A new study of frontline employees in Arizona reveals that firefighters carry the greatest load of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their blood, while health care personnel also show moderate but notable elevations. The findings point to unseen hazards in everyday work gear and environments.



The investigation, led by scientists at the <a href="https://healthsciences.arizona.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Arizona Health Sciences</a>, compared blood samples from nearly 2,000 adults in firefighting, health care, and other essential occupations to learn how job duties shape chemical exposure.



PFAS are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-filtration-system-removes-forever-chemicals-from-water/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human-made compounds</a> prized for stain, water, and flame resistance. They coat cookware, clothing, carpets, packaging, and industrial foams. Because their molecular bonds are hard to break, the chemicals linger in air, soil, and water for decades and build up in living tissues.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-firefighters-exposure-to-forever-chemicals">Firefighters' exposure to forever chemicals</h2>



The researchers measured serum PFAS concentrations in 280 firefighters, 787 health care workers, and 734 employees from other trades. Blood was collected between 2018 and 2021. 



For most workers, PFAS totals declined by six to 17 percent each year, yet measurable levels remained in every group by the study’s end. Firefighters topped the charts for several compounds, including PFHxS, Sm-PFOS, n-PFOS, and PFHpS. 



Health care workers ranked second overall and showed higher odds of two PFAS - Sb-PFOA and PFDoA - when compared with peers in other fields. They also had modest rises in PFHpS and PFUnA.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clues-from-previous-research"><a></a>Clues from previous research</h2>



Study senior author Kate Ellingson is an associate professor at the <a href="https://publichealth.arizona.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health</a>.



“Our study reinforces previous research showing elevated PFAS levels among firefighters and suggests that health care workers may have unique sources of PFAS exposure as well,” said Ellingson.



“Our findings underscore the need to understand occupational exposure pathways for PFAS among different types of workers.”



Firefighters have long been flagged for exposure because their protective clothing and the foams used to quench fuel fires contain PFAS. 



Less is known about how nurses, surgeons, or technicians come into contact with the chemicals. Single-use gowns, surgical masks, sterile wraps, and even X-ray film may contribute, but few studies have investigated those items.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-risks-linked-to-forever-chemicals">Health risks linked to forever chemicals </h2>



Study co-author Jeff Burgess is the director of the <a href="https://publichealth.arizona.edu/about/centers-institutes/center-firefighter-health-collaborative-research" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Center for Firefighter Health Collaborative Research</a>.



“Almost all adults in the U.S. have detectable levels of certain PFAS, and people in occupations with more frequent exposure to PFAS-containing materials have been shown to exhibit higher serum concentrations of some PFAS,” said Burgess. 



“Research into occupational exposure to PFAS is vital to reduce the health risks associated with PFAS, including but not limited to increases in rates of certain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forever-chemicals-in-tap-water-increase-cancer-risk-by-up-to-33/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cancers</a>, increases in cholesterol levels, lower antibody response to certain immunizations, and increased rates of certain adverse reproductive outcomes.”



Although scientists are still mapping dose-response relationships, mounting evidence ties long-term PFAS exposure to thyroid dysfunction, immune suppression, and reproductive harm, as well as kidney, prostate, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/surprising-link-between-elephant-testicle-temperature-and-cancer-resistance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">testicular cancers</a>. That makes the new data especially relevant for workers who already confront other job-related dangers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pfas-in-health-care-settings">PFAS in health care settings</h2>



“To date, PFAS exposure in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-space-agencies-can-help-address-healthcare-challenges/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">health care</a> settings has not been widely studied, and the potential sources of exposure remain unclear,” Ellingson said. He also noted that single-use surgical masks, surgical gowns, and X-ray film could be potential sources of PFAS exposure.



“Therefore, it’s important to further examine specific exposure routes and health consequences for firefighters and health care workers.”



The researchers suggest that manufacturers, hospitals, and fire departments audit supply chains to identify products treated with PFAS. Substituting safer materials where possible - and improving decontamination practices when replacement is not feasible - could lower cumulative dose.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-avoiding-pfas-exposure">Avoiding PFAS exposure</h2>



Many PFAS formulas have been phased out in the United States, yet older stockpiles and imported goods keep the chemicals in circulation. 



The authors call for expanded monitoring of occupational exposures, stronger regulation of PFAS in consumer products and more public funding for exposure-reduction programs.



They also urge longitudinal studies to track how changing equipment or policies alters blood levels over time. Because PFAS can stay in the body for years, measuring declines after interventions will help pinpoint which strategies work best.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemical-exposure-beyond-firefighters">Chemical exposure beyond firefighters </h2>



The Arizona results echo national surveys showing widespread but uneven PFAS contamination. They also highlight chemical exposure gaps: firefighters remain the most researched group, while other frontline roles - from paramedics to factory workers - receive far less attention.



By bringing health care personnel into the spotlight, the new study widens the search for hidden chemical risks at work. As communities push to remove PFAS from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/snow-droughts-could-quadruple-by-2100-harming-water-supplies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">water supplies</a> and household goods, understanding workplace exposures becomes equally urgent.



The current findings provide a starting map - and a reminder that protecting those who protect the rest of us means looking beyond the obvious dangers of heat, smoke, and infection to the quieter threat of “forever chemicals.”



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-025-00753-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Exposure Science &amp; Environmental Epidemiology</a>.



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Firefighters face elevated exposure to forever chemicals

A new study of frontline employees in Arizona reveals that firefighters carry the greatest load of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their blood, while health care personnel also show moderate but notable elevations. The findings point to unseen hazards in everyday work gear and environments. The investigation, led by scientists at the University of Arizona Health Sciences, compared blood samples from nearly 2,000 adults in firefighting, health care, and other essential occupations to learn how job duties shape chemical exposure. PFAS are human-made compounds prized for...

An exciting new development in the field of particle physics has revealed new information about neutrinos.

It has long been thought that neutrinos could pass through anything because of how small they are. For example, nearly 100 trillion neutrinos pass through your body every second.

But now, a new study discovered that the Earth stops high energy neutrinos in their tracks. 

The study was conducted by researchers from the<a href="http://www.lbl.gov/"> Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory</a> (Berkeley Lab) and the <a href="http://berkeley.edu/">University of California-Berkeley</a>.

The researchers used a collection of sensors located deep within a section of clear ice near the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/north-south-poles-warm/">South Pole</a> called the IceCube detector. 

The IceCube works by measuring flashes of blue light radiation which is emitted by muons (fast-moving charged particles). These flashes occur only when the neutrinos interact with the ice. 

For the study, the researchers observed the IceCube detector for one year and gathered data on approximately 10,800 neutrino-related interactions. The energy of the neutrinos was also a factor in the study’s analysis and the interactions that were used for the study had energies of at least one trillion electron volts.

The results showed that the higher the energy of the neutrinos, the less likely that they would make it all the way through the Earth to the IceCube detector.

This is the first-time researchers have been able to measure the Earth’s absorption of neutrinos. 

“IceCube was built to both explore the frontiers of physics and, in doing so, possibly challenge existing perceptions of the nature of the universe,” said James Whitmore, the program director in the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation's</a> physics division. “This new finding and others yet to come are in that spirit of scientific discovery.” 

The researchers are excited about their findings and hope to expand their work to examine neutrinos that have even higher energies. There is even talk of building a bigger IceCube detector in the future. 

“Neutrinos have quite a well-earned reputation of surprising us with their behavior," said Darren Grant, spokesperson for the IceCube Collaboration and a professor of physics at the <a href="https://www.ualberta.ca/">University of Alberta in Canada</a>. “It is incredibly exciting to see this first measurement and the potential it holds for future precision tests.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The Earth absorbs high-energy neutrinos

An exciting new development in the field of particle physics...

A recent study has found that the harmful health effects of living in a nuclear contaminated area are comparable to the health impacts of air pollution in some major cities. The authors of the study suggest that relocating from a nuclear disaster site may not even be necessary when staying in the area “would be no worse than living in London.”

Previous research has demonstrated that people who live in a nuclear contaminated area have a lower life expectancy by several months and an increased risk of developing cancer. The authors of the current study say that people who live in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-sperm-quality/">polluted</a> cities such as London have similar health risks.

A research team led by the <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a> set out to determine how many people would need to be relocated in the event of a nuclear accident in London. In order to do this, they simulated a hypothetical disaster in West Sussex based on data from the 2011 Fukushima incident in Japan. 

Using Public Health England’s emergency plans for a nuclear disaster, they predicted the safety measures that would need to be taken. The study revealed that 44,000 residents would be moved out of the area temporarily. In addition, 360,000 people would be provided with anti-radiation drugs, while 410,000 residents would be cautioned to stay indoors.

The experts estimated that the accident would cause 1,500 cases of cancer, 500 of which would be terminal. Despite the enormity of the theoretical disaster’s impacts, however, the researchers calculated that only 620 people would need to be permanently relocated. Furthermore, radiation levels would drop below what people in the United Kingdom are exposed to naturally within three months.

After applying this model to the Fukushima incident, the researchers found that it was unnecessary for Japanese authorities to relocate all 111,000 people that were moved. When the simulation was applied to the nuclear accident at Chernobyl, the experts estimated that at least 70,000 people who were relocated could have stayed. 

In an<a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nuclear-disaster-fallout-would-be-no-worse-than-living-in-london-706w9xc6h"> interview</a> with <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/">The Times</a>, study co-author Professor Philip Thomas said that Japanese and Soviet authorities overreacted after these events. He said, “Very few people are properly aware of just how relatively small the risks of nuclear power are, even after a big nuclear accident has happened, never mind how rare that event might be.”

According to the study, the 900 people faced with the greatest radiation threat in Chernobyl would have only risked three months of life expectancy by staying. To put this in perspective, the researchers determined that the average resident of London loses 4.5 months of life expectancy due to air pollution. In central London, average levels of fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) are almost double what the World Health Organization recommends as safe.

Professor Thomas added, “Mass relocation is expensive and disruptive. But it is in danger of becoming established as the prime policy choice after a big nuclear accident. It should not be. Remediation should be the watchword for the decision maker, not relocation.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/process-safety-and-environmental-protection">Process Safety and Environmental Protection</a>.

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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

Heavy air pollution can be as harmful as nuclear contamination

A recent study has found that the harmful health effects...

Researchers from <a href="http://www.ox.ac.uk/">Oxford University</a> are emphasizing that the value of water cannot be measured. The team has developed a new framework to value water for the Sustainable Development Goals, which they have published in the journal <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>. Their report highlights the increasing need for water management both locally and globally, and proposes a plan for better policy and practices.

The urgent need to re-evaluate the importance of water is due to a number of reasons. 

The study authors write, “Water is not just about sustaining life, it plays a vital role in sustainable development. Water's value is evident in all of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, from poverty alleviation and ending hunger, where the connection is long recognised - to sustainable cities and peace and justice, where the complex impacts of water are only now being fully appreciated.”

The researchers also point out that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hot-water-freezes-faster-cold-water/">water</a> security is now a global concern that is growing more serious. 

They explain, “The negative impacts of water shortages, flooding and pollution have placed water related risks among the top 5 global threats by the World Economic Forum for several years running. In 2015, Oxford-led research on water security quantified expected losses from water shortages, inadequate water supply and sanitation and flooding at approximately $500B USD annually.” 

According to the World Bank, “the cost of a drought in cities is four times greater than a flood, and a single drought in rural Africa can ignite a chain of deprivation and poverty across generations.”

The <a href="https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/HLPWater">UN High Level Panel on Water</a> has launched a new strategy on “Valuing Water,” and the growing consensus is that the profit of water is beyond monetary value. With this in mind, governments need to look at valuing water as a challenge that requires investment in better policies going forward.

The study authors suggest that water management must be focused on four priorities: measurement, valuation, trade-offs, and capable institutions for allocating and financing water. Dustin Garrick is the lead author of the study.

"Our paper responds to a global call to action: the cascading negative impacts of scarcity, shocks and inadequate water services underscore the need to value water better,” says Garrick. “There may not be any silver bullets, but there are clear steps to take. We argue that valuing water is fundamentally about navigating trade-offs. The objective of our research is to show why we need to rethink the value of water, and how to go about it, by leveraging technology, science and incentives to punch through stubborn governance barriers. Valuing water requires that we value institutions."

Study co-author Richard Damania explains,"Current water management policies are outdated and unsuited to addressing the water related challenges of the 21st century. Without policies to allocate finite supplies of water more efficiently, control the burgeoning demand for water and reduce wastage, water stress will intensify where water is already scarce and spread to regions of the world - with impacts on economic growth and the development of water-stressed nations."

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Experts warn that humans take water for granted

Researchers from Oxford University are emphasizing that the value of...

Sediment from the floor of the North Atlantic Ocean is giving scientists insight into hundreds of years of climate change in Europe. This unprecedented discovery is allowing researchers to assemble a climate record that dates back 3,000 years.

The research team analyzed the shells of plankton and grains buried deep in the sediment to build a model of past ocean conditions. They compared this data to records of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-europe-drought/">Europe’s</a> climate history, focusing on when the temperatures were above or below average. 

"Our study shows the importance of the ocean on our climate and how this has naturally varied in the past when ocean measurements were not available,” explained study co-author Ian Hall. “ We've been able to link our results to historical records and provide an explanation behind some of the significant effects that the climate has had on the European population."

Dr. Paola Moffa-Sanchez from <a href="https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/">Cardiff University</a>'s School of Earth and Ocean Sciences led the study.

"Seawater can hold more heat than the air, so it can act like a large storage heater,” explained Dr. Moffa-Sanchez. “As such, the oceans can store and transport vast amounts of heat and are hence key for modulating our climate. Interestingly, we find changes in the circulation and distribution of waters in the North Atlantic which would have impacted the transport of heat to Europe.” 

The research team discovered that icy cold waters which flowed into the North Atlantic from the Arctic Sea most likely altered circulation patterns and slowed down currents that bring heat to Europe. For example, the Little Ice Age, a time period from 1300-1850 that was notoriously cold, was linked to the slowing down of North Atlantic currents. 

The team found that reduced ocean currents caused exceptionally cold weather in the 6th century as well, which led to crop failures and famine worldwide.

"Recently, because of our human influenced warmer climate, the Atlantic is receiving more freshwater from melting Arctic ice, which is in turn affecting the movement of the waters in the North Atlantic,” said Professor Hall. “Future changes in ocean circulation are likely to be felt within the pattern of climate change in Europe."

The study is published in <a href="http://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

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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

Europe’s secret climate change uncovered deep in the ocean

Sediment from the floor of the North Atlantic Ocean is...

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.awi.de/en.html">Alfred Wegener Research Institute</a> in Germany have documented what is quite possibly the world’s largest floating trash dump that extends far into the depths of the sea. The enormous pile of plastic waste was discovered in the Arctic Ocean north of Russia and Norway.

The debris, which was found as far as 8,000 feet below the ocean’s surface, included plastic bags and fishing nets. The amount of plastic waste that has accumulated in the Barents Sea region of the Arctic is estimated to be 20 times more than the amount calculated ten years ago.

The trash was documented at two polar research stations between Norway and the North Pole. In one region, the amount of debris had climbed from 346 pieces per square kilometer in 2004 to 6,333 pieces of waste per square kilometer in 2014.

The scientists monitored underwater at depths of over 8,000 feet using an Ocean Floor Observation System(OFOS). The OFOS uses cameras suspended just above the seafloor that capture images every 30 seconds.

The researchers fear that this region is now the world’s biggest aquatic waste dump, and they warn that this poses a major threat to marine life. The research team explained that the data is comparable to one of the “highest litter densities ever reported,” which was off the eastern coast of Spain.

“We should be very concerned,” said study co-author Dr. Melanie Bergmann. “What’s happening in the Arctic, the plastic rubbish there, has been produced by us.”

The findings of the study are published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/deep-sea-research-part-i-oceanographic-research-papers">Deep-Sea Research Part 1</a>.

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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

World’s largest pile of trash found floating in the Arctic Ocean

Researchers from the Alfred Wegener Research Institute in Germany have...

When we think of pollution, it’s not often that we consider light to be in that category. But in fact, artificial light is considered an environmental pollutant, as it throws off <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-bird-seasonal-clocks/">circadian rhythms</a> and threatens nocturnal animals, plants and microorganisms. Now, an international study published in the journal <a href="http://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</a> finds that artificial lights are increasing “loss of night,” with the effects particularly strong in certain nations.

In order to determine whether the use of outdoor light is continuing to grow exponentially, Christopher Kyba and colleagues analyzed data acquired by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer (VIIRS), which is a satellite sensor with a spatial resolution of 750 meters. Through this analysis, they determined that the Earth’s artificially lit outdoor areas grew by over 2 percent (2.2%) per year from 2012 to 2016.

Data showed that these lighting changes were highly variable between countries – some nations greatly exceeded the global rate, while a few experienced decreases in radiance. Two of the countries that had these decreases are Yemen and Syria, which are currently in turmoil with widespread war.

In the world’s brightest nations (referring to light, not necessarily intelligence) such as the United States and Spain, the radiance levels remained stable. In South America, Africa, and Asia, most nations experienced growth in artificial light. Overall, these results show that the global demand for outdoor nighttime light has yet to be met. Furthermore, despite the increases in solid-state lighting (such as LEDs), short-term decreases in related energy consumption appear unlikely.

The researchers also note that the growth in nighttime light from 2012 to 2016 were a close match to the global rise in gross domestic product (GDP). They believe that this finding suggests that access to solid-state lighting does not decrease global energy consumption for outdoor light, which has been an international goal.

These increases – and projections of further increases – in artificial light have significance for everything from our economic policies to our environmental policies. While discovering what areas are experiencing the greatest effects is key, determining how to lessen these effects will be crucial.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Artificial lights could cause “loss of night” in some places

When we think of pollution, it’s not often that we...

Researchers have found that a rise in temperatures due to global warming causes more frequent emissions from methane bubbles. When these methane bubbles burst, they release <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-chip-methane-emissions/">methane gas</a> into the atmosphere that contributes to climate change.

“Never before have such unequivocal, strong relationships between temperature and emissions of methane bubbles been shown on such a wide, continent-spanning scale,” said study co-author Sarian Kosten of <a href="http://www.ru.nl/english/">Radboud University</a>.

The study closely examined the impacts of aquatic environments on greenhouse gas emissions, focusing on shallow lakes, ponds, rivers, and wetlands. These marine environments are responsible for a substantial amount of emissions, much of which comes from methane bubbles. 

These bubbles filled with methane gas develop in the sediment at the bottom of bodies of water. When the bubbles reach the surface, the gas is released into the atmosphere.

The international research team collaborated with researchers at <a href="https://nioo.knaw.nl/en">Netherlands Institute of Ecology</a> (NIOO-KNAW) for a massive experiment. First, they collected existing data on methane bubbles, ranging from forest ponds in Canada to postglacial lakes in northern Sweden. 

"Next, we simulated methane bubble production in 1000-litre 'mini-lakes' at the NIOO, where we could accurately control temperature and other conditions," said co-author Ralf Aben. "In this way we excluded causes other than the rise in temperature."

The scientists used open tanks filled with water and sediment to mimic an annual cycle. Four tanks had an average Dutch climate, while four other tanks contained temperatures which were up to 4 degrees Celsius higher than average. 

The researchers found that the higher temperatures led to 50 percent higher emission of methane bubbles. They estimated that a temperature rise of 1 degree Celsius caused up to 20 percent higher methane emission. This leads to additional greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and to an additional temperature increase.

Methane is produced more frequently in nutrient-rich sediments, which means that methane production can be slowed down by reducing the amount of fertilizer being used. 

The experts say that global warming will not be easy to stop, but that it is still possible.

"Every tonne of greenhouse gas that we emit leads to additional emissions from natural sources such as methane bubbles," said Kosten. "Luckily, the opposite is also true: if we emit less greenhouse gas and the temperature drops, we gain a bonus in the form of less methane production. This bonus from nature should be our motivation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions even further."

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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

Global warming causing more methane bubbles in water bodies

Researchers have found that a rise in temperatures due to...

A new study published in <a href="http://oem.bmj.com/">Occupational &amp; Environmental Medicine</a> has revealed that air pollution may lead to poorer quality sperm. The researchers found that levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) noticeably affect the health of sperm.

Previous research has suggested that exposure to chemicals may worsen sperm quality, but an association with air pollution has not yet been established. An international team of researchers set out to explore a possible link between exposure to PM2.5 and sperm health.

The researchers focused their study on approximately 6,500 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/men-harder-quitting-drinking/">men</a> in Taiwan between the ages of 15 and 49. The men were all involved in a medical examination program from 2001-2014. During this time, their sperm quality was assessed including total numbers, size, and movement.

Using a new mathematical approach combined with NASA satellite data, the research team estimated PM2.5 levels at each man's home address for an average of two years. The researchers found a strong association between PM2.5 exposure and abnormal sperm shape. 

After taking into account other factors such as age, weight, and alcohol consumption, the experts determined that exposure to PM2.5 gave the men a 26 percent higher chance of being in the bottom 10 percent of normal sperm shape and size.

On the other hand, PM2.5 exposure was also associated with an increase in sperm numbers. The researchers believe this may be the body's way of compensating for the negative effects of air pollution on sperm size and shape.

Because this is an observational study, the findings cannot clearly define cause and effect. However, experimental studies have previously linked components of fine particulate matter such as heavy metals to sperm damage.

"Although the effect estimates are small and the significance might be negligible in a clinical setting, this is an important public health challenge," explained the study authors. "Given the ubiquity of exposure to air pollution, a small effect size of PM2.5 on sperm normal morphology may result in a significant number of couples with infertility.”

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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

Air pollution causes a noticeable decline in sperm quality

A new study published in Occupational &amp; Environmental Medicine has...

The west coast of the United States has long lived in fear of what many call “the big one.” It’s the massive earthquake that could cause widespread devastation and has been warned of by scientists and fictionalized in films like San Andreas. 

For years, many have assumed the big one will take place in <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/predicting-earthquakes-aftershocks/">Southern California</a>, but new research suggests this may not be the case.

A new study has found evidence off the coast of Washington state that the area is primed for a large earthquake, after sea sediment samples were taken from the Cascadia Subduction Zone. 

It is thought that the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which runs along the Pacific Northwest, will generate a major earthquake every 200 to 530 years, but accurately prediction of exactly when and where earthquakes will occur is impossible. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.utexas.edu/">University of Texas at Austin</a>, who led the study, found that a sizable earthquake is likely to strike off the coast of Washington and Northern Oregon. 

For the study, the researchers examined up to four miles of sediment layers using sediment samples. The researchers also used seismic data to correlate with their sediment findings. 

The sediment samples showed that the sediments were tightly packed together in the layers on top of the Cascadia Subduction Zone. 

This is a major warning sign for earthquakes because as tectonic plates shift, they produce a great deal of stress and friction. When sediments are packed together on top of the plates, it only increases stress while the plates shift. 

The sediments are packed down off the coast of Washington and are looser in other areas along the Subduction Zone, which leads the researchers to believe that an earthquake is more likely to occur off the coast of Washington State. 

“We observed very compact sediments offshore of Washington and northern Oregon that could support earthquake rupture over a long distance and close to the trench, which increases both earthquake and tsunami hazards,” said Shuoshuo Han, the lead author of the study.

The results of the study show that an earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone may be imminent, but is more likely to strike off the coast of Washington. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Super earthquake could actually occur off the coast of Washington

The west coast of the United States has long lived...

Despite the rapid pace of technology, humans still have an internal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-bird-seasonal-clocks/">biological clock</a> that helps us adapt to different environmental cues, such as daylight. And while many of us live in environments now dominated by artificial light that continue to hustle and bustle long after dark, scientists have found that the dynamics of sunrise and sunset still influence our daily activities.

In today’s cities, our biological clocks must work alongside our “social clock” of day-to-day activities, such work, leisure, and school. 

“How does the daily rhythm of humans pan out under the simultaneous ticking of these two clocks?” asks Daniel Monsivais, the study’s lead author and a professor at <a href="http://sci.aalto.fi/en/">Aalto University School of Science</a>, Finland. This is the question he and his colleagues attempt to answer using a novel technique called “reality mining,” where patterns of human activity are analyzed using wireless devices.

For the study, the researchers looked through anonymous records of call times from roughly one million mobile phone users in a southern European country (the country also remained anonymous for the study). Through these records, they inferred each user’s sleep/wake cycle by determining daily periods when their calling activity started and ended.

Surprisingly, the results showed that the timing of the sunrise and sunset at an individual’s respective longitude still had an effect on the start and end of their daily activities. Furthermore, the seasonal variations in sunset and sunrise times followed closely the changes in the timing of a user’s daily activity.

Among these results, the researchers also found that duration of sleep varied with age and women tended to sleep more than men – which has been confirmed by previous studies. 

“The next step in our study is to use this type of big data approach to understand the difference in behavior between urban and rural populations, as it pertains to the role of social and biological clocks in their daily routines,” says Monsivais.

These findings may have implications not only for human health, but for the economy, power consumption, and public transportation as well. 

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By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

City life is still dictated by sunrise and sunset

Despite the rapid pace of technology, humans still have an...

Severe summer thunderstorms in North America are projected to become larger and much more frequent in the coming decades. As a result, America will experience up to 80 percent more total rainfall by the end of this century. 

A mesoscale convective system (MCS) is a group of storms that assemble into one large complex. Over the past 35 years, MCS-organized storms have been increasing in both frequency and severity, according to the study authors. 

These major rainfall events result in fatalities and substantial economic losses, causing about $20 billion in damages per year in the United States alone. The scientists explain that MCS-organized storms have been misrepresented in climate models, and so their future projections have been poorly understood.

The research team used high-resolution computer simulations to investigate the impact that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/immigration-america-climate-change/">climate change</a> will have on these large storms. Their projections showed that that these extreme rainfall events will more than triple in North America. The storms will also become larger, soaking huge regions and entire cities at once.

Andreas Prein is a climate scientist at the <a href="https://ncar.ucar.edu/">National Center for Atmospheric Research</a> and lead author of the study.

“We see increases that are beyond our expectations ... far beyond our expectations,” said Prein. “It looks everything that can go wrong does go wrong concerning flooding.”

With the enormity of these storms factored in, the total amount of rainfall in North America will rise at alarming rates by the end of the century. For example, the southern United States will receive 80 percent more rainfall. 

Mexico will see a 70 percent increase in rain, while the southwestern United States is projected to receive 60 percent more rainfall. The remaining regions of the United States and Canada will experience 40 percent more total rainfall by the end of the century.

“You can really think about these storms as rivers that come from the skies,” said Prein. “The largest ones are several times the Mississippi River discharge.”

“This is a warning signal that says the floods of the future are likely to be much greater than what our current infrastructure is designed for,” Prein said. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature">Nature</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Summer storms to become much more severe in the United States

Severe summer thunderstorms in North America are projected to become...

The migration of over 5 million Germans to North America in the 19th century was due largely to climate change, according to a new study. While a century of poverty and war also caused Germans to flee their homeland, researchers have determined that the variable climate played its own role in the massive population shift.

19th century Germany experienced not only extreme weather events such as floods and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-europe-drought/">droughts</a>, but also cold winters and chilly summers. Rüdiger Glaser is a professor at the <a href="https://www.uni-freiburg.de/?set_language=en">University of Freiburg</a> and the lead author of the study.

"Overall, we found that climate indirectly explains up to 20-30% of migration from Southwest Germany to North America in the 19th century," said Glaser.

"Our results show that the influence of climate was marked differently during the different migration waves," added study co-author Iso Himmelsbach.

The team analyzed migration statistics and population data from the 19th century, along with weather data, harvest figures, and cereal-price records. After identifying the most significant migration waves, they investigated how much of a role the climate played in each of the waves.

The first major migration wave was largely driven by a changing climate, after the eruption of the Tambora volcano in Indonesia in 1815. The cloud of ash and gases released into the atmosphere caused temperatures to drop around the world for a few years. The climate was wet and cold with widespread crop failures and famine.

"Another peak-migration year, 1846, had an extremely hot and dry summer leading to bad harvests and high food prices," said study co-author Annette Bösmeier. "These two years of high migration numbers appear to be quite strongly influenced by climate changes, while for other migration waves other circumstances appeared to be more important.”


The researchers found that climate was less of a factor in the largest migration wave, from 1850 to 1855. The Crimean War put pressure on Germany’s grain markets when France banned German food imports, and some of the country’s poorest people were paid to leave to save on welfare and to prevent uprisings.

"Migration in the 19th century was a complex process influenced by multiple factors. Lack of economic perspectives, social pressure, population development, religious and political disputes, warfare, family ties and the promotion of emigration from different sides influenced people's decision to leave their home country," explained Glaser. "Nevertheless, we see clearly that climate was a major factor."

As the world currently anticipates further global climate change and the mass migrations that will result, the research team believes that this study may provide insight into the many factors that influence migration. The research is published in the European Geosciences Union’s open-access journal <a href="https://www.climate-of-the-past.net/">Climate of the Past</a>.

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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

Immigration to America was driven by climate change

The migration of over 5 million Germans to North America...

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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[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



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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



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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

[sendtonews key="6SdlLLbt0t-1988946-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NTU...

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

NASA monitors giant dust storms on Mars

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz

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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Kangerlussuaq Glacier on the Greenland ice sheet

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Ocean heat influences regional climate

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



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



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



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



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



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



Image/ Video Credit: ESA



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

Monitoring the dynamic shape of the sea surface

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