Climate change conversations often focus on dramatic ecosystem collapse such as icebergs shearing off shelves or coral reefs bleaching overnight. These striking images capture our attention. 



But what if the real danger lies elsewhere? Not in the visible collapse - but in ecosystems quietly shifting out of balance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-magnetic-clues-about-ecosystems">Magnetic clues about ecosystems</h2>



A recent study led by Professor John Dearing at the <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a> offers a new perspective. It shows that many ecosystems may collapse quietly, without obvious warning signs. This insight emerges from a surprising source: magnetic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2025-what-were-really-fighting-for/">materials</a>.



Laboratory tests on ferromagnets helped researchers compare how systems respond to stress. 



Simple magnetic structures behaved like lakes turning abruptly green. But more complex ones - like rainforests - shifted gradually. This behavior echoes in nature, revealing how forests or ice sheets might quietly degrade over time.



“Some systems snap. Others sag,” said study co-author Professor Simon Willcock of <a href="https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rothamsted Research</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-ecosystems-collapse-slowly">Many ecosystems collapse slowly</h2>



Traditional tipping point models assume abrupt shifts. But the study challenges that idea using new frameworks like Turing bifurcations. These models suggest that complex systems re-organize in stages. They may remain in partial balance while adjusting to rising stress.



This “soft tipping” aligns with real-world observations. Large <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2025-innovation-takes-the-lead-in-environmental-action/">ecosystems</a> often show slow responses and don’t follow classic tipping behaviors. 



For example, changes in lake water quality often happen linearly. Spatially complex areas like semi-arid landscapes shift in patterns, not dramatic breaks.



Importantly, the study warns against relying solely on early warning signals. These signs - like rising variance - may not appear in complex systems. Instead, change may already be happening silently.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecosystem-collapse-and-recovery">Ecosystem collapse and recovery</h2>



In magnetic systems, changes in domain alignment under stress mirror <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-day-for-biological-diversity-2025-bonding-with-nature/">ecosystem</a> responses. Hard magnetic materials behave like simple systems - they change abruptly. Soft magnetic materials shift incrementally. The same applies to ecological systems.



A table in the study compares magnet terms like “coercive force” with ecological ideas like “tipping point.” These parallels reveal how much energy or stress is needed to push a system into collapse - or recovery.



This analogy also explains why recovery in some systems takes more energy than collapse. In magnets, reversing the field after a collapse takes extra effort. In nature, restoring a damaged ecosystem often requires sustained action and sometimes shock interventions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-slow-changes-are-deceptive">Slow changes are deceptive </h2>



According to the study, the speed at which stress is applied matters as much as its size. A rapid rise in temperature or pollution levels can cause systems to tip sooner. These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-day-2025-a-global-call-to-protect-nature/">systems</a> then show more resistance to recovery.



Magnetic tests support this. When magnetic fields change quickly, domains flip faster and require more force to reverse. Climate models show similar results. Fast warming leaves systems less time to adapt, pushing them closer to collapse.



“Slow changes can be deceptive,” said co-author Professor Roy Thompson.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-subtle-signs-of-ecosystem-collapse">Subtle signs of ecosystem collapse</h2>



Viewing ecosystems at the wrong scale hides early damage. Forests may look healthy overall while many small areas degrade internally. These patches act like magnetic domains - each with its own threshold and response rate.



This fragmented degradation explains why early warnings are rare. It also means policymakers might miss the chance to act in time. Waiting for big, visible signs - like widespread forest death - may be too late.



“Our work suggests we may already be crossing tipping points without realising,” said Dearing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recovery-may-still-be-possible">Recovery may still be possible</h2>



The study offers hope. Systems that collapse gradually may still recover - if we act early. Passive recovery, like letting nature heal itself, might help in some cases. But more often, active measures are needed.



Examples include reintroducing species, removing pollutants, or reshaping collapsed ecosystems. These interventions can push ecosystems back from collapse to a stable state, just like magnetic fields realign domains under the right conditions.



“This work flips the script on climate risk,” said Willcock. “If we wait for ecosystems to scream, we’ll have waited too long. The real danger is in systems that whisper while they fall apart.”



The full study is recently published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/one-earth/fulltext/S2590-3322(25)00184-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">One Earth</a>.



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Some ecosystems collapse quietly without warning signs 

Climate change conversations often focus on dramatic ecosystem collapse such as icebergs shearing off shelves or coral reefs bleaching overnight. These striking images capture our attention. But what if the real danger lies elsewhere? Not in the visible collapse - but in ecosystems quietly shifting out of balance. Magnetic clues about ecosystems A recent study led by Professor John Dearing at the University of Southampton offers a new perspective. It shows that many ecosystems may collapse quietly, without obvious warning signs. This insight emerges from a surprising...

Plants rely on water, sunlight, and nutrients to survive. Nutrients and water are absorbed through the roots and in a process called transpiration, where water from plants changes to vapor and is released into the atmosphere. 

The amount of water a plant needs to thrive depends on the species, the climate, and how much water there is in the soil. 

A new study conducted by researchers from <a href="http://oregonstate.edu/">Oregon State University</a> measured transpiration in plants and discovered the “Goldilocks” climate that allows for maximum rainfall water usage by plants. 

“When you think of water as a resource, transpiration is the total amount of water a plant is able to use,” said Stephen Good a hydrologist at Oregon State and the lead author. “It's the part of the water cycle that is most linked to productivity of plants, ecosystems and agricultural systems. If environments could become more extreme than plants could be less productive.”

The optimal climate, according to the research, is intermediate: not too wet or too dry. Unfortunately these optimal climates are likely to be the most affected by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-ice-storms/">climate change</a>. 

The study was published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution. 

Researchers, led by Good, used models that determined how much rainfall was necessary for plants to thrive and be the most productive. 

First, data was gathered from different landscapes and then the researchers modeled different outcomes using a new mathematical approach to find the perfect climate for optimal rainfall use.

This climate according to Georgianne Moore, a co-author of the study, is the “mesic maximum” or the middle of a curve between two ends of the climate spectrum. 

“We found that the fraction of rainfall an ecosystem can use is largest at intermediate climates," said Good. “We're seeing through climate change that wet landscapes are getting wetter and dry landscapes are getting drier. Ecosystems in both of these types of climate will use less of their rainfall for growth.”

The research is important not only for understanding how much rainfall is optimal for plants, but will also serve conservationists and climate scientists looking to predict how climate change will affect Earth’s resources. 

“It's going to be a wet gets wetter, dry gets drier world,” said Moore. “There could be big consequences, as it will affect forests, grasslands, savannas, and deserts. Scientists can now use the model we have to help make predictions about the future of these plant communities.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Not too dry, not too wet: the perfect climate for plants

Plants rely on water, sunlight, and nutrients to survive. Nutrients...

A UN meeting in Kenya may prove to be the beginning of the end of unloading plastic waste into the ocean. Over 200 countries signed a document to show their support for eliminating ocean dumping.

While the statement is a much-needed step toward major change, no concrete plans have been set forth for the action. Many of the countries did, however, make new commitments to reduce <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crustaceans-ingesting-plastic-ocean/">plastic waste</a>, pledging to take measures such as bans on plastic bags.

Scientists and ambassadors across the globe are hoping the outcome of the meeting will lead to a legally binding treaty. 

Norway's Minister for Climate and Environment, Vidar Helgesen, presided over a UN meeting on plastics and other ocean pollutants earlier this year and has been leading the debate.

Helgeson told <a href="https://www.reuters.com/">Reuters</a>, "There is very strong language in this resolution. We now have an agreement to explore a legally binding instrument and other measures and that will be done at the international level over the next 18 months."

The meeting was organized by the <a href="http://web.unep.org/newscentre/un-declares-war-ocean-plastic">United Nations Environment Programme</a> (UNEP), who reports that more than 8 million tons of plastic makes its way into the ocean each year. UNEP explains that this is “equal to dumping a garbage truck of plastic every minute.”

UNEP also warns that, at the current rate of plastic dumping, the oceans will have more plastic than fish and 99 percent of seabirds will have ingested plastic by the year 2050.

Dr. Li Lin, the Chief Conservation Director of WWF China, told <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news">BBC News</a>, "Today we have seen quite good progress on marine litter and microplastics.”

She added, “We would just like to see this agreement implemented by governments, business, NGOs and consumers as quickly as possible. Because this issue is urgent."

The Clean Seas Campaign is a global UN Environment initiative that was launched in February 2017 with the goal of engaging governments, businesses, and individuals in the fight against pollution in our oceans.

“Marine plastic litter is a rapidly increasing threat to marine life, seafood safety and negatively affects the lives of people in coastal areas all around the world,” said Helgeson. “We encourage every country in the world to join the Clean Seas campaign and develop effective measures to avoid single-use plastic ending up in the environment. Our oceans cannot wait any longer."

To take the Clean Seas pledge and learn more about what you can do to take action against marine pollution, visit the Clean Seas campaign <a href="http://cleanseas.org">homepage</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Over 200 countries agree to end ocean plastic litter

A UN meeting in Kenya may prove to be the...

Dust may seem like just a messy nuisance, but it actually provides vital nutrients to trees in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains, even more so than the bedrock beneath them. 

As most kids are taught in school, trees and plants typically get their nutrients from the soil. Roots buried deep in the Earth absorb important nutrients and water, and photosynthesis provides energy for the plants to grow and thrive. 

But a new study found that certain mountain-top trees, like those in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/sierra-nevada-snowpack-intact/">Sierra Nevada Mountains</a>, depend on windborne dust for nutrients as well. 

The study, conducted by researchers from the <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">University of Wyoming</a> (UW) and published in the journal Science Advances, reveals that the trees receive more than 50 percent of their nutrients from dust compared to nutrients provided in the bedrock. 

Lindsay Arvin, a UW Master's student who led the research, took live pine needle samples from trees in the Sierra Nevada. 

Arvin and her colleagues then processed the samples, testing for nutrients from bedrock and dust. 

“We used two fingerprints to trace the nutrients. Dust has one isotopic fingerprint, and bedrock has another isotopic fingerprint,” said Cliff Riebe, an associate professor in UW’s Department of Geology and Geophysics. “Pine needles show the degree of mixing of the two fingerprints. Soils also show a mix of the two.”

This shows that dust is an essential component of mountain eco-systems no matter the nutrient supply in the bedrock below. 

After the researchers examined nutrients in the Sierra Nevada, they expanded their research to examine the importance of windborne dust in other ecosystems around the world. 

The UW research team used two datasets, a global database of erosion rates and a global model of dust inputs, to test the role of dust as a nutrient provider on a global scale. 

“This combination of previous datasets allows us to see where dust is important in the world,” Riebe says. “One surprising finding is dust may be more important than previously thought in a lot of places, including the Appalachian Mountains and Western Europe.”

The results also shed light on the delicate balance that is Earth’s critical zone. 

Earth’s critical zone supports all terrestrial life on Earth. It extends from the top of the tree canopy to the bedrock below. It’s a complex system of water, soil, rock, and vegetation that make up most of Earth’s ecosystems. 

“This research shows that dust transported in the atmosphere around the world is an important source of nutrients for plants in all environments, even where its contribution isn’t obvious,” said Richard Yuretich, program director for the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=500044">National Science Foundation’s Critical Zone Observatories Program</a>, which funded the study. “Earth maintains its balance, often in surprising ways.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Windborne dust provides nutrients to mountain-top trees

Dust may seem like just a messy nuisance, but it...

Last winter, the state of California experienced more rain from October to February than it had in over 100 years. Marine biologists from the <a href="https://serc.si.edu/">Smithsonian Environmental Research Center</a> have discovered that the record-breaking season took its toll on some marine species in the San Francisco Bay.

"As you get wetter and wetter, there are fewer and fewer [marine] species that can tolerate those conditions," said the study’s lead author, Andrew Chang. 

Chang has been observing invasive species in the San Francisco area since 2000. Chang is particularly interested in aquatic animals like tunicates and bryozoans that grow on boats, docks and fishing equipment. Though some of the creatures are visually stunning, they destroy fishing nets and clog gear.

Chang has noted that some species need the salty water of the bay to survive. When a wet winter sets in and brings large amounts of freshwater into the bay, these types of organisms suffer. 

Extreme changes in the climate like the years of drought in California leading up to the wet winter of 2016 are predicted to become more common with climate change. In the past, scientists have tracked how these shifting weather patterns affect certain species.

Chang and his team examined how San Francisco's fouling community as a whole changed over 13 years of wet, dry, and average weather. The team tracked the growth of these species in Richmond Marina, a mostly saltwater marina in northeastern San Francisco Bay, beginning in 2001. 

The study revealed that when bay waters remained salty during the dry years, the invasive tunicate Ciona robusta dominated. This translucent filter feeder from Asia has invaded five continents, including North America's West Coast. Due to its rapid growth, the species is known for crowding out other species.

When wetter winters occurred, however, the Ciona and similar tunicates were unable to withstand the massive influx of fresh water, and mat-like colonial tunicates and encrusting bryozoans took over in their place.

Chang says that freshwater years reset the system, which will work to the advantage of some invasive species.

"If you're a new invader arriving to San Francisco Bay, for example, what better time to come in than right after a wet winter has killed off most of your potential competitors?" he said.

Chang's team observed a couple of native species that thrived in wet years as well, indicating that wet seasons could be used to benefit native species.

The study is published in <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1365-2486">Global Change Biology</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Rainy winters can shake up marine ecosystems

Last winter, the state of California experienced more rain from...

How do jaguars, hamburgers and border walls relate to each other?

Beef is usually not thought of as sustainable. Yet there has been some progress towards making beef a more sustainable enterprise.

In a world where ‘sustainable’ has become the gold standard of buzz words, we must ask, ‘Is sustainable enough?’ Is sustainable beef good for jaguars? Basically something being sustainable means that it can go on for the long term; however you define ‘long term’. Sustainable beef means it has only sustainable inputs, there aren’t finite resources being used for the creation of your hamburger. Sustainable resources are those like water and sun, resources that aren’t going to run out in the foreseeable future. Things get a little murky here though. If water is being pumped from an aquifer that fills at an extremely slow rate, it becomes a less sustainable source of water. If solar panels are made in an intensively fossil fuel dependent process, they’re less sustainable. Is sustainable enough?

Even in a truly sustainable beef production model, things don’t necessarily bode well for big predators. Long have predators been the bane of the rancher. Wolves were villainized throughout the US partly because they were blamed for cattle death. Wolves and their place in the western US is still incredibly contentious. The place of jaguars in the west is on even rockier terrain than that of wolves.

In 1963 a hunter shot a big cat which he thought was a big bob-cat; it turned out the man had killed a jaguar. The jaguar was heralded as the last jaguar in the US, the end of an era. Since that time, other jaguars have been seen crossing the US Mexico border but no evidence of a US breeding population has been found.

Some say, so what? Jaguars wander into the US occasionally and wander out. Their home is further south, not in most of North America. However, it’s hard to deny that historically the jaguar didn’t have a much larger home range, extending further into the US.

In Mexico as in the US, ranchers do not like jaguars. Jaguars have been poisoned and shot for as long as European cattle have been threatened by the big cats. One jaguar with a radio collar was burned to destroy evidence. Recently I saw hope of that changing. At a talk at a Tucson REI, the Northern Jaguar Project expounded on their relationship with ranchers. NJP has started paying ranchers for photos; photos of live predators. Jaguars caught with camera traps on ranchers land pay the most but there is also a reward for ocelots, bobcats and mountain lions. In the US the government and other organizations have offered reimbursement for predation by wolves and other protected predators. NJP however is the first example I know of with positive reinforcement. The project is small but it’s growing, trying to recruit and sign contracts with more ranchers even as they expand the size of a more traditional reserve.

North of the border there is no positive incentive for ranchers to abstain from killing jaguars. Then again, there aren’t a lot of jaguars in the US and making true of the threatened border wall won’t help anything. An almost negligible amount of beef in the US comes from Central and South America, so the hamburger you’re eating isn’t necessarily the problem. Beef isn’t the problem with the jaguar’s current situation. With climates trending warmer, there is the potential of more conflict between jaguars and American <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/california-start-regulating-gas-emissions-cows/">cattle ranchers</a>, then that burger becomes something else. It’s my view that we shouldn’t be happy with keeping the world as it is but should be involved in making things better; better for jaguars as well as humans.

--

By Zach Fitzner, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Earth.com exclusive: Beef, jaguars, and the border wall

How do jaguars, hamburgers and border walls relate to each...

A new study from the <a href="https://carnegiescience.edu/">Carnegie Institution For Science</a> has found that climate models that project more severe warming are the most accurate according to observation of the current climate conditions. The research suggests that climate models used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are underestimating future warming.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-ice-storms/">Climate</a> model simulations are used to forecast future warming for any given increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

"There are dozens of prominent global climate models and they all project different amounts of global warming for a given change in greenhouse gas concentrations, primarily because there is not a consensus on how to best model some key aspects of the climate system," explained study co-author Patrick Brown.

Climate models based on current emissions indicate that global temperatures will rise between 3.2 to 5.9 degrees Celsius over preindustrial levels by the end of the century.

The researchers set out to determine whether the upper or lower end of this temperature range is more likely to happen. The team started out their investigation based on the idea that climate models are the most useful when they precisely represent conditions of the recent past. 

The experts compared model simulations and observations of patterns of energy flow from Earth to space. The study revealed that the models that best represent recent  energy exchanges between the planet and its surroundings project warming that is greater than average. 

The findings of the study eliminated the lower end of the temperature range forecast by raw climate models. The results indicated that future average global warming will most likely be 0.5 degrees Celsius greater than what has been projected.

"Our results suggest that it doesn't make sense to dismiss the most-severe global warming projections based on the fact that climate models are imperfect in their simulation of the current climate," said Brown. "On the contrary, if anything, we are showing that model shortcomings can be used to dismiss the least-severe projections."

The uncertainty in predicting future warming is mostly due to discrepancies in the ways that models simulate changes in clouds. The cooling effect caused by clouds as they reflect the sun’s energy away from the planet is shown by some models to increase and by other models to decrease.

"The models that are best able to recreate current conditions are the ones that simulate a reduction in cloud cooling in the future and thus these are the models that predict the greatest future warming," said Brown.

"It makes sense that the models that do the best job at simulating today's observations might be the models with the most reliable predictions," added study co-author Ken Caldeira. "Our study indicates that if emissions follow a commonly used business-as-usual scenario, there is a 93 percent chance that global warming will exceed 4 degrees Celsius by the end of this century. Previous studies had put this likelihood at 62 percent."

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nature/">Nature</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The more severe climate models are likely the most accurate

A new study from the Carnegie Institution For Science has...

Cities are beginning to turn to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/easy-ways-adopt-zero-waste-mindset/">composting</a> as another means of keeping waste out of landfills, which also creates a nutrient-rich material that can be used for farming.

Composting comes with many benefits, but now new research has found that composting can lead people to make more eco-conscious decisions in their day to day lives. 

The study was led by Nicole Sintov, an Assistant Professor of Behavior, Decision-making and Sustainability at the <a href="https://www.osu.edu/">Ohio State University</a>. 

Sintov was interested to see if the adoption of a composting program would encourage area residents to make other smart “green” decisions” as part of something called “spillover.” 

Spillover is a concept where one behavior leads to another, either with positive or negative chain effects. For example, someone who decides to eat a salad for lunch might overcompensate for dinner. 

Sintov wanted to explore how spillover would apply to residents of Costa Mesa, California who in 2015 were given the option of curbside recycling and compost. 

“The idea is if you're investing all these resources - composting bins and trucks and new facilities - is it possible that this could lead to any other pro-environment behavior, or do people start to slack off in other areas, which we don't want,” said Sintov. 

The study included 284 Costa Mesa residents who were asked about three food-waste prevention behaviors and seven energy and water-waste behaviors, such as unplugging electronics and taking shorter showers. 

The results showed an increase in water and energy conservation behaviors that correlated with the start of the composting program. Composting was a catalyst that motivated other eco-friendly decisions. 

The researchers were happy to see that the spillover was largely positive. 

Sintov and her colleagues found that because those people that composted were actively engaged in waste disposal, they were more consciousness of waste in other aspects of their lives. 

“Our study found that this happened because waste was on their minds, or 'cognitively accessible,' and this thinking about waste seems to lead you to manage waste in other ways,” said Sintov. 

The study does not represent a wide range of residents, as the participants for the study all came from one affluent and well-educated community. The researchers note that further studies will need to be done to see if the results are duplicated in different communities and populations. 

Even with this in mind, the results present convincing evidence that composting programs have added eco-friendly benefits beyond reducing waste in landfills. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Composting leads to more eco-friendly decisions

Cities are beginning to turn to composting as another means...

Cancer becomes an ever increasing risk as we age, and the association of old age with many cancer types has been well established. But scientists have also noticed that cancer incidence is increasing globally, and certain geographical populations seem to be at higher risk than others. Populations living in very low temperatures, such as Denmark and Norway, have some of the highest incidences of cancer in the world.

A recent paper published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/mbe">Molecular Biology and Evolution</a> has proposed a new hypothesis for this phenomenon: there is an evolutionary relationship between adaptation at extreme environmental conditions and increased cancer risk. 

“The findings of this study provide evidence that genetic variants found to be beneficial in extreme environments, can also predispose for cancer,” says Kostantinos Voskarides of the <a href="https://www.ucy.ac.cy/medical/en/">University of Cyprus Medical School</a>.

In his research, Voskarides focused on the effect of low temperatures at either high altitudes or in Arctic/Scandinavian climates. He used the GLOBOCAN-2012 database – the most accurate and reliable datasource for worldwide cancer incidence – and analyzed genetic clues in 247 different cancer genome-wide association studies. Voskarides also looked through the available literature’s bibliographic cancer incidence and genetic data for human populations in extreme cold and at very high altitudes.

The results showed a clear pattern, with the highest incidence of certain cancers linked to populations living in the coldest environments. 

“These data show that these populations exhibit extremely high cancer incidence, especially for lung, breast and colorectal cancer,” explained Voskarides.

Genetic evidence also showed that genes that are under selection to populations in order to survive in extreme conditions are also predisposed for cancer. The highest cancer associations with genes under selection were found to be colorectal cancer for Native Americans and Siberian Eskimos, esophageal cancer and lung cancer for Siberain Eskimos, leukemia for Oromi (a high-altitude population in Ethiopia) and a number of cancers for high-altitude dwelling Andeans-Tibetans.

“Evidence was found that cancer rates have been increased in those populations through natural selection procedures,” says Voskarides. “This is the first study that provides evidence that high cancer risk may be a result of evolutionary adaptation in certain environmental conditions.”

The ultimate conclusion of this study was that populations that are isolated in extreme environments also face extreme <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cancer-cases-modifiable-risk-factors/">cancer</a> risk. Further research will help better understand the key adaptive forces that may be behind cancer epidemiology.

[caption id="attachment_967257" align="aligncenter" width="279"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/cold-temperatures.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-967257" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/cold-temperatures-279x300.jpg" alt="" width="279" height="300" /></a> Image Credit: Konstantinos Voskarides, University of Cyprus Medical School[/caption]

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Extremely cold environments may increase risk of cancer

Cancer becomes an ever increasing risk as we age, and...

Fast-moving wildfires are raging across southern California, forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of people. The Thomas Fire in Ventura County, which broke out on Monday and now covers at least 65,000 acres, is by far the largest. Over 150 buildings have been destroyed and 12,000 additional structures are currently threatened in Ventura alone.

In Los Angeles County, two separate fires ignited on Tuesday. North of downtown <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/watering-lawns-lost-gallons-water/">Los Angeles</a>, the Creek Fire burned 11,000 acres by Tuesday night, and the Rye Fire scorched 7,000 acres. 

A third fire, the Skirball Fire, erupted this morning near the Getty Center as a brush fire. This latest blaze has prompted evacuations from the Bel Air area and shut down portions of Interstate 405 because the fire is burning so close to the highway.

California Governor Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency in both Ventura and Los Angeles counties, and is urging residents to be ready to evacuate and to “evacuate immediately if told to do so.”

Officials are warning that the fires could threaten the region for days. Los Angeles police chief Charlie Beck referred to the fires as “a multi day event,” and suggested that more fires are likely. 

The National Weather Service warned that the combination of low humidity and strong winds could lead to “very rapid fire growth” and “extreme fire behavior.”

Chief Ralph M. Terrazas of the Los Angeles Fire Department said earlier today that wind conditions are favorable at this time but warned that could change. Santa Ana winds are projected to reach 80 miles per hour on Thursday.

Just two months ago, Northern California experienced the worst series of wildfires in the state’s history, which killed 44 people and burned 8,700 structures.

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Alex Avlas

Wildfires explode across Southern California

Fast-moving wildfires are raging across southern California, forcing the evacuation...

Experts from the UK and the United States are outlining the best investments in clean energy based on their analysis of recent research and innovation. The authors of the paper recommend that governments give technical experts more control of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-solar-panels-appealing/">clean energy</a> programs in order to achieve more long-term stability.

The researchers have drafted six "guiding principles,” and are encouraging the support of programs that have staying power rather than just “ quick win” potential. Among the principles proposed by the research team are to adopt an adaptive learning strategy and to keep clean energy research funding predictable and stable.

"As the window of opportunity to avert dangerous climate change narrows, we urgently need to take stock of policy initiatives around the world that aim to accelerate new energy technologies and stem greenhouse gas emissions," says Laura Diaz Anadon, Professor of Climate Change Policy at the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a>.

The authors are urging policymakers to learn what works from experience and build on it before time runs out. The experts say that some government officials are constantly reinventing clean energy goals and targets for the sake of political vanity.

"If we don't build on the lessons from previous policy successes and failures to understand what works and why, we risk wasting time and money in a way that we simply can't afford," says Anadon.

Public investments in energy research have steadily risen in recent years. For example, funding for new energy research and development by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) jumped to $16.6 billion in 2016 compared to $10 billion in 2010. In addition, the EU and other nations pledged to double clean energy investment as part of Paris Climate Change Agreement.

Regardless, the study authors point out that government funding for energy innovation has become highly volatile in the recent past. Political shifts in the UK and the U.S. have resulted in huge budget fluctuations and process reinventions.

The research team found, for example, that one in five technology areas funded by the U.S. Department of Energy experienced a budget shift of more than 30 percent up or down every single year from 1990 to 2017. In 2018, the Trump administration plans to cut the energy research and development budget by 35 percent across the board.

In the UK, every Prime Minister since 2000 has created new institutions to manage energy innovation. 

"Experimentation has benefits, but also costs," explains Anadon. "Researchers are having to relearn new processes, people and programs with every political transition - wasting time and effort for scientists, companies and policymakers."

"Rather than repeated overhauls, existing programs should be continuously evaluated and updated. New programs should only be set up if they fill needs not currently met."

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nature/">Nature</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Experts advise governments on effective clean energy strategy

Experts from the UK and the United States are outlining...

As climate change is projected to increase the frequency of severe ice storms, concerns are growing about how forest health will be impacted. Ecologist Lindsey Rustad of the <a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/">USDA Forest Service</a> set out to closely examine how ice storms affect the forest.

It is well-known that <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/artificial-ice-storms-severe-weather/">ice storms</a> can cause damage to communities as large frozen tree limbs can take down power lines and crash into houses, but the long-term damage that ice storms cause to the forest itself is relatively unknown.

Rustad teamed up with New England scientists to simulate an ice storm at the 8,000-acre USDA Forest Service Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire. The researchers used fire hoses to pump water from a creek over different sections of the forest. 

"It's not easy to study ice storms because they're difficult to predict," explained Rustad. "We didn't want to become storm chasers, so we decided to make our own."

Using various amounts of water, the team created a light icing with a quarter-inch of ice,  a significant icing of a half-inch of ice, and an extreme icing with three-fourths of an inch of ice.

The team will compare the frozen sections of forest to nearby forest area that has not been disturbed. They plan to focus their comparison on forest health indicators including soil nutrient cycling, forest regrowth, and wildlife. The research will contribute to an ongoing decades-long investigation on how a severe ice storm in 1998 affected the northeastern United States and Canada.

Although the project will not be completed until next year, Rustad has some predictions about what her team will discover. She explained that a light icing can be good for forests by thinning out branches and making room for new growth.

"Trees have a certain amount of stored carbon," she says. "With one icing, they have enough reserves to re-foliate and recover."

Severe icing events back to back like scientists have predicted to occur with climate change, however, can be devastating to a forest's carbon reserves. Despite this, Rustad still remains optimistic about the outcome.

"Our forests are tremendously resilient," said Rustad. "I grew up in the days of acid rain. So scientists embarked on a couple decades of exhaustive research and we passed the Clean Air Act, and reduced sulfur emissions by 80%."

During their research, the experts will develop a more accurate climate prediction model that will incorporate extreme ice events. They will also examine the forest health indicators, and hope to innovate new methods of warning the public about upcoming ice storms.

Rustad presented preliminary details of the research project at the October Annual Meeting of the <a href="https://www.agronomy.org/">American Society of Agronomy</a>, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America in Tampa, Florida.

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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

&nbsp;

Climate change could increase the frequency of severe ice storms

As climate change is projected to increase the frequency of...

Scientists are warning that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heavy-air-pollution-nuclear/">air pollution</a> in London is negatively impacting the health of unborn infants. The experts have determined that exposure to pollution generated by vehicles is associated with an increased risk of low birth weight babies born at full term.

While previous research has linked air pollution with complications in pregnancy, similar studies investigating the potential effects of noise pollution have been inconclusive.  

Researchers led by the <a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/">Imperial College London</a> set out to examine the outcomes of exposure to air pollution and noise pollution from road traffic during pregnancy. They focused their study on two potential birth weights, low birth weight and being born small for gestational age.

The research team used national birth registers to identify over 540,000 full-term births in the London area between 2006 and 2010. The experts estimated the average monthly concentrations of traffic-related air pollution at the home addresses of the mothers. They also estimated the average levels of noise pollution during daytime and nighttime hours.

Next, the researchers used statistical models to analyze the data. The study revealed that air pollutants from road traffic, particularly PM2.5, were associated with a 2 to 6 percent increase in the risk of low birth weight and a 1 to 3 percent increase in the risk of being small for gestational age.

There was no significant link found between noise pollution and complications at birth, yet the researchers reported that they "cannot rule out that an association might be observed in a study area with a wider range of noise exposures."

"Our findings suggest that air pollution from road traffic in London is adversely affecting fetal growth," said the study authors. They emphasized that reducing London's annual average PM2.5 concentration by 10 percent would prevent an estimated 90 babies being born with low birth weight at full term each year in London.

"With the annual number of births projected to continue increasing in London, the absolute health burden will increase at the population level, unless air quality in London improves," said the researchers. 

While the authors said that the findings of the study "should increase awareness that prenatal exposure to small particle air pollution is detrimental to the unborn child," they also stressed the fact that increasing awareness without solutions for risk reduction "may serve only to increase maternal anxiety and guilt."

The research, which is published by <a href="http://www.bmj.com/">The BMJ</a>, is applicable to other UK and European cities as well. The experts are urging for environmental health policies to improve air quality in urban areas.

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Traffic air pollution impacts the health of unborn babies

Scientists are warning that air pollution in London is negatively...

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

[sendtonews key="3UUsNkFOuS-2487333-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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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

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" 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.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes how Earth is unique in our solar system for its ability to sustain liquid water on its surface. But now, the water cycle is shifting as the climate warms, and scientists must find ways to predict how these changes will affect water availability.



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

[sendtonews key="fxH3eJHEkQ-2010196-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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



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

Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

NASA monitors giant dust storms on Mars

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz

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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Kangerlussuaq Glacier on the Greenland ice sheet

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Ocean heat influences regional climate

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