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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

Winter is coming... In honor of the brisk weather approaching, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> has compiled a list of 10 of the coldest places in the world. Snuggle up with some hot cocoa and get into it. 

Rogers Pass, Montana, USA

Known as the coldest place in the United States outside Alaska, Rogers Pass’ record low temperature of -56.5ºC (-69.7ºF) was documented in January 1954.

Denali-Mount McKinley, Alaska, USA

The highest mountain peak in North America was equipped with a weather station (the third highest in the world) in 2002 that documented a record low temperature of -59.7ºC (-75.5ºF) in early December 2003.

Prospect Creek, Alaska, USA 

This former mining settlement is known as home to the lowest recorded temperature in the United States. In January 1971, temperatures of -61.6ºC (-78.8ºF) were recorded. 

Snag, Yukon, CANADA

Located off the Alaska Highway in a valley of the White River, Snag is the village with the lowest temperature on earth. Its lowest recorded temperature is -62.7ºC (-80.86ºF) in February 1947. 

North Ice, GREENLAND

This research station of the British North Greenland Expedition documented the record low temperature of -66.1ºC (-86.98ºF) in January 1954.

Verkhoyansk, RUSSIA

This Russian town of about 1,300 residents holds the Guinness world record for the greatest temperature range on Earth: 105 degrees. The lowest recorded temperature of -69.8ºC (-93.64ºF) was documented in February 1892.

Oymyakon, RUSSIA

A candidate for the northern Pole of Cold and one of the coldest permanently inhabited places on earth, Oymykon’s weather station recorded temperatures of -71.1ºC (-96ºF) in December 2016.

Dome Argus (Dome A), Antarctic Plateau, ANTARCTICA

The highest ice feature in Antarctica with an elevation of 4,093 km (13,428 ft) above sea level, Dome A recorded temperatures as low as -82.5ºC (-116.5ºF) in July 2005.

Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, ANTARCTICA

This United States scientific research facility is located at the South Pole and is on the only land surface on Earth to experience one six month “day” (where the sun is up continuously) and one six month “night” every year. The record low temperature of -82.8ºC (-117.04ºF) was recorded in June 1982.

Vostok Research Station, ANTARCTICA

Located at the southern Pole of Cold in Princess Elizabeth Island, the station was founded by Russia (formerly the Soviet Union) in 1957. The station is credited with having the lowest reliably measured temperature on Earth at -89.2ºC (-128.56ºF) in July 1983.

--

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Darryl Joseph</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The 10 coldest places on Earth

Winter is coming... In honor of the brisk weather approaching,...

A study from the <a href="https://www.tum.de/en/homepage/">Technical University of Munich</a> (TUM) is the first to confirm that trees in metropolitan areas have been growing faster worldwide. The research also points out that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/urban-trees-increase-ozone/">urban trees</a> have been exposed to changing climate conditions for a long time, while trees in rural areas are only just beginning to be exposed to a changing climate.

“While the effects of climate change on tree growth in forests have been extensively studied, there is little information available so far for urban trees,” said co-author Hans Pretzsch. 

The research team set out to investigate the growth of urban trees mainly due to the current trend toward global urbanization. According to the United Nations, the urban population worldwide is expected to increase by more than 60 percent by 2030. Trees already improve the environment in metropolitan areas, and the continuing upward trend in urbanization makes them even more significant in improving the health and well-being of city residents.

The team collected and analyzed tree samples from Berlin, Brisbane, Cape Town, Hanoi, Houston, Munich, Paris, Prince George, Santiago de Chile, and Sapporo for the study. The cities cover different climate zones, ranging from boreal to temperate, Mediterranean, and subtropical. Overall, the researchers examined nearly 1400 trees. 

“We can show that urban trees of the same age are larger on average than rural trees because urban trees grow faster,” said Pretzsch. 

Upon further analysis, the researchers established that the size difference between urban and rural trees decreases with age, yet it is still relevant. 

“While the difference amounts to about a quarter at the age of 50, it is still just under 20 percent at a hundred years of age,” explained Pretzsch.

The researchers attribute the accelerated growth of urban trees to the heat island effect, which is the occurrence of higher temperatures in urban settings. Compared to the surrounding rural area, cities are hotter by as much as ten degrees Celsius. Higher temperatures affect the trees in two major ways - by stimulating photosynthetic activity and by extending their growing season.

The positive effect of faster-growing trees also comes with the negative aspect of more rapidly aging trees. According to Pretzsch, the sped-up life cycle means that cities will have to replace aging trees sooner.

The study, which is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/srep/">Scientific Reports</a>, is the first of its kind to examine the growth of urban trees worldwide for trends resulting from changing climate conditions.

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Trees grow faster in cities, study confirms

A study from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) is...

Scientists have uncovered evidence of a 260-million year-old forest in Antarctica. Researchers from the <a href="http://uwm.edu/">University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee</a> were digging in the Transantarctic Mountains to learn more about a mass extinction event when they identified ancient fossilized tree fragments.

The research team had set out on a journey to look for samples from a time when the climate of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ozone-hole-smallest/">Antarctica</a> was extremely different. Once joined with Africa, Australia, India, and South America as the supercontinent Gondwana, Antarctica was previously warm and humid and covered with lush, green vegetation.

Specimens from this era could give the researchers insight into the Permian extinction event, also known as the Great Dying, which is the largest mass extinction in history responsible for wiping out over 90 percent of all life on the planet. The Permian extinction is believed to have been caused by multiple volcano eruptions in Siberia.

While looking for signs of these prehistoric plants, the research team discovered 13 fossilized tree fragments. Dating of the fossils revealed that the trees are over 260 million years old. This means that the forest was standing at the end of the Permian Period, which ended 251 million years ago - just before the Great Dying mass extinction event.

Erik Gulbranson is a paleoecologist and visiting assistant professor in the University's Department of Geosciences.

Gulbranson told the <a href="http://uwm.edu/news/">UWM Report</a>, “This forest is a glimpse of life before the extinction, which can help us understand what caused the event.”

Gulbranson will return to the site later this month and will remain there until early next year. He plans to look for more evidence of the extinction event, including how the trees responded to the rapid rise in carbon dioxide.

“The geologic record shows us the beginning, middle and end of climate change events,” Gulbranson told UWM reporter Matthew Wamser. “With further study, we can better understand how greenhouse gases and climate change affect life on Earth.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Evidence of a 260 million year-old forest found in Antarctica

Scientists have uncovered evidence of a 260-million year-old forest in...

We live in an age that has been dubbed the Anthropocene era because of how drastically humans have changed the global landscape. From climate change to habitat degradation, human-related activities have played a major part in current conditions. 

Global trade and human-induced climate change, in particular, are now making it easier for pests to spread across the planet, even to those regions that might otherwise have been protected by cold winters. 

Tree-eating insects like bark beetles, wood-boring beetles, and leaf-sucking insects are killing plants and wreaking havoc on forests. Park rangers and forest conservation policies have been unable to keep up as new pests are continually introduced.  

But now, recent research from <a href="http://home.dartmouth.edu/">Dartmouth College</a> and the <a href="http://www.usc.es/en/index.html">University of Santiago de Compostela</a> offers new strategies to manage pests in the era of human-induced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-driving-climate-change/">climate change</a>.

“Forest managers working in isolation and learning by trial and error cannot possibly keep up with the rapidly changing challenges. We hope that this research can serve as a guidebook for pest management in the Anthropocene,” said Matthew Ayres, a professor of biological sciences at Dartmouth.

Ayres and his colleagues from Dartmouth and Santiago de Compostela in their paper recommended several tactics that can be used to help combat new pests and reduce invasive pests from forests. 

The researchers have outlined eight different tactics, beginning with the use of practical scientific theory. 

To reduce the introduction of new pests or protect forests from invasive species, first researchers need to be thoroughly familiar with the pests and their adaptability to new environments and climates. 

“Understanding the general effects of temperature on insects gives us certainty that continued warming will produce continued changes in where we find pests,” said Ayres. “In some cases, we can make detailed predictions of where pests will be in coming years under different climate scenarios.” 

The other tactics proposed include management plans that anticipate continuing change, improving monitoring, prediction, and mitigation of established pests, and improving biosecurity against future human-aided invasions. 

In addition, the researchers emphasized the importance of different countries sharing intelligence, improved assessments of costs and benefits, accurate assessments of outcomes, and improved relationships between forests and socioeconomic systems.

The research proves that pest management is possible, even with a changing climate and increased global trade.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a>, Staff Writer

Strategies for managing new pests brought by climate change

We live in an age that has been dubbed the...

The High Plains Aquifer, also known as the Ogallala Aquifer, provides water to parts of eight different states from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hurricane-harvey-slams-texas/">Texas</a> to South Dakota and runs under 175,000 square miles in total. 

The aquifer has been an essential resource for farmers who have relied on the water source during drought.

However, a recent report shows that the aquifer and the farmland, fish populations, and rivers it supports are all at risk because the aquifer is losing water at a rapid rate, faster than any rainwater can replenish it. 

Thus far, the Ogallala has lost a little over 10 million acre-feet of storage between 2013 and 2015, according to a <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/">U.S. Geological Survey</a> report. 

The aquifer has decreased twice as fast in the past 6 years compared with the previous 60, as farmers have been drawing from the aquifer since the 1930s. 

Streams and rivers are drying up, and fish populations are suffering as a result, with some streams drying out at a rate of 6 miles per year, and a total loss of 358 miles of waterways over 200 square miles. 

“We have almost completely changed the species of fish that can survive in those streams, compared with what was there historically. This is really a catastrophic change,” said Keith Gido, a Kansas State University conservation biologist and co-author of the study. 

At its current rate of use, another estimated 177 miles of waterways are in danger of drying up by 2060, according to the report.

Even if the aquifer was left alone and all pumping stopped, it would take a long to time for the landscape and aquifer to recover. 

The report is a sobering one, and as current climate temperatures and global demand for food increase, water will be an increasingly valuable resource, especially in those regions prone to drought. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The High Plains Aquifer is in danger of drying up

The High Plains Aquifer, also known as the Ogallala Aquifer,...

Shocking world leaders and sparking protests, the Trump Administration endorsed coal and other fossil fuels at the United Nations climate conference in Bonn, Germany, on Monday. 

COP23, the 23rd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, is a meeting where world leaders come together to discuss ways to fight global warming. At this year's conference, representatives from the fossil fuel industry sat on a panel organized by the United States. 

The U.S. committee included an executive from Peabody Energy, the largest private coal company in the world, as well as other coal and natural gas executives. Coal, the top source of carbon dioxide emissions, is by far the worst of the fossil fuels.

“Without a question fossil fuels will continue to be used,” said Trump advisor George David Banks of the National Economic Council at the commencement of the panel. “We would argue that it’s in the global interest to make sure that when fossil fuels are used it as clean and efficient as possible.”

Regardless of whether discussing energy transition would be normally welcomed by world leaders, Trump’s withdrawal from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/country-paris-agreement/">Paris Agreement</a> gives his administration little integrity at the conference. Further hurting the credibility of the Trump Administration abroad is the president’s cynicism about climate change, which he has notoriously referred to as a hoax.

Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg traveled with other U.S. leaders and activists to the conference, calling themselves the “America's Pledge” group. 

Also led by California Governor Jerry Brown, the assembly claims to represent the U.S. majority opinion on carbon emissions. The alternative group attended the meeting to show that Americans are still dedicated to cooperating with the standards set by the Paris Agreement, regardless of Trump’s decision to withdraw.

“The American government may have pulled out of the Paris accord but the American people are still committed to its goals,” Bloomberg said at the UN conference. “And there is not a thing the government can do to stop us.”

The America's Pledge group was dumbfounded by the decision of the Trump Administration to send fossil fuel industry representatives to COP23. Bloomberg said in a statement, "Promoting coal at a climate summit is like promoting tobacco at a cancer summit.”

On Saturday, the group released it's America's Pledge report, which is a declaration of support for the Paris Agreement by the international community.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Trump admin uses climate change conference to back fossil fuels

Shocking world leaders and sparking protests, the Trump Administration endorsed...

Geoengineering is the large-scale manipulation of Earth's climate in an attempt to offset the effects of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/toxic-mercury-arctic-soil/">global warming</a>. Scientists are now warning that proposed geoengineering methods could have a devastating effect on some regions of the globe, particularly those prone to bad storms or prolonged drought.

Climate experts from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> have determined that conducting geoengineering in one hemisphere would likely have a damaging impact on the other.

For example, introducing aerosols artificially into the atmosphere in the northern hemisphere would reduce tropical cyclone activity which kicks up extreme events such as Hurricane Katrina. But, at the same time, this would lead to increased likelihood for drought in a region of Africa south of the Sahara known as Sahel.

As a result of their findings, the research team is asking policymakers worldwide to strictly regulate any geoengineering programs in the future to prevent causing natural disasters in other parts of the world.

Dr. Anthony Jones is a climate expert from the University of Exeter and the lead author of the study.

"Our results confirm that regional solar geoengineering is a highly risky strategy which could simultaneously benefit one region to the detriment of another,” said Dr. Jones. “It is vital that policymakers take solar geoengineering seriously and act swiftly to install effective regulation."

The researchers focused their investigation on the impact that releasing aerosols into the atmosphere would have on the frequency of tropical cyclones.

This controversial geoengineering approach, known as stratospheric aerosol injection, was designed to cool the Earth's surface by reflecting some sunlight before it reaches the surface. The process mimics the conditions that occur naturally after volcanic eruptions when aerosols are injected into the atmosphere.

For their study, the researchers used computer simulations to closely examine the effect of hemispheric stratospheric aerosol injection on tropical cyclone frequency in the North Atlantic. The projections revealed that releasing aerosols in the northern hemisphere would decrease North Atlantic tropical cyclone frequency, while injections contained to the southern hemisphere may potentially enhance it.

"This research shows how a global temperature target such as 1.5 or 2C needs to be combined with information on a more regional scale to properly assess the full range of climate impacts,” said co-author Jim Haywood.

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Artificially cooling the planet could have devastating effects

Geoengineering is the large-scale manipulation of Earth's climate in an...

As <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/country-paris-agreement/">we reported</a>, the United States is now officially the only country to reject the Paris Climate Agreement now that Syria just has agreed to sign the accord.

But according to a new study from the <a href="http://www.unc.edu/">University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill</a>, the U.S. will still benefit from the efforts of other countries to mitigate climate change.

Greenhouse gas emissions are not only bad for the environment, but also human health. Air pollution, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone (O3), can be severely detrimental and cause respiratory disease.

The study was published in the journal Environmental Research Letters and details how much the US would benefit from both global and domestic policies meant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

For the study, researchers compared two scenarios involving greenhouse gas emissions to see how health and air quality would be impacted by 2050. The study compared a business as usual scenario, where no mitigation efforts, with a scenario that reduced greenhouse gas emissions significantly. 

The study then quantified the health benefits of reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. 

The results show that the US would be greatly impacted by reducing greenhouse emissions and would benefit from global and domestic efforts to mitigate climate change. The monetary costs of implementing mitigation strategies would be far outweighed by the health benefits.  

“We found that the global GHG mitigation scenario reduces air pollution-related deaths in the US by 16,000 deaths in 2050 for PM2.5-related mortality, and 8,000 deaths a year for O3-related respiratory mortality,” said Dr. Yuqiang Zhang, the co-lead author of the study. 

The research also proves that if the US were to join the Paris Accord and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it would profoundly improve health and air quality domestically. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a><a href="https://www.earth.com/">, Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

U.S. will benefit from climate change efforts in other countries

As we reported, the United States is now officially the...

The series of deadly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ways-heatwaves-kill/">heatwaves</a> that lingered over parts of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East this past spring and summer were just a few examples of the extreme weather events that occurred during 2017. 

Now, a new study projects that weather-related mortality rates may skyrocket as a result of climate change. 

The study was led by researchers from the<a href="https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/"> London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine </a>and published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal. 

It is the largest study yet that examines the effects that rising greenhouse gases have on weather-related mortality rates and general well-being. 

The study included data from 451 locations in 23 countries. The researchers used the information to create the first global model of how mortality rates are affected by changes in temperature. The study also factored in 85 million recorded deaths between 1984 and 2015 to help get a better picture of how climate and mortality are related. 

The results show that if emissions continue to rise, many areas will see sharp increases in deaths due to hot weather. The areas most at risk include the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Southern Europe, and South America. In colder regions like Northern Europe, the effects will be less severe.

However, the results also showed that if policies are put in place to mitigate climate change successfully, these death toll increases can be avoided. 

“This study demonstrates the negative impact of climate change, which may be more dramatic among the warmer and more populated areas of the planet, and in some cases disproportionately affect poorer regions of the world,” said Antonio Gasparrini, the lead author of the study. “The good news is that if we take action to reduce global warming, for instance by complying with the thresholds set by the Paris Agreement[1], this impact will be much lower.”

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Study: As temperatures rise, so will mortality rates

The series of deadly heatwaves that lingered over parts of...

Birds in California are breeding earlier than they did a century ago as a result of warming temperatures. The adaptation could mean that birds and other species may be more equipped to adapt to global <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-plants-hawaii/">climate change</a> than previously thought. 

A new study, conducted by researchers from the <a href="http://berkeley.edu/">University of California-Berkeley</a> and published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that many different birds in California are in fact breeding earlier than they did 100 years ago. 

The researchers compared data from the early 1900s to data compiled recently on more than 200 species of birds, specifically focusing on breeding behavior. 

The results show that many birds are breeding five to twelve days earlier than they did a century ago. 

Previous studies have shown that some of California’s birds were moving to higher elevations to compensate for the temperature changes, but not all birds were following this pattern. 

This recent study explains why some birds choose to stay at their regular nesting grounds and adapt to the warmer weather by breeding earlier. 

“The shift to earlier breeding that we detected allows birds to nest at similar temperatures as they did a century ago, and helps explain why half the bird species in the mountainous areas of California did not need to shift upward in elevation in response to climate warming over the past century,” said Steven Beissinger, the study’s co-author. 

For the study, the researchers used data on different animal species collected by UC Berkeley biologist Joseph Grinnell, his colleagues, and his students between 1911 and 1929. 

The researchers were able to show through Grinnell’s observations that at least half of the birds in California had moved to higher elevations in response to the warming climate. 

The other half did not move upward but adapted to climate change by changing their usual breeding schedule. 

By nesting a week earlier, the birds produce eggs and young at temperatures one degree Celsius lower than if they nested during their regular time. Temperature is crucial component for the survival of the young. 

The study reveals that birds and other species may be more adaptable to climate change than many scientists had expected.

“The good news is that there may be more flexibility for species to respond to climate change than we thought, and not all species may need to move farther north or to higher elevations,” said Beissinger. “But we don't know yet whether staying in place and shifting schedules earlier is a permanent solution, or only provides temporary relief from the 2 degree Celsius rise in temperatures forecast to occur.” 

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Birds in California are nesting earlier due to climate change

Birds in California are breeding earlier than they did a...

More than 400 people were killed and at least 7,000 were injured when a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Iran close to the Iraq border on Sunday. 

The hardest hit province was Kermanshah in the town of Sarpol-e Zahab, about 10 miles from the Iraq border, where over 300 people lost their lives. The town's main hospital has been severely damaged, making it difficult to treat hundreds of wounded people.

Rescuers are searching for dozens of people trapped under collapsed buildings, but over 100 aftershocks and landslides are making the recovery efforts challenging.

According to a state news agency, the earthquake killed 407 people and injured 6,603 in <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/zagros-mountains-southeastern-iran/">Iran</a> alone.

Iraq's Interior Ministry confirmed that their country had seven casualties with 535 people injured. Residents fled their homes and the flooded the streets of Baghdad.

Baghdad resident Majida Ameer told <a href="http://www.reuters.com/">Reuters</a>, "I was sitting with my kids having dinner and suddenly the building was just dancing in the air. I thought at first that it was a huge bomb. But then I heard everyone around me screaming: 'Earthquake!'"

State media explained that villages where houses are made of mud bricks have sustained extremely heavy damage.

The death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams move into remote areas of Iran, while a reported 70,000 people are in need of shelter.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Reuters/Tasnim News Agency

Iran hit by 7.3 magnitude earthquake close to Iraq border

More than 400 people were killed and at least 7,000...

More than 15,000 scientists in 184 countries have signed a publication which warns about the harm that negative environmental trends are causing humanity. The issues addressed by the experts include <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-driving-climate-change/">climate change</a>, species extinctions, deforestation, human population growth, and loss of access to fresh water.

The article includes steps that can be taken to reverse negative trends. However, the authors suggest that it may take a massive upsurge of public pressure to convince political leaders to take the corrective actions. Some of the recommended activities include the development of more terrestrial and marine reserves and stricter anti-poaching laws and restraints on the wildlife trade with stronger enforcement. 

The experts also express a need for promoting a dietary shift toward plant-based foods and expansively adopting renewable energy and other "green" technologies.

In 1992, over 1,700 scientists signed the "World Scientists' Warning to Humanity" published by the Union of Concerned Scientists. Trends in nine environmental issues have worsened since this publication, suggesting that humanity is continuing to risk its own future. 

Among some of the concerning facts presented by the authors are: a 26 percent reduction in the amount of freshwater available per capita, a 75 percent increase in the number of ocean dead zones, a loss of nearly 300 million acres of forestland, on-going increases in global carbon emissions and average temperatures, and a 35 percent rise in human population. 

On the other hand, the authors say that progress has been made in addressing some of the negative trends over the last 25 years. For example, the use of ozone-depleting chemicals has been reduced while energy generated from renewable sources has increased. There has also been a rapid decline in fertility rates and deforestation rates in some regions. The authors say that this “shows that positive changes can be made.”

The interdisciplinary team of scientists was led by William Ripple, distinguished professor in the College of Forestry at <a href="http://oregonstate.edu/">Oregon State University</a>. The evidence of "substantial and irreversible harm" to the Earth identified by the authors is based on a collection of data maintained by government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and individual researchers.

"Some people might be tempted to dismiss this evidence and think we are just being alarmist," said Ripple. "Scientists are in the business of analyzing data and looking at the long-term consequences. Those who signed this second warning aren't just raising a false alarm. They are acknowledging the obvious signs that we are heading down an unsustainable path. We are hoping that our paper will ignite a wide-spread public debate about the global environment and climate."

The groundbreaking article,"World Scientists' Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice,” is published in the international journal <a href="https://www.aibs.org/bioscience/">Bioscience</a>. Scientists who did not sign the warning prior to publication can endorse the published warning by visiting <a href="http://scientists.forestry.oregonstate.edu/">http://scientists.forestry.oregonstate.edu/</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

15,000 scientists across the globe warn of environmental threats

More than 15,000 scientists in 184 countries have signed a...

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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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

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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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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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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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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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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

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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



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Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

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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



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NASA monitors giant dust storms on Mars

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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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