Gold is everywhere - in our phones, computers, medical devices, and satellites. But getting it out of the ground or from discarded electronics usually means dealing with cyanide, mercury, and a lot of toxic waste. 



That’s been the trade-off: valuable metal at a steep environmental cost. But now, researchers at <a href="https://www.flinders.edu.au/">Flinders University</a> in Australia are showing there’s a better way.



The Flinders team, working across green chemistry, engineering, and physics, has developed a safer, more sustainable method to recover gold. 



The method works not only on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-largest-iron-ore-deposits-reveal-a-1-3-billion-year-old-secret/">ore</a>, but also on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/electronic-waste-is-growing-five-times-faster-than-recycling/">electronic waste</a> and even scientific byproducts. Instead of relying on mercury or cyanide, the technique uses materials that are widely available and far less toxic.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extracting-gold-from-e-waste">Extracting gold from e-waste</h2>



At the heart of the method is trichloroisocyanuric acid - a common disinfectant used in pool and water treatment. When mixed with salt water, it becomes a powerful gold extractor. 



Once the gold is dissolved, it’s captured by a sulfur-rich polymer developed by the Flinders team. The polymer binds selectively to gold, even in complex mixtures full of other metals.



Then comes the clever part: the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/everyday-polymers-that-are-considered-safe-release-harmful-toxins/">polymer</a> can be broken down to release the gold and be recycled for future use. This makes the entire process cleaner, safer, and more circular.



“The study featured many innovations including a new and recyclable leaching reagent derived from a compound used to disinfect water,” said Professor Justin Chalker, who leads the Chalker Lab.



“The team also developed an entirely new way to make the polymer sorbent, or the material that binds the gold after extraction into water, using light to initiate the key reaction.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-safer-option-for-small-scale-miners">A safer option for small-scale miners</h2>



The method has already been tested on a wide range of materials, including e-waste, ore concentrates, and mixed-metal scrap. And it's not just a lab experiment. The researchers are planning to scale it up, working with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gold-mining-causes-long-lasting-damage-in-the-amazon-rainforest/">mining</a> companies and recycling facilities to put it into real-world use.



“The aim is to provide effective gold recovery methods that support the many uses of gold, while lessening the impact on the environment and human health,” said Professor Chalker.



This is especially important in small-scale and artisanal mines around the world, where mercury is still widely used to extract gold. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mercury-pollution-in-the-amazon-is-recorded-in-tree-rings/">Mercury pollution</a> from gold mining is one of the leading sources of contamination globally. The team worked with experts in the United States and Peru to test the new method on gold ore, with the goal of offering safer alternatives to these communities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gold-from-a-mound-of-e-waste">Gold from a mound of e-waste </h2>



The researchers aren’t just solving a technical problem. They’re trying to make sure the solution actually fits into real systems -economic, environmental, and social.



“We are especially grateful to our engineering, mining, and philanthropic partners for supporting translation of laboratory discoveries to larger scale demonstrations of the gold recovery techniques,” noted Professor Chalker.



Dr. Max Mann, one of the study's lead authors, highlighted the scale of the problem. “This paper shows that interdisciplinary collaborations are needed to address the world's big problems managing the growing stockpiles of e-waste.”



Dr. Thomas Nicholls noted that the newly developed gold sorbent is made using a sustainable approach in which UV light is used to make the sulfur-rich polymer. He explained that recycling the polymer after the gold has been recovered further increases the green credentials of this method.



“We dived into a mound of e-waste and climbed out with a block of gold! I hope this research inspires impactful solutions to pressing global challenges," said Dr. Harshal Patel.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-path-forward-for-gold-recovery">A path forward for gold recovery</h2>



The work out of Flinders University is more than just a chemistry breakthrough. It’s a potential roadmap for how science can rethink an entire process - replacing toxic practices with something smarter, cleaner, and just as effective.



Dr. Lynn Lisboa connected the project to the bigger picture. “With the ever-growing technological and societal demand for gold, it is increasingly important to develop safe and versatile methods to purify gold from varying sources," she said.



If the new extraction method continues to succeed at larger scales, it could help rewrite how the world mines, recycles, and values one of its most sought-after elements.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-025-01586-w">Nature Sustainability</a>.



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Turning trash into treasure: Scientists are safely extracting gold from e-waste

Gold is everywhere - in our phones, computers, medical devices, and satellites. But getting it out of the ground or from discarded electronics usually means dealing with cyanide, mercury, and a lot of toxic waste. That’s been the trade-off: valuable metal at a steep environmental cost. But now, researchers at Flinders University in Australia are showing there’s a better way. The Flinders team, working across green chemistry, engineering, and physics, has developed a safer, more sustainable method to recover gold. The method works not only on ore,...

Recent research shows that the Earth’s global temperatures in the past decade were warmer than those of the past 11,000 years. 

Researchers from the<a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/"> University of Wyoming</a> ran several climate simulations and found that the Earth's natural climate fluctuations would have actually led to a cooling today without the interference of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-driving-climate-change/">human activity</a>. 

The study was published in the journal Nature and involves climate simulations starting at the beginning of the Holocene, which is our current geological period. 

The Holocene began at the end of the last ice age around 12,000 to 11,500 years ago. 

By running climate simulations, the researchers were able to closely match real temperature data and show how accurate the simulations were at forecasting future temperatures. 

For the study, the researchers collected 642 sediment samples from lakes and ponds across North America. 

Using fossil pollen found within the sediment, the researchers were able to reconstruct temperatures dating back to the beginning of the Holocene. 

“When we collect sediment from the bottom of the lake, we can recognize sequences of plants that grew in a given area based on the shape of the fossil pollen left behind,” said Bryan Shuman, leader of the research. “Because different plants grow at different temperatures, we can constrain what the temperatures were in a given place at a certain time.”

The temperature forecasts were compared to climate models from the<a href="http://www.noaa.gov/"> National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Center_for_Atmospheric_Research">National Center for Atmospheric Research</a> (NCAR). 

The results of the sediment-based simulations were within one-quarter of one degree Fahrenheit of the NCAR models. 

The results show that cooling was the major trend of the Holocene Epoch and that the last decade has been warmer than the past 11,000 years. 

“In the absence of people, the trend would have been cooling,” said Shuman.“The last ten years have, on average, been as warm as a normal one year in 500 warm spell.”

The study reconciles previous climate simulations and models that try and incorporate the recent warming trend basing temperatures on marine and coastal temperatures, which the researchers note are unreliable sources and can skew data. 

The research is also important in that it not only shows climate trends without human interference and greenhouse gas emissions, but could also help predict future climate changes. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The past decade was warmer than the previous 11,000 years

Recent research shows that the Earth’s global temperatures in the...

<a href="https://www.epa.gov/">Environmental Protection Agency</a> (EPA) administrator <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scott-pruitt-doubts-global-warming/">Scott Pruitt</a> has suspended a clean water regulation that was established during the Obama administration just weeks before the directive would have been implemented. 

Suspending the Clean Water Rule, also known as the Waters of the United States rule, was one of President Trump’s top priorities when he took office. The law was intended to keep drinking water safe and to protect vulnerable waterways by limiting the use of chemical fertilizers and other pollutants.

The legislation would have required farmers and landowners to safeguard the streams and tributaries that flow through their property and merge with larger bodies of water. The Clean Water Rule was met with fierce opposition by critics who believed that expanding federal authority to regulate smaller bodies of water would ultimately hurt the economy.

Obama defended the measure, saying that it would “provide the clarity and certainty businesses and industry need about which waters are protected by the Clean Water Act, and it will ensure polluters who knowingly threaten our waters can be held accountable.”

The EPA has now officially filed the necessary documents to suspend the rule for two years while an updated version is drafted, which is expected to be much more lenient and industry-friendly.

Scott Pruitt said in a statement: “Today, E.P.A. is taking action to reduce confusion and provide certainty to America’s farmers and ranchers. The 2015 WOTUS rule developed by the Obama administration will not be applicable for the next two years, while we work through the process of providing long-term regulatory certainty across all 50 states about what waters are subject to federal regulation.”

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) plans to file a lawsuit to lift the suspension, stating that this move by the EPA puts significant water supplies at risk. Jon Devine is the environmental advocacy group’s senior attorney and formerly worked at the Environmental Protection Agency. 

Devine said in a <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/jon-devine/truth-behind-trumps-brazen-attempt-kill-clean-water-rule">blog post</a> that he has witnessed hundreds of federal regulatory actions and yet he has “never seen anything as unlawful and reckless as the Trump administration’s scheme to repeal the Clean Water Rule.”

“After the Clean Water Rule, American families could be more confident that the creeks, ponds, and marshes they use for swimming and fishing - and depend on for drinking water - would not be recklessly polluted and would be cleaned up if they became contaminated,” said Devine.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Clean water rule suspended by the Trump administration

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Scott Pruitt has suspended a...

A new report from <a href="http://next10.org/">Next 10</a> has revealed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/california-water-conservation-benefits/">California</a> can easily reach its target of having 1.5 million electric cars on the road by 2025. In 2017, electric car sales were nearly 30 percent higher than the previous year in California. According to the publication, sales need to improve by just 20 percent each year through 2025 to meet the state's goal.

So far, there have been 350,000 zero-emission vehicles sold in California. The increase in sales has been primarily attributed to the rising demand for electric cars, reduced battery costs, and overall lower pricing.

Last week, California Governor Jerry Brown signed an executive order which set an even more ambitious target of getting 5 million zero-emission vehicles on the state's roads by 2030. The directive also detailed the governor's plans of investing $3.75 billion to bring a quarter million vehicle-charging stations to California by 2025.

Brown pointed out that vehicle emissions contribute 50 percent of the state's harmful greenhouse gases and 80 percent of the pollutants that cause smog.

“This executive order aims to curb carbon pollution from cars and trucks and boost the number of zero-emission vehicles driven in California,” Brown said in a statement. “In addition, the cap-and-trade investments will, in varying degrees, reduce California's carbon footprint and improve the quality of life for all."

Both Britain and France have plans to completely end sales of gasoline and diesel vehicles by 2040 in an effort to curb pollution and carbon emissions, while India is considering a complete transition to electric vehicles by 2032. China is also setting aggressive goals to increase sales of alternative fuel vehicles.

F. Noel Perry is a venture capitalist and philanthropist who founded the non-profit organization Next 10.

“The movement around the globe to move away from gas-powered vehicles is very significant and California is at the center of that,” said Perry. 

The full analysis by Next 10 can be found <a href="http://next10.org/zev">here</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

California plans to hit 1.5 million electric cars by 2025

A new report from Next 10 has revealed that California...

Earth’s magnetic field has shown signs of weakening, which could indicate the poles are about to flip in the not-so-distant future.

A reversal of the poles would cause chaos far beyond throwing your trusty compass out of whack. An event like this could cut out power for months, make modern living exceedingly difficult, and increase exposure to harmful radiation.

Daniel Baker, a director of the <a href="http://lasp.colorado.edu/">Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics</a> at the <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado</a>, released a new report that highlights the possible signs of upcoming reversal.

The poles have flipped before, typically switching places every 200,000 years, but scientists say we are now long overdue for another reversal. 

Earth’s magnetic field is incredibly important. According to the <a href="http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Swarm/Introducing_Swarm">European Space Agency</a>, the field is like a “huge bubble, protecting us from cosmic radiation and charged particles that bombard Earth in solar winds.” 

However the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-magnetic-field-cracked-new-report-reveals/">magnetic field</a> is constantly in flux. North wanders, the poles flip, and recent satellite data from the ESA’s Swarm trio of satellites focused specifically on monitoring the magnetic field shows the field is now weakening significantly. 

The molten iron and nickel in the Earth’s core are draining energy and causing the field to lose strength which is a major indicator that a reversal could happen. 

Author and journalist Alanna Mitchell discusses Baker’s report and her own research in an essay for <a href="https://undark.org/">Undark</a>, suggesting a pole flip is imminent and detailing just what that would mean for life on Earth. 

“Like factions planning a coup, swirling clusters of molten iron and nickel are gathering strength and draining energy from the dipole,” Mitchell writes. “The north magnetic pole is on the run, a sign of enhanced turbulence and unpredictability.” 

Although the scientific community is not expecting an immediate pole reversal, the weakening field among other signs could mean it’s a possibility. 

“At the moment, we cannot accurately determine whether or not the Earth’s field is about to flip,” Colin Forsyth from the<a href="http://www.ucl.ac.uk/mssl"> Mullard Space Science Laboratory at University College London</a> told the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5334421/Earths-magnetic-poles-signs-FLIP.html">Daily Mail</a>.  “We have only been recording the Earth’s field for around 170 years; about 1-15 percent of the time a flip is expected to take.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Are the Earth’s magnetic poles about to flip?

Earth’s magnetic field has shown signs of weakening, which could...

The Trump administration plans to slash the Department of Energy’s renewable energy programs by 72 percent, according to a new report from the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/white-house-seeks-72-percent-cut-to-clean-energy-research-underscoring-administrations-preference-for-fossil-fuelsv/2018/01/31/c2c69350-05f3-11e8-b48c-b07fea957bd5_story.html?utm_term=.93a53e7d7343">Washington Post</a>.

The administration’s new budget for the 2019 fiscal year is will be released next month, and further underscores their commitment to fossil fuels and blatant disregard for the effects of climate change.

Just last night, during his State of the Union address, Trump made mention of what he called “beautiful clean coal,” despite the dirty nature of the rock itself and the damage it causes to the environment. 

As we reported <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trump-confuses-climate-change/">last week</a>, during an interview with Piers Morgan, Trump confused climate change facts in an embarrassing commentary. “There is a cooling, and there’s a heating,” Trump said. “I mean, look, it used to not be climate change, it used to be global warming. That wasn’t working too well because it was getting too cold all over the place.”

Then there was his now-infamous tweet during a January cold spell:

“In the East, it could be the COLDEST New Year’s Eve on record. Perhaps we could use a little bit of that good old Global Warming that our Country, but not other countries, was going to pay TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS to protect against,” <a href="https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/946531657229701120">Trump tweeted</a>. “Bundle up!”

Of course, by this point, few environmentalists are surprised by the president’s lack of information or concern for the health of the Earth. The good news is that Congress will likely revise the the proposed budget to offset some of the deep cuts to renewable energy research. 

In addition, new research has found that the power of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/divestment-fossil-fuels/">divestment</a> from fossil fuels could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the absence of governmental regulation.

--

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Rory Arnold</a>, <a href="http://earth.com/staff">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/white-house-seeks-72-percent-cut-to-clean-energy-research-underscoring-administrations-preference-for-fossil-fuelsv/2018/01/31/c2c69350-05f3-11e8-b48c-b07fea957bd5_story.html?utm_term=.93a53e7d7343">Washington Post</a>

Trump admin aims to cut clean energy research by 72 percent

The Trump administration plans to slash the Department of Energy’s...

A new study has revealed that hydropower dams in the Andes region of the Amazon are disturbing the flow of life within the area's rivers. As a result, many natural and human systems that are supported by these rivers will also suffer.

The findings of the study contradict earlier reports on the the dams, suggesting that their impacts have been underestimated.

At least 30 million people rely on the rivers of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/andes-eastern-amazon-sank/">Andes Amazon</a> for their main sources of food and income. Because of this, the study authors say that greater cooperation in water management processes is extremely important.

Even though the rivers of the Andes Amazon are critical to the region’s economy, the influence of hydropower dams on river connectivity had not been established prior to this study.

A research team led by Elizabeth P. Anderson used satellite imagery along with the locations of dams to examine river fragmentation in Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 

The study revealed that the number of dams that are either operating or under construction have been under-reported, while the footprint of hydropower development has been significantly underestimated.

The researchers found that hydropower dams have affected tributary networks, but have not yet affected river mainstreams. If proposed dams are constructed, however, the impacts will likely become much more widespread.

According to the research team, the migration patterns of freshwater fish will be altered greatly by current and proposed dams, while 100 percent of sediment will be trapped in downstream dams. This will change not only the natural flow of the river, but also the cultural processes of the region.

The study is published in <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
Image Credit: Elizabeth Anderson

Hydropower dams disrupt the environment in the Andes Amazon

A new study has revealed that hydropower dams in the...

The smog-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) are a family of air-polluting chemical compounds. They are key to the formation of ground-level ozone, and contribute to health problems such as heart disease, asthma, and other respiratory issues. NOx is a central component of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-risk-death/">air pollution</a>, which causes 1 in 8 deaths globally according to the World Health Organization.

While fossil fuels have long been known to be a major source of NOx pollution, a previously unknown source has been found to contribute up to 40 percent of the nitrogen oxide emissions in the U.S. state of California, reports a study led by the <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/">University of California, Davis</a>. 

The Central Valley in California is one of the most highly productive agricultural areas in the world, producing about half of the fruits and nuts grown in the United States. But this area is now also home to some of the state’s worst air quality problems, and additionally contains some of the poorest communities in California.

In a study published in the journal <a href="http://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</a>, the researchers compared computer models with data collected from scientific flights over the San Joaquin Valley. The results showed that between 25 and 41 percent of nitrogen oxide emissions come from soils with heavy nitrogen fertilizer applications. 

While it’s important for farmers to continue to use fertilizer in an effort to keep with the demand for these foods, it shouldn’t have to come at the expense of their health or the health of those that live in these regions. “We need to increase the food we’re making,” says lead author Maya Almaraz, a postdoctoral fellow at UC Davis. “We need to do it on the land we have. But we need to do it using improved techniques.”

The authors don’t just identify the problem, they also suggest some potential solutions for reducing nitrogen oxide soil emissions. These suggestions include increasing the use of slow-release fertilizers, which deliver nutrients in a way that more closely resembles nature, and have been show to significantly improve the nitrogen use efficiency of crops as well as reduce nitrogen emissions into the environment. 

Additionally, healthy soil programs that restore carbon in the soil can also help combat climate change, and are also likely to increase nutrient retention and cycling to crops. Precision agriculture practices also help improve efficient use of water and fertilizer.

California also began a program this past year that helps growers work in coalitions to gather information on efficient nitrogen use so they can determine how and where the state should manage nitrogen in agricultural areas. The goal is to reduce nitrate in the groundwater, but it could also have the benefit of reducing NOx emissions.

“Since this source of NOx can remain local, largely in rural farming communities, we need to develop a kind of ‘catalytic converter’ for soils and farms,” explains senior author Ben Houlton, a professor with the UC Davis Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, and director of the John Muir Institute of the Environment. “It’s critical that new policies focus on incentives to bring the latest nutrient management technologies to farms so that growers can produce food more efficiently, increasing their bottom line and improving rural health.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Fertilized soil contributing to pollution and smog in California

The smog-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) are a family of air-polluting...

While 2017 may have been the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/2017-second-hottest-year-2/">second hottest year</a> for surface temperatures, a new study has found that it was the hottest year on record for the world’s oceans. 

The study was conducted by researchers from the <a href="http://english.iap.cas.cn/">Institute of Atmospheric Physics</a> and the <a href="http://english.cas.cn/">Chinese Academy of Science,</a> both based in Beijing. 

The findings show that ocean temperatures are higher than they’ve ever been due to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

As carbon levels in the atmosphere rise, so do global temperatures, and the world’s oceans absorb almost 90 percent of that heat. 

“As such, the global ocean heat content record robustly represents the signature of global warming and is impacted less by weather-related noise and climate variability such as El Niño and La La Niña events,” the researchers wrote.

The team collected ocean temperature data from several different research institutions, including the <a href="http://www.noaa.gov/">NOAA</a>, dating back to the 1950s. They found that it wasn’t until the 1990s that a notable rise in ocean temperatures began to occur.

By having such a broad spectrum of data at hand, the researchers could examine ocean temperatures and factor in outside elements that could drive temperatures besides global warming. For example, ocean temperatures decreased in 2016 as a result of El Niño. 

The researchers also noted that in the upper 2,000 meters of the ocean, temperatures in 2017 were 1.51 x 10^22 Joules warmer than in 2015. 

The study is concerning as it reveals the continued tangible effect of man-made climate change. If the oceans continue to warm, it could cause stronger storms and hurricane seasons, coastal flooding, major calving events and melting sea ice, as well as marine habitat degradation and coral bleaching. 

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

2017 was the hottest year on record for Earth’s oceans

While 2017 may have been the second hottest year for...

Cape Town, South Africa is set to become the first major city in the world to run out of water, and people are taking to social media to find ways to help. The municipal water supply will be mostly turned off on April 12, a dreaded day that is referred to as “Day Zero.” 

The coastal city of <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/cape-town-south-africa/">Cape Town</a> is the second largest urban region in South Africa. The population of Cape Town exploded over the past couple of decades, and has now reached over 4 million people. 

Three of the driest years in almost a century, from 2015-2017, added to the already strained municipal infrastructure. Scientists are attributing this intense drought to man-made climate change, and warn that these events will become more frequent.

Piotr Wolski is a researcher in Climate and Hydrology at the <a href="http://www.uct.ac.za/">University of Cape Town</a>. 

“There is the term of ‘new normal’ being thrown about, and in a way there’s a misconception about what this means,” Wolski told <a href="https://futurism.com/">Futurism</a>. “We’ll still have wet years, and we’ll have to cope with floods. But if these droughts are becoming more severe, more frequent, or longer, you have to make the water supply system a bit more robust, more resilient.”

Over the last week, a social media initiative to donate water to Cape Town has gained incredible momentum. What started out as a request for help on WhatsApp by East London resident Talita van der Heever has now become a full-blown phenomenon. 

“My phone doesn't stop ringing,” van der Heever told <a href="https://www.cnn.com/">CNN</a>. “Every time someone sends me a message on WhatsApp, by the time I finish reading it it's already moved down another 100 messages.”

Drop-off locations were set up in East London and surrounding towns such as Durban and Johannesburg with the help of a disaster-relief charity called <a href="http://www.giftofthegivers.org/">Gift of the Givers</a>.

Teachers, students, farmers, and volunteers all across the country are collecting and transporting water to Cape Town. According to Gift of the Givers chairman Imtiaz Sooliman, donations are now starting to come in from outside of the country as well.

As this inspiring campaign continues to rapidly expand across the globe, a website and Twitter page have been created for the initiative. To make a donation or to see what you can do to help, visit “<a href="http://water4capetown.org/">Water 4 Cape Town</a>.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Cape Town set to run out of water in April

Cape Town, South Africa is set to become the first...

Hydraulic fracturing, or “<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fracking-sites-health-newborns/">fracking</a>,” is a method of oil and gas extraction that has raised concerns over water quality. A team of scientists is now reporting that this controversial process also impacts water quantity by withdrawing millions of gallons of freshwater from nearby streams.

More than 5 million gallons of freshwater is used to fracture one gas well in the United States, which is enough water to fill seven Olympic-size swimming pools. Small streams, which are a major source of water for these operations, provide drinking water and shelter for many threatened marine species. 

Despite the enormous amount of water being used for hydraulic fracturing, little is known about how much water can be sustainably taken from these natural sources. A research team led by Sally Entrekin focused its study on a gas field in Arkansas where more than 5,000 gas wells were drilled between 2004 and 2014 using hydraulic fracturing.


The streams in this particular study region supply drinking water to thousands of people, and are also home to 10 threatened marine species. Based on water usage and stream flow data, the researchers estimated the water stress that hydraulic fracturing might place on the streams. 

The study revealed that freshwater usage for fracking could impact marine life in 7 to 51 percent of the streams, depending on the month. This percentage would drop if 100 percent of the wastewater were recycled, but 3 to 45 percent of the streams could still be affected.

The researchers have determined that improved monitoring and access to water withdrawal data are needed for the protection of the streams.

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/journal/esthag">Environmental Science &amp; Technology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Hydraulic fracturing could have a huge impact on water quality

Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” is a method of oil and...

As heat waves become more frequent due to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trump-confuses-climate-change/">climate change</a>, agricultural regions and urban areas will suffer the most from extreme heat. Researchers at <a href="https://www.ethz.ch/en.html">ETH Zurich</a> are reporting that clever land use combined with reflective surfaces could be a practical and effective approach to combat seasonal heat.

The scientists have developed a strategy based on the different reflective properties of ground surfaces. For example, adding reflective material to roofs and streets has been proven to cool down temperatures. In addition, fields that are left unplowed after harvest are more effective in reflecting sunlight.

Sonia Seneviratne is a professor of Land-Climate Dynamics at ETH and the first author of the study.

“These measures could help to lower extreme temperatures in agricultural regions and densely populated areas by up two to three degrees Celsius,” said Seneviratne.

The study authors explained that these types of methods produce stronger effects as the temperatures grow hotter. The cooling effects only work on a local level and in the short term, but Seneviratne said that the contribution can still be very significant.

The research team used model simulations to examine how radiation management in agricultural and urban areas in North America, Europe, and Asia would affect the climate. They looked at average temperatures, extreme temperatures, and precipitation.

The study showed that these methods would have no influence on average temperatures and would only slightly alter precipitation, but would significantly reduce extreme temperatures. However, this approach was not found to be suitable for Asia, India, and China, where the levels of the crucial monsoon rains decreased in the simulations.

Unlike other proposed climate engineering techniques such as spraying aerosols into the atmosphere, these radiation management strategies have been tested and proven to work.

“Regional radiation management can be effective, but even here, we have to consider any potential effects on food production, biodiversity, CO2 absorption, recreation areas and much more before we can actually implement it,” explained Seneviratne. 

“Even this climate technique is no silver bullet; it's just one potential tool among several others in the battle against climate change.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ngeo/">Nature Geoscience</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Reflective surfaces can help battle upcoming heat waves

As heat waves become more frequent due to climate change,...

In July 2017, the Gulf of Mexico’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dead-zones-coral-reefs/">dead zone</a>, an area with low oxygen levels, reached its largest size ever, <a href="http://www.noaa.gov/media-release/gulf-of-mexico-dead-zone-is-largest-ever-measured">measuring</a> roughly the area of New Jersey. The dead zone is a major cause for concern, as it poses a threat to life in marine ecosystems.

One of the biggest contributors to the dead zone is fertilizer runoff from agricultural operations in the Midwest. Nitrate concentrations from fertilizer make their way into waterways and can get into drinking water and eventually end up in the Gulf of Mexico, further adding to the dead zone. 

Tackling the dead zone and agriculture runoff has been a priority for many researchers, but now, a new study has found a promising solution to the problem. 

The research has found that multiple wetlands, or “wetland complexes” in a watershed, are five times more effective at reducing nitrate levels in waterways than other land management strategies. 

The study, conducted by researchers funded by the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a> and published in the journal Nature Geoscience, emphasizes the importance of wetland restoration and conservation. 

“This study demonstrates that retaining or restoring wetlands in intensively managed agricultural watersheds would reduce nitrate in rivers and improve local water quality, while also reducing nitrate exports to the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic [dead] zone,” said Tom Torgerson, director of the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13535/nsf13535.htm">National Science Foundation Water, Sustainability, and Climate program.</a>

For the study, the researchers collected water samples from over 200 waterways in the Minnesota River Basin over a period of four years. 

The samples were analyzed and compared to geospatial information on land use in the river basin which showed how the wetlands specifically reduced concentrations. 

The researchers discovered that wetlands in a watershed reduce fertilizer runoff, but the arrangement of the wetlands dictates their effectiveness. 

Wetlands are extremely important in flood management and are a vital part of the ecosystem, but wetlands are shrinking in place of agriculture and economic development. 

The study shows that wetlands could be the solution to reducing nitrate concentrations in waterways and need to be preserved, restored and protected. 

“Our work shows that wetland restoration could be one of the most effective methods for improving water quality in the face of climate change and the increasing global demand for food,” said Jacques Finlay, an ecologist at the<a href="https://twin-cities.umn.edu/"> University of Minnesota</a> and a co-author of the study. 

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By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Wetlands are the key to reducing nitrate runoff in waterways

In July 2017, the Gulf of Mexico’s dead zone, an...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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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



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.

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes Earth’s interconnected systems, and how this network is affected by rising temperatures.&nbsp;



During 2020, average global temperatures matched the hottest year on record. The hurricane season was also record-breaking, with many of the storms intensifying at extraordinary speeds. Hot water in the ocean is fuel for hurricanes. The satellite data shows that it's all one interconnected system showing how Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected.



According to NASA, dust swept up from Northern Africa plays a major role in the formation of hurricanes, and is also a key source of fertilization in the Amazon rainforest. As a result of<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/"> climate</a> change, dust plumes are expected to decline, which will have an effect on vegetation far away.&nbsp;



Images from Earth-observing satellites show how the world’s plant life is affected by natural disasters, fires, and deforestation. Satellites also reveal how widespread changes in vegetation impact waterways,&nbsp; the climate, air quality. Satellites communicate by using radio waves to send signals to the antennas on the Earth. "Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. 



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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



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

Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

NASA monitors giant dust storms on Mars

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz

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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Kangerlussuaq Glacier on the Greenland ice sheet

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Ocean heat influences regional climate

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



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



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



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



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



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



Image/ Video Credit: ESA



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

Monitoring the dynamic shape of the sea surface

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