A ten-year, nearly 2,000-station ocean survey has uncovered a diffuse veil of plastics drifting through every sampled layer of the North Atlantic ocean and adjoining basins. The findings suggest that plastic pollution penetrates far deeper than earlier studies implied.



The work, led by a team of <a href="https://www.northeastern.edu/">Northeastern University</a> marine scientists, characterizes a suspended “light smog” of synthetic fragments and fibers - many thinner than a human hair. These particles ride currents, mix vertically, and settle slowly toward the deep sea.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-3d-ocean-plastic-problems">A 3D ocean plastic problems</h2>



For years, marine plastic researchers investigated the surface garbage patches concentrated by slow-moving gyres. Those rotating currents still host prodigious amounts of floating waste, but the new analysis shows that gyre dynamics do not stop at the surface.



“You’ve got these accumulations on the surface, and the same processes concentrating and leading to accumulations below the gyres into a sort of lens,” said senior author Aron Stubbins, a marine scientist at Northeastern.



The team combined plankton-net tows, in-line filtration, pump casts, and sediment traps collected between 2014 and 2024.



Most sites lay in the Northern Hemisphere’s busy shipping lanes and coastal margins - regions with dense coastal populations and well-documented mismanaged waste.



Even so, researchers were surprised by the reach of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-pollution-is-changing-the-entire-earth-system/">plastic pollution</a>. “Plastics are more or less everywhere,” Stubbins said. “We’re finding them deposited in the Antarctic, in the Himalayas, carried by the wind, but to find them well-distributed throughout the ocean is surprising.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heavy-plastics-don-t-always-sink">Heavy plastics don’t always sink</h2>



Buoyant polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene naturally ride the waves. Denser resins, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from water bottles, should in theory fall quickly to the seabed. Yet PET showed up at multiple mid-water depths.



“One rationale is that when something is small enough, its density becomes less important than its drag,” Stubbins noted. 



In other words, once abrasion, UV exposure, and microbial attack whittle a bottle fragment into a sub-100-micron shard, turbulent eddies can keep it aloft for months or years.



The survey found <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-spread-deep-into-the-ocean-far-below-the-surface/">microplastics</a> in all studied size classes, but concentrations peaked below 20 microns. Particles in this range behave almost like mineral dust in air: they scatter sunlight, adsorb chemicals efficiently, and are easily inhaled - by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plankton-at-risk-global-warming-threatens-the-oceans-lifeline/">plankton</a> in this case, rather than people.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ripples-through-the-food-web">Ripples through the food web</h2>



Tiny plankton form the base of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oceans-twilight-zone-stabilizes-the-marine-food-chain/">marine food chains</a>, fueling everything from larval fish to baleen whales.



Laboratory studies show that copepods and krill readily ingest micro- and nanoplastics, mistaking them for nutritious algae. Field data remain sparse, but the scientists warn that real-world exposure may be higher than previously estimated.



“In terms of the food chain, there could be interaction,” Stubbins said. “Organisms could be feeding in these zones and ingesting these plastics and also the toxic passenger molecules they carry, which could distribute into fish tissue, and we end up consuming them.”



Plastic particles act as rafts for organic pollutants, trace metals, and pathogenic microbes, meaning that a single 10-micron bead can deliver a chemical cocktail to any predator that swallows it. 



The long-distance drift documented in the new study therefore multiplies the potential contact between pollutants and wildlife.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastics-may-trap-carbon">Plastics may trap carbon</h2>



Beyond contamination concerns, the authors highlight a subtler risk. Each year, the ocean pumps roughly a quarter of humanity’s carbon-dioxide emissions from the surface into the abyss. This happens chiefly via plankton that fix CO₂ and sink as aggregates or fecal pellets.



Plastic fragments of similar size and density could change how easily that biological “snow” sinks - or provide ballast that speeds some material downward while trapping carbon shallower than usual.



“Plastics may reduce the ocean’s ability to offset <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-climate-fixes-could-worsen-the-oxygen-crisis/">carbon dioxide</a>,” Stubbins said. A new $1.3-million <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a> project will probe that possibility by pairing vertical plastic profiles with carbon-flux measurements.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-better-tools-for-deep-ocean-plastic">Better tools for deep ocean plastic</h2>



Documenting surface litter is straightforward: satellites, drones, and ships can skim the top meter with nets. Deep-water plastic work, by contrast, relies on expensive equipment and painstaking lab protocols.



The Northeastern team calls for an international push to harmonize depth-integrated sampling - particle size cuts, filtration volumes, and contamination controls. Standardizing these methods would allow global maps to be stitched together without relying on statistical guesswork.



“Plastics is an emergent field and there are concerns about how the changing physical environment of the deep ocean may have impacts on how the ocean functions as part of the Earth’s system,” Stubbins explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-long-life-of-ocean-plastic">The long life of ocean plastic</h2>



Some countries are drafting binding treaties to curb plastic production and improve waste management. Yet even if global discharge stopped tomorrow, trillions of microplastics already in circulation would continue to drift, fragment, and sink to the bottom of the ocean for decades.



The new study provides a benchmark against which future surveys can measure progress - or lack thereof.



Policy, meanwhile, will need to target both ends of the life cycle: cutting single-use plastics at the source and investing in technologies to capture or biodegrade microplastics before they reach open water.



Until then, the ocean’s newly revealed plastic smog will remain a silent passenger in planetary processes that sustain climate stability and human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vaccinating-plants-could-boost-global-food-security/">food security</a>.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08818-1">Nature</a>.



-----



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Ocean plastic crisis goes way deeper than we thought

A ten-year, nearly 2,000-station ocean survey has uncovered a diffuse veil of plastics drifting through every sampled layer of the North Atlantic ocean and adjoining basins. The findings suggest that plastic pollution penetrates far deeper than earlier studies implied. The work, led by a team of Northeastern University marine scientists, characterizes a suspended “light smog” of synthetic fragments and fibers - many thinner than a human hair. These particles ride currents, mix vertically, and settle slowly toward the deep sea. A 3D ocean plastic problems For years,...

As environmental issues take center stage in world politics, citizens across the globe are also taking notice. While many of the impacts of crises such as climate change and pollution are out of sight and out of mind, scientists and filmmakers have been working for years to produce irrefutable evidence that human activities are causing devastating changes to our planet. 

The following are the ten best documentaries to help raise environmental awareness.

&nbsp;

A River of Waste (2009)

This film exposes the shocking reality of factory farms, which produce massive amounts of waste that spill into our waterways. This pollution combined with the use of dangerous levels of antibiotics and growth hormones threaten not only human health but also the health of the planet.

Directed by Don McCorkell

&nbsp;

Sea The Truth (2010)

This documentary reveals that we are emptying our oceans. 90 percent of all large fish are gone due to overfishing. Fish could become completely wiped out over the next 40 years if we continue to catch and eat them at the current rate.

Directed by: Claudine Everaert and 
Gertjan Zwanikken

&nbsp;

An Inconvenient Truth (2006)

When Al Gore lost the presidential election in 2000, he went on a worldwide mission to raise awareness about the dangers of global warming. This critically-acclaimed film follows him as he lectures about the urgent need for climate change awareness.

Directed by: Davis Guggenheim

&nbsp;

Chasing Ice (2012)

This film is an astonishing up-close look at the world's rapidly vanishing ice glaciers. The documentary includes footage of a massive calving event in Greenland, the longest event of this kind ever captured on film.

Directed by: Jeff Orlowski

&nbsp;

Anthropocene (2015)

Scientists warn that we are in the midst of the Earth’s sixth mass extinction, which is referred to as The Anthropocene. They believe this new geological age is a direct result of human activities. According to the film, today's CO2 levels have risen 100 times faster than they did at the end of the last Ice Age.

Directed by: Steve Bradshaw

&nbsp;

Green: Death Of The Forests (2009)

This documentary takes an in-depth look at the causes and shocking consequences of deforestation in Indonesia. The stunning images, which have no human narration, are shown from the point of view of a dying orangutan whose habitat has been destroyed.

Directed by: Patrick Rouxel

&nbsp;

Chasing Coral (2017)

Coral reefs around the world are disappearing at an alarming rate, with half disappearing in just the last 30 years. Underwater photographers expose the tragic reality that something must be urgently done to save coral reefs before they are gone forever. See Earth.com's featured review <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chasing-coral-movie-review/">here</a>!

Directed by: Jeff Orlowski

&nbsp;

Plastic China (2016)

As the biggest importer of plastic waste, China takes in over 10 million tons of plastic every year. This award-winning motion picture exposes the environmental and health impacts of this industry, as well as the effects that it has on the lives of impoverished Chinese workers.

Directed by: Jiuliang Wang

&nbsp;

Acid Test - The Global Challenge Of Ocean Acidification (2009)

This film was made to raise awareness about ocean acidification, which threatens marine life as well as all life on our planet. The ocean is acidifying at a rate faster than it has in the last 300 million years due to massive amounts of carbon dioxide.

Directed by: Tristan Bayer and Daniel Hinerfeld

&nbsp;

The 11th Hour (2007)

Filmmakers enlisted the help of theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking and over 50 other scientists to discuss the reality of how human activities have damaged Earth’s ecosystems, and what can be done to reverse this damage before it is too late to heal the planet.

Directed by: Nadia Conners and Leila Conners

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The top 10 documentaries about planet Earth

As environmental issues take center stage in world politics, citizens...

Scientists have found that protected marine reserves can help oyster populations recover by use of larval “spillover” if the conditions are right. In one of the first studies of its kind, researchers demonstrated the marine population benefits of combining different habitat restoration strategies.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oysters-quickly-close-shells/">Oysters</a> are not only key components of marine ecosystems, but are also important for coastal economies. For thousands of years, oysters have been a source of food that supports commercial fisheries around the world. 

Compared to past levels of oysters, there is now an 85 percent decline in oyster beds due to overfishing and habitat destruction. One way to restore oyster populations is by designating areas where fishing is not allowed.Fish that live in such marine protected areas (MPAs) often recover significantly in both size and abundance compared to areas where fishing is not restricted. MPAs may also boost fish populations through larval spillover, even though evidence of this is limited.

Marine ecologist Dr. David Eggleston has been coordinating with other scientists in an effort to restore oyster populations in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, which is the second largest estuary in the country. The project has successfully restored oyster reefs in both reserves and harvested areas.

Dr. Eggleston and his team began this study over 20 years ago to determine whether habitat restoration and harvest protection are providing the intended benefits. In particular, they wanted to examine whether reserves are providing larval spillover to harvested areas.

The researchers compared oysters in the following three habitat types: natural reefs that are harvested, restored reefs that are harvested, and restored reefs that are protected from harvest. The findings confirmed the advantages of restored MAPs. The oysters were up to 72 times more abundant in these protected regions.

The evaluation also showed that potential larval output was around 6 times higher in the restored reefs, indicating that more larvae overflows from reserves to harvested reefs than the other way around. Therefore, reserves can contribute substantially to the larval supply of the overall oyster population.

"Marine reserves and habitat restoration offer clear demographic benefits to target oyster populations, particularly when used in concert," said Dr. Eggleston. "Our research shows that no-take reserves with restored habitat can have significant positive impacts on oyster population densities, size-structure and potential larval output. Restored reefs that are harvested can also show increased potential larval output."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science">Frontiers in Marine Science</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Marine reserves thrive more with habitat restoration strategies

Scientists have found that protected marine reserves can help oyster...

Climate change projections had predicted drought conditions in Europe, and that is now starting to become a reality, according to a new study.

Two major drought indices used by drought monitoring agencies in Europe are deviating from one another in fashion consistent with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-costing-billions/">climate change</a> simulations. 

As the effects of climate change worsen, the Mediterranean region has been getting drier, says new research published in the journal Scientific Reports.

"There have been a lot of projections, but now that we're starting to see the projections and observations line up, it's not a question of 'is it happening?' It's a question of 'how much?' And 'what do we do,'" said James Stagge, the lead author from <a href="https://www.usu.edu/">Utah State University</a>. 

As temperatures are increasing across Europe, this in turn increases evapotranspiration, where water that evaporates from the ground and goes back into the atmosphere. 

One of the two major drought indices used my monitoring agencies considers evapotranspiration, but the other does not. 

“When you include evapotranspiration, the border from where it's getting wetter to where it's getting drier is pushing farther and farther north. So it's not just the Mediterranean that's getting drier. It's pushing up into Germany and England. It's moving everything farther north,” said Stagge.

The results of the study show the need to continually monitor drought conditions in Europe as they pertain to climate change. The drought indices, in particular, should be reconsidered so both factor in a changing global climate.

“Indices that were standardized in the past may drift significantly in a changing climate depending on how a data set is measured and what time period is considered,” said Stagge. 

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Andrzej Boldaniuk

Climate change in real time: Europe drought matches predictions

Climate change projections had predicted drought conditions in Europe, and...

The last time the Yellowstone supervolcano erupted was 63,000 years ago and it impacted the entire global climate.

Now, a new study has found that instead of one eruption changing the course of history, it was actually two closely spaced super-eruptions that briefly halted a global warming trend and caused a cooling effect on Earth.

Geologists from the <a href="https://www.ucsb.edu/">University of California, Santa Barbara</a> analyzed sediments in the Santa Barbara Basin off the coast of Southern California and discovered layers of tephra or volcanic ash in the sediment. 

The researchers found that within the layers of sediment there were indications of two <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-volcanic-eruptions/">eruptions</a> taking place 170 years apart.  

“We discovered here that there are two ash-forming super-eruptions 170 years apart and each cooled the ocean by about 3 degrees Celsius,” said Jim Kennett, a geologist who worked on the project and who presented the study’s findings at the annual meeting of the <a href="https://www.geosociety.org/">Geological Society of America</a>. 

The researchers were able to estimate the effect of the eruptions on climate due to two things. First, the layers of sediment themselves, which can be used to measure time spanning back millions of years. 

The Santa Barbara Basin collects about one millimeter of sediment per year, so core samples measured in millimeters can trace back the geological record of the basin thousands of years. 

Another element was the presence of foraminifera in the sediment samples. Foraminifera are tiny marine creatures whose shells contain oxygen and can be used to estimate temperatures at the time the shell was formed. 

These two conditions, along with the fact that the core samples remained uncontaminated by marine animals who might have burrowed into the sediment disrupting the geological record, led the researchers to discover that two eruptions occurred and altered the Earth’s climate. 

Both of the eruptions caused separate volcanic winters, according to the researchers. Volcanic winters occur when ash and sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere block sunlight from reaching the Earth's surface which has a cooling effect. 

In this case, the two eruptions caused cooling periods that lasted longer than is typical, and the researchers have some theories as to what could have caused that. One possibility is a change in ocean circulation at the time the eruptions occurred. 

“It was a fickle, but fortunate time. If these eruptions had happened during another climate state we may not have detected the climatic consequences because the cooling episodes would not have lasted so long,” said Kennett. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

The last Yellowstone eruptions changed the planet

The last time the Yellowstone supervolcano erupted was 63,000 years...

It is projected that by the year 2050, there will be an additional 25 million kilometers of new paved roads all around the globe. That’s enough roadways to circle the planet over 600 times. In Asia’s developing countries alone, paved roads are expected to double in length.

Why is this important? According to a new study led by William Laurance of <a href="https://www.jcu.edu.au/">James Cook University</a>, this global uptick of new roads comes with a plethora of economic, social, and environmental dangers.

“We’ve scrutinized major roads and infrastructure projects around the world,” said Laurance, “and it’s remarkable how many have serious hidden costs and risks.”

Co-authored by Irene Burgués Arrea, an economist who has studied road-building costs and benefits in Latin America and Africa, the study was published in the journal Science. The researchers say that the most urgent priority is limiting millions of kilometers of new roads that are being planned or already being built in high-rainfall areas. This is mostly occurring in developing nations in Asia, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-humans-africa/">Africa</a>, and Latin America. 

“This is where ambition for quick profits meets nearly impossible engineering,” says Laurance. “Rainfall-drenched roads develop pot-holes, giant cracks and landslides so fast it’s nearly unbelievable. They can quickly turn into giant money-losers."

Burgués Arrea also adds that adding in the environmental and social costs of building these roads, it’s clear that there is very little upside to their construction. 

“The public often ends up with major debts from failed roads. A few road developers and politicians get rich, but vital development opportunities are easily squandered,” explains Laurance. “It’s remarkable how many nations, investors, and lenders are failing to see the profound risks of road expansion in wet tropical environments, which are also the world’s biologically richest ecosystems.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: William Laurance

Worldwide road building boom costly for the environment

It is projected that by the year 2050, there will...

SONY DSC

Climate change could potentially cause some species who depend on bamboo, like giant pandas and lemurs, to starve to death. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.helsinki.fi/en">University of Helsinki </a>in Finland, <a href="http://www.stonybrook.edu/">Stony Brook University</a> in New York, and<a href="https://www.monash.edu/"> Monash University</a> in Australia conducted a study that monitored the specialized eating habits of greater bamboo lemurs in Madagascar. 

The greater bamboo lemur is already one of the of the most endangered species on Earth. As their name suggests, these lemurs exclusively eat bamboo, specifically the soft and nutrient-rich bamboo shoots. 

During Madagascar's dry season, which lasts from August to November, the lemurs use their teeth to eat the woody parts of the bamboo tree known as culm. 

The greater bamboo lemur and the giant panda are the only two mammals who can eat the woody culm thanks to a set of highly specialized teeth. 

The lemurs can survive on culm during the dry season, but climate change may force the lemurs to rely on culm for longer and longer periods, slowly starving the species out. 

“For extreme feeding specialists like the greater bamboo lemur, climate change can be a stealthy killer. Making the lemurs rely on a suboptimal part of their food for just a bit longer may be enough to tip the balance from existence to extinction,” said Patricia Wright from Stony Brook University, one of the study’s authors.

The researchers observed greater bamboo lemurs in the Ranomafana National Park in Madagascar for 18 months, monitoring the lemur’s feeding habits. 

The team reported over 2,000 feeding observations which showed that the lemurs spent the majority of their feeding time (95%) eating a single species of woody bamboo. The lemurs only ate the woody bark of that species when they needed to during the dry season. 

Interestingly, analyzing fossils of the greater bamboo lemur found in Madagascar revealed that the lemurs were distributed throughout the island in a broader range.

Now, the lemurs live on the parts of the island where the dry season is shortest, and their distribution throughout Madagascar has decreased. 

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-costing-billions/">Climate change</a> will likely cause longer dry seasons where the greater bamboo lemurs live, forcing them to eat culm for extended periods. The lemurs could starve as a result. 

The researchers compare the plight of the greater bamboo lemur to that of giant pandas who have similar eating habits. 

The team hopes their efforts show the vital importance of understanding exactly how climate change may cause extinction, and is working to preserve the remaining members of the species affected. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Jukka Jernvall

Bamboo lemurs may starve to death due to climate change

Climate change could potentially cause some species who depend on...

Extracting and transporting natural gas inevitably releases methane into the atmosphere, and strategies are needed find leaks faster and more cost-efficiently. Scientists from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_J._Watson_Research_Center">IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center</a> have developed a tiny device capable of detecting methane. The chip-based methane spectrometer will ultimately make it easier to monitor the efficiency of natural gas pipelines.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/methane-emissions-measured-reported/">Methane</a> is the primary component of natural gas and is about 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The research team created a methane spectrometer smaller than the size of a dime that can detect methane even at levels as low as 100 parts per million.

The spectrometer, which is based on silicon photonics technology, is an optical device made out of the material used to make computer chips. If produced in large quantities, the spectrometer and its energy source would only cost a few hundred dollars.

"Compared with a cost of tens of thousands of dollars for today's commercially available methane-detecting optical sensors, volume-manufacturing would translate to a significant value proposition for the chip spectrometer," said lead author William Green. "Moreover, with no moving parts and no fundamental requirement for precise temperature control, this type of sensor could operate for years with almost no maintenance."

The team is developing a project to test the spectrometers in the field, coordinating their efforts with partners in the oil and gas industries. The spectrometers will be used to detect methane leaks, which could prevent the companies from having to spend a lot of time and money on the human inspection of thousands of sites.

"During natural gas extraction and distribution, methane can leak into the air when equipment on the well malfunctions, valves get stuck, or there's a crack in the pipeline," said Green. "We're developing a way to use this spectrometer-on-a-chip to create a network of sensors that could be distributed over a well pad, for example. Data from these sensors would be processed with IBM's physical analytics software to automatically pinpoint the location of a leak as well as quantify the leak magnitude."

While the researchers demonstrated the use of their new device for methane detection, the same approach could also be used for sensing other gases.

"Our long-term vision is to incorporate these types of sensors into the home and things people use every day such as their cell phones or vehicles. They could be useful for detecting pollution, dangerous carbon monoxide levels or other molecules of interest," said study co-author Eric Zhang. "Because this spectrometer offers a platform for multi species detection, it could also one day be used for health monitoring through breath analysis."

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.osapublishing.org/optica/">Optica</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New tiny chip can help combat methane emissions

Extracting and transporting natural gas inevitably releases methane into the...

A new study has found that ancient ocean temperatures were actually much colder than scientists had previously thought.

The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, reveals that paleoclimate research may have overestimated water temperatures from one hundred million years ago. 

These results come at a time when understanding how previous ocean temperatures affected climate is more important than ever in predicting the future impact of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-costing-billions/">climate change</a>. 

“Oceans cover 70% of our planet. They play a key role in the earth's climate. Knowing the extent to which their temperatures have varied over geological time is crucial if we are to gain a fuller understanding of how they behave and to predict the consequences of current climate change more accurately,” said Anders Meibom, a professor at the <a href="https://www.unil.ch/central/en/home.html">University of Lausanne</a> and one of the authors of the study. 

It had been commonly thought that ocean temperatures 100 million years ago were 15 degrees warmer than they are today, but now a team of French and Swiss researchers have challenged that theory. 

For the past 50 years paleoclimate research has calculated ancient ocean temperatures by studying sediment core samples that contain foraminifera, tiny marine organisms that form calcareous shells.

Foraminifera shells contain oxygen-18, and by testing for levels of oxygen-18 in the shells, it was thought you could determine the temperatures of the ocean at the time the shell was formed.  

But this is where the researchers feel the methodology is flawed, by focusing solely on oxygen-18. 

The temperature estimates are based on the idea that oxygen-18 levels in the shells stayed constant while the fossils were packed in the layers of sediment. 

Instead, the researchers used a nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometer to run small-scale chemical analyses on foraminifera that were exposed to high temperatures in artificial seawater containing only oxygen-18. 

The levels of oxygen-18 in the shells changed without any visible trace, meaning they are unreliable as a measurement of temperature. 

Instead, the French and Swiss researchers think that measurements of ocean temperatures were overestimated and call into question the years of paleoclimate research based on foraminifera shell calculations, particularly in colder water. 

The researchers now hope to revisit ocean temperatures millions of years ago to see if more accurate measurements can be made. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Ancient oceans were colder than previously thought

A new study has found that ancient ocean temperatures were...

Spending on conservation has been inconsistent throughout the world partly because there hasn’t been enough evidence to show that the money had much of an impact. 

But now, a new study conducted by an international team of researchers and published in the journal Nature, has found that government spending on conservation has reduced biodiversity loss over the years. 

“Governments and donors have been unwilling to come up with the budgets needed, often because there was little evidence that the money spent does any good,” said Dr. Anthony Waldron, lead author of the study. 

It is the first study of its kind to prove the success of conservation spending.

For example, the researchers found that during a ten year period from 1992 to 2003, 14.4 billion international dollars spent on conservation efforts decreased rates of decline in biodiversity.

In 109 countries the researchers discovered an average 29 percent reduction in biodiversity loss from 1996 to 2008. 

The researchers used a vast dataset which included global conservation spending and biodiversity declines over the years. The research team then created an algorithm that calculated biodiversity loss in each country compared to its respective budget for conservation. 

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sea-mining-loss-biodiversity/">Biodiversity loss</a> depends on human economic growth and conservation spending, and the more economic growth there in a country, the higher the risk of biodiversity loss. 

The results prove that conservation spending works, but the researcher's algorithm can be further used to calculate financial spending on conservation based on rates of economic growth. 

“The findings are a rallying cry to environmentalists and policymakers,” said Dr. Joseph Tobias, one of the researchers on the project. “The main message is that conservation is working, but that we need to boost investment to meet international policy targets. In addition, the results show how conservation funding may need to change over time, and be tailored more specifically to the context of each country.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandett@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Conservation spending works but more could be done

Spending on conservation has been inconsistent throughout the world partly...

In one of the deadliest natural disasters ever recorded, the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean killed more than 230,000 people – more than any fire or hurricane in history. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/indonesian-sea-cave-history-tsunamis/">Tsunamis</a> are caused by earthquakes, underwater landslides, and volcanic eruptions, and can occur at almost anytime or place near the ocean without much warning.

It now appears that scientists have discovered the earliest record of a person killed by a tsunami, after they found a skull buried in geological sediments carrying the distinctive signs of ancient tsunami activity. The individual is believed to have lived in what is now Papua New Guinea roughly 6,000 years ago.

“If we are right about how this person had died thousands of years ago, we have dramatic proof that living by the sea isn't always a life of beautiful golden sunsets and great surfing conditions,” says John Terrell, one of the study's authors and Regenstein Curator of Pacific Anthropology at <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/">The Field Museum</a>. “Maybe this individual can help us as scientists to convince skeptics today that all of us on earth must take climate change and rising sea levels seriously as the threats they truly are.”

In their paper published in <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>, the researchers reveal that the skull was actually found in 1929, buried in the ground in the northern region of Papua New Guinea. Initially, scientists weren’t exactly sure what to make of its presence. 

“The skull has always been of great archaeological interest because it is one of the few early skeletal remains from the area,” says Mark Golitko of the <a href="https://www.nd.edu/">University of Notre Dame</a> and <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/">The Field Museum</a>. “It was originally thought that the skull belonged to Homo erectus until the deposits were more reliably radiocarbon dated to about 5,000 to 6,000 years. Back then, sea levels were higher and the area would have been just behind the shoreline.”

In 2014, the researchers returned to the exact location where the skull had been found in order to look for new clues as to what had led to that individual’s demise. In their analysis, they found geological similarities between sediments laid down after the 1998 tsunami that hit the same coastline and the sediments in the area that the skull was discovered. This led them to believe that the person in question was either killed by the tsunami, or possibly had their grave exposed in the chaos of the natural disaster.

The researchers point out that this is just further evidence that tsunamis can happen at almost any time or place – as long as your near the coast, of course. Maybe this individual’s 6,000-year-old murder mystery could lead to us taking natural disasters like tsunamis more seriously as we move forward into the future.

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By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

World’s first tsunami victim discovered after 6,000 years

In one of the deadliest natural disasters ever recorded, the...

Oysters have extremely sensitive hearing and close their shells as a protective response to noise pollution. According to a new study, oysters quickly close up when they detect frequencies as low as 10 to 1,000 hertz. 

The study was conducted by researchers from the <a href="https://www.u-bordeaux.com/">University of Bordeaux</a>, France, and was published in the open-access journal, <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0185353">PLOS ONE.</a>

Noise pollution from boats, wind turbines, seismic research and even explosions pose many problems for marine life, but the researchers wanted to focus on invertebrates. 

“Noise pollution in the oceans is a growing problem, and we have all heard about its impact on whales. But the oceans are full of different animal types. What are their sound perception capacities,” said Jean-Charles Massabuau who led the research. 

Until recently, little was known about the effects of marine noise pollution on invertebrates like oysters. The researchers wondered if <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/native-oysters-may-thrive-in-climate-change/">oysters</a> “hear” or respond to different sounds, and if anthropogenic noise blocks other sounds in the ocean that the oysters are in-tune to. 

For the study, the researchers examined the effects of noise pollution on 32 oysters in a laboratory setting. 

Oysters rapidly close their shells as a defense mechanism and are extremely sensitive to lower frequencies. 

Massabaue played sounds underwater in a range of frequencies, and the researchers recorded how the oysters responded including how many of the oysters closed their shells and how quickly they closed them.

The oysters in the lab closed their shells at sound frequencies between 10 and 1,000 hertz, and the oysters showed maximum sensitivity between 10 and 200 hertz. 

The fact that their sensitivity is higher for lower frequencies means that the oysters are responsive to breaking waves and currents. 

Cargo boats in shipping lanes also operate with low frequencies, but small recreational boats and jet skis produce sounds too high for an oyster to respond to. 

The research is important in that it examines the impacts of noise pollution on less commonly studied marine wildlife, showing their incredible sensitivity to lower frequencies and how higher sound frequencies pose a threat to some smaller invertebrates.

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By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Why oysters quickly close their shells

Oysters have extremely sensitive hearing and close their shells as...

There is no better time than the present to modify your daily activities and make them more environmentally responsible, and choosing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/11-eco-friendly-celebrities/">eco-friendly</a> office supplies is a great place to begin. To start greening your office, simply make a list of all the supplies used and research earth-friendly alternatives.

If transforming the entire office is not in your budget, consider switching out one or two items at a time. The following are some of the best environmentally friendly supplies available to help reduce your office's carbon footprint.

Recycled Paper Products

From envelopes to compostable paper cups and plates, recycled paper products now come in many forms. A green transition in this department will have a particularly positive impact considering how frequently paper products are used in the office.

Where to buy: <a href="https://www.greenlinepaper.com/">greenlinepaper.com</a>

Eco-Friendly Pens

Adopting biodegradable pens made from renewable material is a great way to make your office more green. You may even print your company logo on eco-friendly pens to give potential customers a great first impression.

Where to buy: <a href="http://eco-pens.com/">eco-pens.com</a>

Non-Toxic Cleaner

Why introduce formaldehyde and other harmful chemicals into the air if you don't have to? There are plenty of green products available to clean all of the surfaces in your office while keeping the air quality up to a good standard.

Where to buy: <a href="https://www.seventhgeneration.com/">seventhgeneration.com</a>

Compostable Trash Bags

Disposing of non-biodegradable trash bags week after week just adds to our enormous waste problem. When you think about it, trash bags made of post-consumer recycled (PCR) material just make good environmental sense.

Where to buy: <a href="http://evolutionbags.com/">evolutionbags.com</a>

Solar USB Chargers

The time has arrived when you can easily charge all of your office's USB devices with solar power. This is an inexpensive green transition that every office should make to save energy, particularly for charging devices that are constantly plugged up while not in use.

Where to buy: <a href="https://www.renogy.com/">renogy.com</a>

Staple Free Stapler

This unique concept eliminates the need for tons of metal staples which are only used once and discarded. The device works like a hole puncher and uses the paper itself to stitch pages together. 

Where to buy: <a href="https://madebyhumans.net/">madebyhumans.net</a>

Smart Power Strips

Even when appliances and electronic devices are in standby mode, they are still using electricity. Smart power strips cut the power supply off to these gadgets and significantly cut back on electricity usage.

Where to buy: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/">Amazon.com</a>

LED Light Bulbs

Not only do LED lights consume less energy to produce the same amount of light, but they are also free of the toxic chemicals such as mercury. In addition, LED lights typically last six times longer than traditional lights.

Where to buy: <a href="https://greenlightdepot.com/">greenlightdepot.com</a>

Recycled Pencils

Forests the size of 90 tennis courts are cut down every minute to supply wood to make wooden pencils, according to a company known as Treewise Pencils. This company makes pencils from 100 percent recycled newspaper in an effort to combat deforestation.

Where to buy: <a href="http://www.treewisepencils.com/">treewisepencils.com</a>

Biodegradable Packaging and Packing Tape

These packaging products are not only compostable but also lightweight and cut down on shipping costs. This is another great way to show your customers that your organization is environmentally responsible.

Where to buy: <a href="https://www.ecoenclose.com/">ecoenclose.com</a>

For over 60,000 products that are ranked by their “greenness,” check out t<a href="https://www.thegreenoffice.com/">hegreenoffice.com</a>. The Green Office has also developed a comprehensive <a href="https://www.thegreenoffice.com/services/calculator">Office Footprint Calculator</a> where you can calculate your office's carbon footprint and track your progress as you help to create a healthier planet.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The top 10 best eco-friendly office supplies

There is no better time than the present to modify...

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



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.

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

[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 



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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.

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



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.

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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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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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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