovered that people who live near green spaces or spend a lot of time in them also tend to get better sleep and have fewer physical symptoms of stress.

"Forest bathing is already really popular as a therapy in Japan – with participants spending time in the forest either sitting or lying down, or just walking around. Our study shows that perhaps they have the right idea!” Twohig-Bennett said.

While there’s plenty of research showing the health benefits of visiting nature, the researchers don’t yet know why it has such a relaxing and healing effect on humans.

"People living near green space likely have more opportunities for physical activity and socializing. Meanwhile, exposure to a diverse variety of bacteria present in natural areas may also have benefits for the immune system and reduce inflammation,” she said.

More research is needed to test these ideas. Still, the researchers hope that the health benefits will encourage more people to spend time outside.

The systematic review and analysis has been published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environmental-research">Environmental Research</a>.

—

By Kyla Cathey, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Spending time in green spaces is good for your health

Spending time in the great outdoors can lift your mood....

A new study has shown that inhaling formaldehyde vapor could raise the risk of certain cancer, sources from the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/">Environmental Protection Agency</a> have told the news site <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/06/epa-formaldehyde-warnings-blocked-696628">Politico</a>.

But agency leaders are not releasing a draft of the assessment, completed before President Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2017, the two sources – one former one current EPA employee – told Politico.

According to the two sources, key agency officials have blocked briefings about the study that would allow it to move closer to release. 

"They're stonewalling every step of the way," the current official said.

Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring chemical, but it is also used in industrial resins used to treat particle board and in other material coatings, along with other common household items. 

In 2011, the <a href="https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/">National Toxicology Program</a> described formaldehyde vapor as “known to be a human carcinogen,” based on reports by organizations including the <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/">U.S. Department of Health and Human Services</a> and the <a href="https://www.iarc.fr/">International Agency for Research on Cancer</a>. Other studies have also <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chemicals-shampoo-liquor-cancer/">linked formaldehyde to cancer</a>.

According to Politico’s sources, who were not named, the new report links inhaling formaldehyde vapor to leukemia and nasopharyngeal cancer. But the sources allege that Trump-appointed officials – including agency chief of staff Ryan Jackson, as well as Richard Yamada with the EPA Office of Research and Development – have purposely delayed the new report’s release to undermine the EPA’s research.

EPA officials have denied the accusation.

"Mr. Yamada and Mr. Jackson have not cancelled briefings on assessments or during the [Integrated Risk Information System] process, and in fact have requested briefings," an EPA spokesman said in a statement to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/">CNN</a>.

Another EPA official said that the study includes thousands of pages of information currently being analyzed by scientists.

But two U.S. Senators, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Ed Markey of Massachusetts, said that their inquiries into the study’s progress have gone unanswered.

"Delaying the EPA's latest assessment of the health risks of formaldehyde only further endangers the public's health. The EPA should move past politics and focus on its job of protecting Americans' health,” Markey told CNN.

—

By Kyla Cathey, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Politico: EPA blocking report that links formaldehyde vapor, cancer

A new study has shown that inhaling formaldehyde vapor could...

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.



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter 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://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
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Probiotics - beneficial microbes that balance gut bacteria and aid digestion - are typically fragile and can be destroyed by stomach acid or processing. 



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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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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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[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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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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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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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

[sendtonews key="Ccjk8KEMzv-2550719-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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



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Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

[sendtonews key="gRpsplpwpe-2251464-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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NASA monitors giant dust storms on Mars

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz

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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Kangerlussuaq Glacier on the Greenland ice sheet

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Ocean heat influences regional climate

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



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



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



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



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



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



Image/ Video Credit: ESA



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

Monitoring the dynamic shape of the sea surface

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