Farming in ways that support nature can pay off - not just for the environment, but for crops too. That’s the takeaway from a new study that tested how different methods of agroecological farming perform on real working farms in England. 



The study showed that adding simple nature-friendly features like wildflower margins and organic matter improved biodiversity and led to stronger crop performance.



But there’s a catch: to make these methods financially viable on a large scale, many farmers may need more government support.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-real-farms-real-results">Real farms, real results</h2>



The research team, based at the <a href="https://www.ceh.ac.uk/">UK Centre for Ecology &amp; Hydrology</a> and Rothamsted Research, ran a four-year study across 17 commercial farms in southern England. This was the first time anyone tested both the ecological and financial impacts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sustainable-farming-is-good-for-farmers-well-being/">agroecological</a> practices at this scale in the UK.



The researchers didn’t just run lab trials. The researchers partnered directly with farmers to design and carry out real-world experiments, testing three types of farming systems side by side.



The first was a business-as-usual approach, using standard intensive methods without any nature-friendly additions. 



The second, called the enhanced ecological system, introduced wildflower field margins to support pollinators and other beneficial insects, along with overwinter cover crops to protect and enrich the soil. 



The third was the maximized ecological system, which built on the enhanced version by adding wildflower strips within the fields - essentially creating insect “runways” - and using farmyard <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/beer-byproducts-and-manure-used-to-increase-crop-yields/">manure</a> to improve soil health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-bugs-better-soil-higher-yields">More bugs, better soil, higher yields</h2>



The results were clear. The farms that adopted enhanced or maximized ecological methods saw an increase in beneficial species. 



Earthworms, bees, hoverflies, ladybirds, spiders, and lacewings were all more abundant. These helped reduce crop pests like aphids and snails.



That’s not all. The flowering crops - like oilseed rape - produced more seeds thanks to better pollination. The soils held more carbon. And overall, the yields went up.



Even with a little land taken out of production to make room for habitats, the gains in crop health and pollination made a difference. The enhanced ecological system was just as profitable as conventional farming - but only because of current government subsidies.



The maximized system delivered even stronger environmental and yield benefits. But it was more expensive to implement. 



Without more support, most farms would not find it financially competitive. Some farms, especially mixed ones that already have manure on hand, might fare better. But others would struggle without extra help.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-profit-meets-sustainability">Profit meets sustainability</h2>



Dr. Ben Woodcock, one of the study’s lead scientists from the UK Centre for Ecology &amp; Hydrology, elaborated on the research.



“Without the introduction of new financial incentives, many farmers will be deterred from adopting agroecological farming practices and systems. This could leave them locked into high input, intensive farming systems and more exposed to the impacts of pesticide resistance, declining soil health and climate change."



According to Dr. Woodcock, while farmers run businesses that need to be profitable, there is an increasing awareness that more sustainable systems can help "future-proof" their farms in terms of soil health, less reliance on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pesticides-attack-bees-in-multiple-ways-throughout-the-body/">pesticides</a> and climate change.



“Agroecological methods are good for biodiversity, food security, and, in the long-term, provide more secure farm incomes but habitats can take several years to establish, so agri-environment subsidies are essential to helping farmers transition to these more sustainable systems.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-support-for-greener-farming">Support for greener farming</h2>



The researchers believe that showcasing these successful results could help convince more farmers to make the switch. It’s about breaking the cycle of intensive practices that keep farms dependent on chemical inputs and vulnerable to environmental changes.



Professor Jonathan Storkey, an ecologist at Rothamsted Research, said the study confirmed that managing land on farms for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/farming-for-wildlife-how-traditional-practices-can-protect-nature/">wildlife</a> is not in direct conflict with food security but can support sustainable production by increasing yields and reducing pest pressure. 



"These ‘ecosystem services’ could potentially substitute for chemical fertilizers and pesticides which negatively impact the environment," said Professor Storkey. 



“However, our analysis has shown that realizing these benefits will require additional support for farm businesses that currently operate on very narrow profit margins. As input costs increase, however, these agroecological approaches may become more attractive.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-training-makes-a-difference">Training makes a difference</h2>



The quality of nature-friendly measures also depends on how well they’re implemented, and training helps.



Earlier research from the UK Centre for Ecology &amp; Hydrology showed that when farmers receive proper guidance on creating and managing wildlife habitats, those habitats do a much better job of supporting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-pollinators-boost-the-nutritional-value-of-crops/">pollinators</a> and pest-controlling insects.



Field margins and wildflower strips may seem like simple changes, but getting them right requires different thinking than managing crops. The better these habitats are planned and maintained, the more they deliver.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-growing-green-nationwide">Growing green, nationwide</h2>



Nature-friendly farming isn’t just about doing good for the environment - it can also help farms thrive. But making the switch isn’t free, and for many farmers, the numbers have to work. 



That’s where targeted subsidies and support come in. The research shows what’s possible. Now, the question is how to make it doable for more farms across the country.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.70079">Journal of Applied Ecology</a>.



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Eco-friendly farms can succeed - but they need support

Farming in ways that support nature can pay off - not just for the environment, but for crops too. That’s the takeaway from a new study that tested how different methods of agroecological farming perform on real working farms in England. The study showed that adding simple nature-friendly features like wildflower margins and organic matter improved biodiversity and led to stronger crop performance. But there’s a catch: to make these methods financially viable on a large scale, many farmers may need more government support. Real farms, real...

In recent years, beachgoers in Cape Cod and nearby areas have been reporting jellyfish stings that have similar symptoms to stings that were occurring off of the Russian coast. People were reporting stings that led to severe pain as well as respiratory and neurological issues. Scientists were perplexed by this news, as the jellyfish known to cause these stings are native to the North Pacific and should be nowhere near the Atlantic Ocean.

Clinging jellyfish (Gonionemus) are tiny members of the jellyfish family that attach themselves to seagrass and seaweed – they are also the culprits in this stinging scandal. These jellies were long assumed to be native to the North Pacific, but have now become widely distributed throughout the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Now, research published in the journal <a href="https://peerj.com/">Peer J</a> describes the first genetic study of clinging jellyfish diversity in populations around the world. The researchers found some surprising links among the distant communities of jellyfish, and also may have discovered that there is more than one species of this stinging organism.

By obtaining tissue samples from a number of different Atlantic and Pacific locations, the researchers uncovered a genetic match between populations of stinging jellyfish in Russia and those found along the East Coast of the United States. Analysis of DNA from the tissue samples led to the identification of seven variants, some of which were specific to just one location while others were spread among communities in distant locations.

They also discovered that jellyfish from the Northeast Pacific and Northeast Atlantic locations were genetically different from Northwest Atlantic and Northwest Pacific populations. This suggests that the two related groups may actually be entirely different species of Gonionemus.

Annette Govindarajan – lead author of the study and a biologist at <a href="http://www.whoi.edu/">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute</a> (WHOI) – says, “In the past, some people have suggested that the Atlantic and the Pacific jellies were different forms. Others have suggested that jellies in the Atlantic were introduced from the Pacific. But what we found doesn't correspond exactly to either hypothesis.” Instead, the researchers think that the jellyfish found in the Northwest Atlantic and Northwest Pacific are likely a different species.

“The study documents what we suspected, that there are different types of Gonionemus jellies and some of these types co-occur in New England," says coauthor and fellow <a href="http://www.whoi.edu/">WHOI</a> researcher Mary Carman. “Some types seem to have a toxic sting to people and some do not.” The relationship between genetic variants of jellyfish and toxicity is something the researchers would like to pursue in the future. “It could very well be that the toxicity is a function of both genetics and the environment, perhaps something in the environment is triggering the toxicity,” explains Govindarajan. 

In the meantime, Govindarajan believes that beachgoers shouldn’t be too concerned about encountering the stinging jellies – despite the fact that they bloom in the summer months. “Unlike other jellies, it is unlikely that these would be in open water,” she explains. “We only see them in areas with eelgrass or seaweeds since they’re able to cling to these surfaces with the sticky pads found on their tentacles.”

The research team hopes to study further genomic analyses that will give greater insight into what genetic markers can reveal about these species and their toxicity. Further research could lead to a better understanding of how these invasive forms of jellyfish are dispersing, so that their future invasions can be curtailed. 

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.whoi.edu/">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution</a>

This stinging jellyfish has been invading East Coast beaches

In recent years, beachgoers in Cape Cod and nearby areas...

The Eastern wood pewee is a small North American bird named after the unique sound of its song.  While not yet classified as a threatened species, its numbers are declining at alarming rates. The number of these birds in the Washington D.C. area has dropped by over 50% in the last 70 years. Researchers from <a href="https://www2.gmu.edu/">George Mason University</a> teamed up to identify a likely cause for this rapid decline in bird population - the interference of traffic noise.

The researchers chose three parks in the Washington D.C. area to set up an observation. They selected sites where the traffic was constant, and also where the road was closed weekly for 36 hours at a time. The frequencies, bandwidth, and length of the birdsongs were analyzed. Low frequency traffic noise was added within 20 seconds of each bird vocalization along with full spectrum background <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/traffic-noise-prevents-birds-hearing-danger-alerts/">noise</a>.

The study, published today in the journal Bioacoustics, reveals that the birds changed both the length and frequencies of their songs as a result of shifts in traffic noise. When the traffic was silenced due to road closure, the songs returned to their natural state including longer duration, lower frequencies, and broader bandwidth. 

Dr. Katherine Gentry of <a href="https://www2.gmu.edu/">George Mason University</a> is the lead author of the study. She explains, "We found that Eastern wood pewees modified their songs to optimize transmission depending on traffic noise levels.”

The interference of traffic can make bird habitats unsuitable for many reasons. Besides immediate threats such as visible disruption and fatal vehicle collision, traffic disturbance can cause communication issues that have long-term repercussions. Birds will not only have a more difficult time establishing and maintaining their territories due to a lack of communication, but will also find it more challenging to attract mates and maintain bonds with them. 

Significant changes are needed for the Eastern wood pewee to thrive again. The ideal solution for conservation of these and other roadside habitats is uniform noise reduction. According to the authors of the study, road closures and traffic rerouting could become part of a much-needed conservation effort.

“The results confirm that temporary measures to reduce traffic noise, such as weekend road closures, can benefit animals and is a feasible and effective option for managing traffic noise," concludes Dr. Gentry.

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www2.gmu.edu/">George Mason University</a>

Is traffic noise causing birds to stop singing?

The Eastern wood pewee is a small North American bird...

Our nation’s wildfire policy is a result of the Great Fire of 1910. Also known as the “Big Blowup,” the fire consumed over 3 million acres in Washington, Idaho, and Montana in just two days. The U.S. Fire Service responded to the tragedy by adopting a policy that held the department responsible for preventing and extinguishing all wildfires. According to a new study conducted by the <a href="http://www.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado Boulder</a>, this policy of total fire suppression is no longer sufficient enough to protect our homes and ecosystems as wildfire seasons are becoming drier, hotter, and much longer. 

The study, published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was led by a team of wildfire experts who are urging lawmakers to update our <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/wildfires-caused-humans/">wildfire</a> policy. The researchers express an immediate need to reform the code in ways that will help us begin to better prepare for wildfires. The team urges that, like other natural disasters, we cannot control these wildfires and so we must learn to adapt. 

Tania Schoennagel is a research scientist at the <a href="http://www.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado Boulder</a>’s Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, an adjunct faculty member in the <a href="http://www.colorado.edu/">University</a>’s Geography department, and the lead author of the study. "For a long time, we've thought that if we try harder and do better, we can get ahead of wildfire and reduce the risks," explains Schoennagel. "We can no longer do that. This is bigger than us and we're going to have to adapt to wildfire rather than the other way around." 

The solutions proposed by the research team are controversial. The team recommends allowing wildfires to burn in unoccupied areas instead of extinguishing them. The group also advises in favor of “controlled burns,” or intentionally-set fires in more developed areas. They believe these actions will minimize future disasters by helping ecosystems adapt to wildfire. The scientists also stress the need for more forest-thinning projects that help to eliminate fuel while restoring areas for regrowth.

The study reveals that we have entered into a “new era of western wildfires” that is brought on by longer and hotter wildfire seasons in the western part of the United States. Since the 1970’s, the average temperature of this region has jumped two degrees Celsius, while the wildfire season has extended by nearly three months. Furthermore, a record number of homes are being built in fire-prone areas. This makes the fire risk here not only much more dangerous, but also more costly.

Currently, federal taxpayers cover the rising expense of wildfire containment, which is now averaging $2 billion a year. The team urges that some of these costs must be distributed to state and county departments. Researchers say this will result in more accountability on the state and county levels to establish fire-proof building codes and take other much-needed precautions to keep residents in high-risk areas safe. 

Max Moritz is a fire scientist the <a href="http://ucanr.edu/">University of California Cooperative Extension</a> and a co-author on the paper. "We need the foresight to help guide these ecosystems in a healthy direction now so they can adjust in pace with our changing climate," says Moritz. "That means embracing some changes while we have a window to do so."

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.colorado.edu/">The University of Colorado Boulder</a>

Preparing for a new era of wildfires

Our nation’s wildfire policy is a result of the Great...

Don't judge a glacier by it's shape... unless you're trying to determine how susceptible it is to melting. Researchers from the <a href="http://ig.utexas.edu/">University of Texas Institute for Geophysics</a> (UTIG) have found a way of predicting the thinning likelihood of each of 16 glaciers in the Greenland Ice Sheet simply by analyzing their shape characteristics.

This is important because, while the glaciers are located in one rather remote spot on Earth – in West <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jakobshavn-glacier-in-western-greenland-sheds-huge-chunk-of-ice-2/">Greenland</a> – they pose a risk to everyone on the planet as they melt due to global warming from greenhouse gases. They’ve been losing mass for decades. As the world’s second largest glacier chain, the Greenland Ice Sheet contains enough water volume that they could significantly contribute to the sea-level rise through melting.

"Not long ago we didn't even know how much ice Greenland was losing. Now we're getting down to the critical details that control its behavior," said Tom Wagner, director of <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">NASA's</a> cryosphere program, which sponsored the research.

The analysis worked out by the glacier team is based on calculations of how far the inland thinning that starts at the terminus of each glacier is likely to extend. Glaciers with thinning that reaches far inland are the most susceptible to ice mass loss.

They found that susceptibility to thinning is dependent on the thickness and surface slope of the glaciers. Those features are influenced by the landscapes under the glaciers. In general, thinning spreads more easily across thick and flat glaciers and is slowed down by thin and steep portions of glaciers.

With this knowledge, glaciologists of the future will know upon which West Greenland glaciers to focus more of their attention.

“The approach we demonstrate here allows us to identify which outlet glaciers are not yet changing rapidly, but might,” said Timothy Bartholomaus, an assistant professor at the <a href="http://www.uidaho.edu/">University of Idaho</a> and former research associate at UTIG. “With that knowledge, we can anticipate potential sea-level rise and set up the observational campaigns in advance to understand these glacier changes.”

The team’s research was published today in Nature Geoscience.

-- 

By <a href="mailto:dsearls@earth.com">David Searls</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source:<a href="http://www.nature.com/ngeo/index.html"> Nature Geoscience</a>

Glacier shape indicates how likely it is to melt

Don't judge a glacier by it's shape... unless you're trying...

British researchers have spotted an unsettling trend: Spring temperatures are on the rise in the United Kingdom.

The <a href="http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/">Met Office</a> looked at weather data from 1961 to 2016, and found that the average temperature from March to May had gone up about 1 degree Celsius – 2 degrees Fahrenheit – in that time. The average temperature for those months was 44 degrees Fahrenheit from 1961 to 1990; by 2016, the average was 46 degrees.

The warmer spring days are bringing fewer frosts, too. In the 1960s, the UK saw an average of 37 frosts each spring, according to the Met Office. In the past decade, that number dropped to 33.

The warmer weather isn’t limited to the UK. The first day of spring brought record high temperatures to several U.S. states, according to the <a href="http://www.weather.gov/">U.S. National Weather Service</a>. Parts of Oklahoma and Texas topped 90 degrees on March 21, breaking records set more than a century ago. 

And this past winter was the second warmest ever recorded, after the 2015-16 winter, according to data independently collected by agencies including the <a href="http://www.noaa.gov/">U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a>, <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a> and the <a href="http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/indexe.html">Japan Meteorological Agency</a>.

The 10 warmest years on record have all occurred since the year 2000, according to NASA. Although individual places on the planet have had hotter years in the past, the space agency uses global average temperatures to determine its ranking.

In warmer locales, even a two-degree boost in temperatures can bring worries of drought, heat waves, and other natural disasters. In cold regions, melting glaciers and tundra becomes an issue.

In the UK, though, rising spring temperatures bring extra gardening days. Warm spring days often mean gardeners can plant earlier and enjoy greenery a few days longer each year.

The Met Office warned gardening aficionados against overconfidence, however. Even though the British Isles are seeing fewer frosts, a late cold spell could still do plenty of damage, especially in the north, officials said. 

Gardeners should be ready to cover plants or bring them indoors if temperatures suddenly drop, they said.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com/staff">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Spring temperatures are heating up in the UK

British researchers have spotted an unsettling trend: Spring temperatures are...

New research has found that while many tropical forests may appear structurally undisturbed, hunting can exert significant pressure on wildlife and result in large population declines.

The review covered 176 studies, which spanned from South America to Asia and Africa, encompassing 97 bird and 254 <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/chewing-early-mammals-survive/">mammal</a> species. Hunted and unhunted sites were analyzed for mammal and bird abundance and the data was used to estimate the overall reduction in these populations.

They concluded that both bird and mammal populations were significantly reduced in hunted areas – 53% and 82% respectively. Furthermore, the study found a direct relationship between population reduction and distance from hunters’ access points, urban trading markets, and protected areas. So even though mammal populations were higher inside protected areas compared to non-protected areas, nearby hunting still had a negative impact on mammal abundance within the protected areas.

It was also found that smaller mammals were almost always more abundant in places with higher hunting pressure than larger species, which the researchers say is due to smaller species experiencing a decrease in predation pressure as a result of humans hunting the more desirable medium and large-sized animals. So it goes without saying that these smaller mammals are big fans of the current hunting practices.

The authors believe a possible solution to these problems would be to increase strategies that sustainably manage wildlife hunting in both protected and unprotected tropical regions, as current strategies aren’t doing the job.

While protecting certain regions of tropical forests may help sustain some of the wildlife in that specific area, it’s important to understand the impact of hunting practices in nearby forests. Since most non-human species have a tough time reading sign postings, they’re likely to unknowingly cross between protected and non-protected areas. Studies like this are important for giving us a reality check on whether or not our protection efforts are helping.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.aaas.org/">American Association for the Advancement of Science</a>

Hunting significantly reduces bird and mammal populations

New research has found that while many tropical forests may...

Solar radiation management projects, collectively known as solar geoengineering, are techniques for reducing global temperatures by reflecting the sun’s rays. Researchers from <a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard University</a> are preparing to test the feasibility of solar geoengineering using aerosol sprays. The experiment, which is set to begin as early as next year, is the first of its kind to surge radiation-blocking materials into the atmosphere. Some scientists warn that this type of attempt to control <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/decade-climate-change-goals/">climate change</a> may have a devastating outcome.

The team from <a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard</a> will begin their experiment emitting only water vapor. Next, they will continue to test a variety of materials that may be used in large quantities in the future. For the project, the researchers will not release more than 2.2 lbs of any material. 

Frank Keutsch is one of the lead scientists for the study. “The idea that you can even think about adjusting the temperature of the planet is terrifying,” said Keutsch. “But the consequences of climate change are also quite terrifying.” 

This aerosol method has become a heavily-debated subject. Many scientists believe that any positive consequences of this type of chemical engineering would be outweighed by a catastrophic aftermath. For example, one concern is the possibility of the Earth being suddenly exposed to the sun’s rays after being blocked from solar radiation for decades.

The <a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard</a> researchers believe that calcium carbonate in the form of aerosol can be used to achieve cooler global temperatures without damaging the ozone layer. This is based on the fact that limestone, one of the most common types of rock found on Earth’s surface, is formed mostly of carbon carbonate. 

The limestone-forming mineral calcite is now being tested for the upcoming <a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard</a> experiment. Calcite has acid-neutralizing properties that may counteract emission-based acids while reflecting sunlight.

“Essentially we ended up with an antacid for the stratosphere,” said Keutsch.

Despite the likelihood that calcite is capable of temporarily cooling the climate, researchers caution that this and other chemical engineering is not a permanent solution to climate change.

“Geoengineering is like taking painkillers,” said Keutsch. “When things are really bad, painkillers can help but they don't address the cause of a disease and they may cause more harm than good. We really don't know the effects of geoengineering but that is why we're doing this research.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard University</a>

Can “antacids” for the atmosphere help slow global warming?

Solar radiation management projects, collectively known as solar geoengineering, are...

What if I told you that in the future, we’ll be able to pull water from thin air using only the power of sunlight? That sounds super futuristic and exciting, right? Well, what if I told you that we don’t have to wait…

A team of scientists and engineers from <a href="http://www.berkeley.edu/">University of California, Berkeley</a> and <a href="http://web.mit.edu/">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a> (MIT) have collaborated to build a water harvester that uses only ambient sunlight to pull water from the air. The machine can even produce liters of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/less-fresh-water/">water</a> per day in conditions as low as 20 percent humidity, which is a common humidity level in arid regions.

This solar-powered water harvester was constructed at <a href="http://web.mit.edu/">MIT</a> using a special material produced at <a href="http://www.berkeley.edu/">Cal Berkeley</a>. The special material is a metal-organic framework known as MOF, which was invented by Omar Yaghi, the founding director of the <a href="http://globalscience.berkeley.edu/">Berkeley Global Science Institute</a> and one of the two senior authors on the paper.

Yaghi invented these metal-organic frameworks more than 20 years ago by combining metals like magnesium or aluminum with organic molecules to create rigid, porous structures ideal for storing gases and liquids. Since his original design, more than 20,000 different MOFs have been created by scientists all over the world.

In 2014, Yaghi and his team at <a href="http://www.berkeley.edu/">UC Berkeley</a> designed a MOF that binds water vapor. Sensing its potential usefulness, he contacted Evelyn Wang, a mechanical engineer at <a href="http://web.mit.edu/">MIT</a>, and suggested they team up to turn the MOF into a water-collecting system.

“One vision for the future is to have water off-grid, where you have a device at home running on ambient solar for delivering water that satisfies the needs of a household,” says Yaghi. “To me, that will be made possible because of this experiment. I call it personalized water.”

Wang and her students designed a system that allowed ambient air to diffuse through the porous MOF, causing water molecules to attach to the interior surface. Sunlight entering through a window then heats up the MOF and moves the water toward the condenser, where the vapor condenses as liquid water and drops into a collector.

“This work offers a new way to harvest water from air that does not require high relative humidity conditions and is much more energy efficient than other existing technologies,” Wang explains.

The current MOF can only absorb 20 percent of its weight in water, but it’s possible other MOF materials could absorb 40 percent or more. Yaghi believes this material has plenty of room for improvement and could easily become more effective at higher or lower humidity levels.

“It’s not just that we made a passive device that sits there collecting water; we have now laid both the experimental and theoretical foundations so that we can screen other MOFs, thousands of which could be made, to find even better materials,” says Yaghi. “There is a lot of potential for scaling up the amount of water that is being harvested. It is just a matter of further engineering now.”

For the time being, Yaghi and his team are hard at work improving on their MOFs, while Wang and her team are improving the harvesting system. It seems at this point that the sky is the limit for this solar-powered water harvesting system.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.berkeley.edu/">University of California – Berkeley</a>

This new solar-powered device can pull water from dry air

What if I told you that in the future, we’ll...

Hydrogen fuel cell cars could one day be a technology hero that helps replace climate-damaging fossil fuel vehicles – but not if drivers can’t find hydrogen fueling stations. Currently there’s a grand total of 34 public hydrogen fueling stations in the entire nation, according to the <a href="https://energy.gov/">U.S. Department of Energy</a>, and most of those are located in California.

It’s not much of a problem now since there are only a few hundred of the hydrogen-powered vehicles on the road, all of them on lease from Honda, Toyota and Hyundai, and all in California. But that number’s going to escalate to about 1,000 leased cars this year – and the industry certainly hopes the numbers continue to climb.

Just like electric cars, the hydrogen-powered vehicles are emission-free and of no danger to the environment. But they carry an added advantage over their electric siblings – they fuel as quickly as a gas stop. That’s in contrast to the eight or nine hours it might take to fully recharge an electric battery.

On the other hand, you’ve got to contrast those 34 lonely hydrogen refueling stations to the 15,703 public electric charging stations in operation today. Also, the electric charge cost is much smaller than for hydrogen. And, obviously, most drivers can plug in at home for a battery recharge. Not so much with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/portable-hydrogen-energy/">hydrogen</a>.

It costs up to about $80 to refill the five kilogram tank of a Clarity, the Honda hydrogen fuel cell model. But drivers get about 366 miles of hydrogen-powered driving before the need to refill the tanks.

In the near future, automakers might partner with governments and energy companies to develop more hydrogen fueling stations, as they’ve done in California. Earlier this year, Shell, BMW and nearly a dozen other companies in the transportation and energy industries formed a council to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen as a transportation fuel.

If automotive industry wants to grow this driving option into more than a California boutique industry, those hydrogen fuel cell stations must eventually start to pop up all across the country.

[caption id="attachment_259466" align="aligncenter" width="512"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/6-hydrogenfuel.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-259466" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/6-hydrogenfuel.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="341" /></a> The hydrogen fuel cell Genesis GV80 concept SUV. Credit: AP Photo/Richard Drew[/caption]

-- 

By <a href="mailto:dsearls@earth.com">David Searls</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source:<a href="http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FUEL_CELL_FUTURE?SITE=AP&amp;SECTION=HOME&amp;TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&amp;CTIME=2017-04-13-19-03-15"> Associated Press</a>

The one big problem with hydrogen fuel cell cars...

Hydrogen fuel cell cars could one day be a technology...

Oceanic researchers from <a href="https://www.uu.nl/en">Utrecht University</a> in the Netherlands found evidence of microbial life an astounding six miles beneath the ocean’s floor at the bottom of the infamous Mariana Trench. That’s according to a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“Considering the known temperature limit for life, 122 °C, and the subduction zone forearc geotherm where such mud volcanoes are located, we estimate that life could exist as deep as ∼10,000 m below the seafloor,” the study authors wrote. “This is considerably deeper than other active serpentinizing regions such as midocean ridges and could have provided sheltered ecosystems for life to survive the more violent phases of Earth’s history.”

The Mariana Trench is a long pit gouged out of the already very deep ocean depths. Located in the Western Pacific Ocean near China, Japan and the Philippines, the Trench is more than 1,500 miles long and no wider than 43 miles. At its deepest point, it goes down nearly seven miles below the ocean’s floor.

Life there is inhospitable, to say the least. The temperatures are near freezing and the pressure is about 1,000 times greater than on the surface of the Earth. And it’s so far from sunlight that it’s in perpetual and total darkness. That means no photosynthesis, so no traditional food sources. However, earlier scientific findings have included the presence of methane gas and hydrogen in the depths of the Mariana Trench, an available food source for very primitive life.

These current researchers said that what they found in serpentine scooped up from a mud volcano six miles under the ocean floor was organic material of the sort we’ve seen in less daunting environments.  Serpentine is a deep-ocean rock substance.

“Although we cannot pinpoint the exact origin of the organic matter, chemical analysis of the constituents resembles molecular signatures that could be produced by microbial life deep within or below the mud volcano,” the researchers wrote.

The research team’s findings don’t conclusively prove life exists that far below the ocean’s surface since there are other ways for the organic matter to have found its way to the serpentine, but it does provide tantalizing clues.

--

By <a href="mailto:dsearls@earth.com">David Searls</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source:<a href="http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2017/04/04/1612147114.full"> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>

Traces of life found at the bottom of the Mariana Trench

Oceanic researchers from Utrecht University in the Netherlands found evidence...

Water, water everywhere – but not nearly as much as we thought existed. That’s the conclusion reached by researchers led by David Seekell, an associate professor in the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences at Sweden’s <a href="http://www.umu.se/english">Umea University</a>. His team estimated that the world’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/road-salt-runoff-killing-twin-city-lakes/">lakes</a> contain about 30 percent less fresh water than had been originally believed.

Measuring the surface area of lakes is relatively simple through the use of GPS and satellite imagery, even though the planet is home to tens of millions of lakes. Much more difficult is measuring depths. That’s been traditionally done by circumnavigating the body of water in a boat and periodically taking depth measurements. Obviously, that would be a bit laborious for such a wide-scale audit.

“We decided to use a theory-driven approach,” said Seekell. “We assumed that the surface of the Earth is self-affine. This basically means that if you zoomed in and out of a cross-section of the Earth's surface, the statistical characteristics of the vertical topography are predictable based upon a stretching factor. We were able to use the model to estimate the mean volume of lakes at each given lake surface area, but also for variations in volume of lakes with the same surface area.”

His team’s findings can negatively impact the climate change challenge in that shallower bodies of water release more methane into the atmosphere. This could mean that the planet’s lakes are bigger contributors of greenhouse gases than previously anticipated. It could also have ramifications on dwindling water sources in some regions of the world.

In short, the “less water” finding is less positive than if researchers had found there to be a larger global inventory of fresh water than expected.

The study results appear in the current issue of the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

-- 

By <a href="mailto:dsearls@earth.com">David Searls</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source:<a href="http://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1944-8007/"> Geophysical Research Letters</a>

There is significantly less fresh water on Earth than we thought

Water, water everywhere – but not nearly as much as...

If <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/carbon-dioxide-atmosphere/">carbon dioxide</a> is the main culprit in climate change, then our two options are to cut emissions or remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Following the goals set at the 2015 Paris Agreement, the next 10 years will be prove incredibly crucial in finding out if all countries involved will be able to deliver on their promises. 

Most of the nations of the planet agreed to take steps to reduce greenhouse gases so that the global temperature rise would be less than 2 degrees Celsius more than during the pre-industrial age, and hopefully more like a 1.5 degrees Celsius rise by 2100. That was the easy part. Now the trouble is figuring out how to get there, as researchers from the <a href="http://www.iiasa.ac.at/">International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis</a> (IIASA) learned when taking deeper dive for an article that will appear in the journal Nature Communications.

“The study shows that the combined energy and land-use system should deliver zero net anthropogenic emissions well before 2040 in order to assure the attainability of a 1.5°C target by 2100,” said coauthor and IIASA Ecosystems Services and Management Program Director Michael Obersteiner.

To get there, the IIASA report showed that fossil fuel usage rates would have to drop dramatically, to less than 25 percent of global energy supply by the end of the century. Currently, fossil fuels provide 95 percent of that total. Deforestation would have to be radically curtailed too, since trees and vegetation traps CO2 from release into the atmosphere.

If the current rate of conversion to renewable sources – about 2.6 percent annually – continues, CO2 emissions wouldn’t peak until the end of the century and global temperatures would be at a 3.5C increase, far off the target, by 2100.

The study concluded that it will take a mix of changes in human behavior, a stronger commitment to adapting renewable energy sources faster, and adapting better land-use strategies to reach the climate change goals.

-- 

By <a href="mailto:dsearls@earth.com">David Searls</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source:<a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/"> Nature Communications</a>

Next decade will be crucial in achieving climate change goals

If carbon dioxide is the main culprit in climate change,...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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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



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



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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



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



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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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