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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Firefighters face elevated exposure to forever chemicals

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

Bill Gates, alongside a dream team of the some of the world’s wealthiest men, will spearhead a $1 billion fund to invest in green energy. The group of backers also includes Sir Richard Branson, Alibaba founder Jack Ma, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, boasting a combined net worth of over $171 billion.

This week, the team of investors launched<a href="http://www.b-t.energy"> Breakthrough Energy Ventures</a> (BEV), which aims to invest $1 billion in green energy over the next 20 years. The initiative began brewing last year at the <a href="http://www.cop21.gouv.fr/en/">Paris Climate Summit</a>, and plans to take a more long-term, nuanced approach to backing affordable and reliable green energy sources. The BEV fund will began making investments in 2017.

Said Gates, "Our goal is to build companies that will help deliver the next generation of reliable, affordable, and emissions-free energy to the world. I am honored to work along with these investors to build on the powerful foundation of public investment in basic research."

Afters Gates left Microsoft in 2014, he has made a new career in philanthropy and has already invested several clean energy initiatives. 

As Gates told <a href="http://qz.com/859860/bill-gates-is-leading-a-new-1-billion-fund-focused-on-combatting-climate-change-through-innovation/">Quartz</a>, “Anything that leads to cheap, clean, reliable energy we’re open-minded to."

Gas trader John Arnold is another backer of Breakthrough Energy Ventures. Arnold believes that because prior clean energy investors have seen small returns, there is now a shortage of funding for green energy technology. 

"The dearth of venture funding for clean energy technologies threatens to create a valley of death for the industry, with emerging ideas unable to find the necessary capital to reach commercialisation," said Arnold. “As an investor-led effort, Breakthrough Energy Ventures is designed as a source of patient capital to spur innovation to meet the growing demand for low-cost, clean energy solutions."

---

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Bill Gates and billionaire dream team announce green energy initiative

Bill Gates, alongside a dream team of the some of...

The Dieselgate scandal is still making waves in the automobile industry more than a year after it entered the public consciousness. Now, <a href="http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/">Volkswagen UK</a> has reported a drop in its market share – and is warning of potential legal threats.

Dieselgate began in 2013, when researchers from <a href="https://www.wvu.edu/">West Virginia University</a> and the <a href="http://www.theicct.org/">International Council on Clean Transportation</a> began noticing that Volkswagen vehicles often had different nitrogen oxide emissions during lab testing than in road tests. Nitrogen oxide is a byproduct of vehicle fuel use.

They shared their findings with the <a href="https://www3.epa.gov/">Environmental Protection Agency</a>, which confronted Volkswagen. After several rounds of back and forth accusations and denials, Volkswagen admitted in September 2015 that it <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-18/epa-says-volkswagon-software-circumvented-car-emissions-testing">cheated on U.S. emissions tests</a>. The tampering affected both Volkswagen and Audi cars, it said.

Last month, California regulators found an additional software program in the Audi cars that also falsifies carbon dioxide readings, according to the <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/volkswagen-probe-in-germany-extended-to-chairman-1478429066">Wall Street Journal</a>. 

In the United Kingdom, the ongoing and widening Dieselgate scandal could spell more trouble for the automaker. Volkswagen has already settled the nitrogen oxide tampering case in the U.S. for $15 billion, according to <a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/volkswagen-settles-emissions-scandal-15-billion/">PBS NewsHour</a>.

<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house">Companies House</a> has warned that accounts filed for the year ending in December 2015 warned of lawsuits filed against the car company’s UK branch. No lawsuits have yet been served. 

UK drivers are angry that they weren’t offered the same compensation packages U.S. customers were, officials said.

A modification created by Volkswagen ensures that their vehicles meet emissions standards, but only 10 percent of UK drivers have upgraded their cars, officials said.

Volkswagen UK has taken a hit. Costs related to stocking the equipment to upgrade vehicles are expected to total around £13 million. Market share has slipped by nearly a percentage point, from 20.3 percent to 19.5, officials said.

Nearly 23 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK are from transportation sources, according to <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/final-uk-greenhouse-gas-emissions-national-statistics-1990-2014">a 2014 survey</a>. That includes automobiles. Many climate scientists believe greenhouse gases contribute to climate change.

---

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dieselgate scandal could lead to lawsuits in UK

The Dieselgate scandal is still making waves in the automobile...

Scientists are studying data from five satellites over two decades to get a better sense of how Antarctic glaciers are retreating.

They’ve discovered something interesting: the melting glaciers are shrinking at different rates, even when they’re in the same location.

In fact, some of the glaciers are thinning at three times the rate of their neighbors, the scientists said.

The researchers, led by Dr. Hannes Konrad, focused primarily on six Antarctic glaciers that flow into the Amundsen Sea: Pine Island, Thwaites, Haynes, Pope, Smith, and Kohler. 

The Pine Island Glacier is known to be contributing more to rising sea levels than the others, the agency said.

Warming ocean waters cause the glaciers to thin and melt more quickly, Konrad said. Where glaciers meet the sea, a portion of the ice shelf floats. Water causes that floating portion to melt, and ice flows from the upper part of the glacier to replace what is lost to melt, Konrad said. 

Warmer water melts the floating portion of the glacier more quickly, he said. Then the glacier thins as ice flows toward the water faster than it can be replenished by snow.

Scientists from the <a href="http://www.cpom.org/">Centre for Polar Observation</a> in the UK examined data going back to 1992 from the <a href="http://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency’s</a> ERS-1, ERS-2, Envisat and CryoSat, along with <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">NASA’s</a> IceSat.

They found that all of the Amundsen Sea glaciers thinned during that time. However, in some cases that thinning was erratic. For example, thinning of the Thwaites Glacier stopped entirely for four years, while the neighboring Pine Island Glacier continued to thin drastically. 

The variations could be accounted for by several different conditions, Konrad said. Topography, hydrology, glacier catchment size, and even the bedrock could alter how quickly the glaciers melt, he said.

The scientists hope to use the data to better calculate sea level rise and glacial retreat. That analysis will improve modeling of how Antarctic glaciers may continue to thin and melt, the researchers said. 

The study was presented at the <a href="https://sites.agu.org/">American Geophysical Union’s</a> fall meeting in San Francisco, California.

---

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Team of scientists tracks retreat of Antarctic glaciers by satellite

Scientists are studying data from five satellites over two decades...

Today, the town of Blythe, California is in an inland desert. It’s a far cry from 5 million years ago, when the geological record of ancient ocean tides shows the Colorado River flowed into the Gulf of California in that place, according to a new study.

A team of <a href="http://uoregon.edu/">University of Oregon</a> geologists traveled to the town near the Arizona border to study the sedimentary rock along valley that houses the Colorado River. 

They found that Blythe was once beachfront property. The layers of sediment aren’t even. Instead, the layers vary rhythmically, pointing to tides ebbing and flowing and shifting the sediment deposits in the process, the researchers said.

A number of the desert rocks near Blythe, particularly the Bouse Formation. The rock formation is awash with tidal features, according to geologists. They’ve long suspected that the Bouse Formation would hold clues to prehistoric water flows in the region.

Now, the new research shows it was probably once underwater – specifically, under the northern end of the Gulf of California, which now begins south of the U.S-Mexico border.

Previously, scientists believed that it was under one of a series of freshwater lakes, said Brennan O’Connell, a graduate student at the University of Oregon and lead author of the study. The new evidence of the motion of ancient ocean tides in the layers of rock is one of just several clues indicating the gulf once stretched much farther north.

Another piece of evidence that’s in the geological record: uplift, the slow, vertical raising of the Earth’s surface, the researchers said. The former sea floor is approximately 1,082 feet higher these days than it was 5 million years ago, O’Connell said. 

The new geological study confirms a theory paleontologists have put forward for years. The fossil record experts have found remnants of saltwater creatures in the area for more than 50 years, but geologists who supported the freshwater lake hypothesis believed birds of prey must have carried them to the region, the researchers said. The new evidence that the saltwater gulf stretched from the ocean north to the Blythe area fits better with that fossil record.

Sedimentary deposits look very different when ocean tides play a role in their formation versus lake waters, the researchers said. They also used mathematical analyses to back up their findings.

The study was shared online and will be published by the journal <a href="http://geology.com/">Geology</a>. 

---

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Ancient ocean tides left their mark in layers of desert rock

Today, the town of Blythe, California is in an inland...

A deadly avalanche that slid down a Tibetan mountain in July was most likely triggered by climate change, an international team of scientists has concluded. 

Nine Tibetans were killed when 70 million tons of ice crumbled loose from the Aru glacier on July 17, tumbling down to the valley below.

A neighboring glacier dropped its own avalanche in September, but that event doesn’t seem to have caused any deaths, according to reports.

Glacial collapse is a new phenomenon for western Tibet, where Aru is located, the researchers said. Even though glaciers in the southern and eastern parts of the autonomous region have begun melting, the glaciers in the west have held steady and even expanded in some cases. 

That changed with the Aru avalanche, and the team of researchers wanted to know why.

Scientists from the <a href="http://english.cas.cn/">Chinese Academy of Sciences</a>, <a href="https://www.osu.edu/">Ohio State University</a>, and <a href="http://bpcrc.osu.edu/">Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center</a> joined forces to investigate the avalanche and determine what forces of nature might lie behind it. 

The deadly avalanche in July was fast – about five minutes – and buried nearly 4 square miles of the valley floor in snow during that time. That points to meltwater at the glacier’s base, which would make the downhill path slick and let the tumbling snow slide faster, the scientists said.

The team did run a number of computer models and simulations to seek out any other explanations. However, only the presence of meltwater could explain the avalanche, they reported in an analysis of the July disaster. 

The average temperature recorded by the weather station closest to the Aru glacier has gone up 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit since the 1960s, the researchers pointed out. Although there may be other explanations for the meltwater, the most likely is that the warming temperatures have led to slow melting of the glaciers, they said.

Investigation into the September avalanche is ongoing, and a cause has not yet been determined.

The team’s analysis of the July avalanche was published in the <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-glaciology">Journal of Glaciology</a>.

---

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Scientists: deadly avalanche in Tibet likely due to climate change

A deadly avalanche that slid down a Tibetan mountain in...

While North America shivers through a visit from the Polar Vortex, the United Kingdom may be getting a hot Christmas instead of a white one.

Christmas is expected to be so warm, in fact, that bookmakers are laying odds it will break records. 

Still, the possibility of a white Christmas day isn’t out of the question yet, at least not for all of the UK, meteorologists with the <a href="http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/">Met Office</a> pointed out. 

A high pressure system over much of the UK is likely to stay in place from mid- to late December, the office said. They’re expecting drier weather and lighter winds than usual over Christmas, according to officials.

However, periods of “unsettled” weather could still bring more typical winter weather to some regions, the office said. Weather at the beginning of winter is expected to be cooler, though still dry – the perfect snow conditions, meteorologists said.

Though this month has been unseasonably warm, the lack of snowfall in much of the UK is not unusual. Most of the UK sees its highest snowfall between January and March, according to the Met Office.

The last “official” white Christmas in the UK was in 2010, when there was widespread snowfall throughout the UK. The Met Office defines a white Christmas as observable snowfall – even if it’s just a snowflake – in the UK on Christmas Day.

Even with a hot Christmas in the forecasts, some have hope it will be a white Christmas, too. Though the high pressure front is likely to keep most of the UK dry, the northern part of Scotland might see snow – including on Christmas day. 

The UK’s previous warmest Christmases were in 1896 in Edinburgh, Scotland, and 1920 in Devon, England. In both events, the mercury hit 60 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Earlier this week, Flintshire in northern Wales reached 62.6 degrees, raising hopes for bookies and bettors. 

Some are hoping to topple the UK’s current record high for December this month, too. In December 1948, temperatures hit 64.9F, a record that has remained in place ever since.

Hot Christmas or white Christmas? Both may be ahead for UK

While North America shivers through a visit from the Polar...

The Polar Vortex got an early start this year, and those months of warm-up have it ready to lay a freezing smackdown on the the upper Midwest and East Coast in the U.S.

The weekend is expected to bring the first breath of winter to the Northeastern U.S. this weekend, and could close roads by Monday, according to meteorologists with <a href="http://www.accuweather.com/">Accuweather.com</a> and <a href="http://www.weatherbell.com/">WeatherBELL Analytics</a>, two private forecasting firms. 

The weather will likely be mild in the beginning of next week, but it won’t last. By Wednesday or Thursday, freezing air will drift south from Canada into the northern Plains and upper Midwest. By next weekend, it will work its way east.

After looking at models of the current Arctic blast gathering above Canada, Ryan Maue of WeatherBELL <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanMaue/status/806176153031602176?lang=en">tweeted</a> that it looked similar to the Polar Vortex of 2014, the first time most Americans were introduced to the weather event. The Northwest might get some cold weather late next week, too, he <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanMaue/status/807298971471376385?lang=en">tweeted</a>.

The Polar Vortex is swirling mass of frigid air that usually stays high in the atmosphere above the North Pole – hence the name.

But in recent years, instability in the Polar Vortex combined with unusual behavior in the jet stream has allowed tentacles of icy air from the vortex to unfurl over parts of North America, Europe and Asia, bringing record freezing temperatures with them. 

Some scientists studying the phenomenon think <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/polar-vortex-linked-loss-arctic-sea-ice/">melting sea ice</a> in the Arctic Circle could be playing a role in the unstable vortex, making the freezing air break free for the south more often. However, the <a href="http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/cold/polar_vortex.shtml">National Weather Service</a> points out that the U.S. has suffered cold weather from the vortex in the past, with notable cold in 1977, 1982, 1985, and 1989.

The Arctic blasts this weekend and next week – which Accuweather meteorologists say with bring <a href="http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/snow-wintry-mix-may-cause-delays-and-closures-in-northeastern-us-by-monday/70000234">piles of snow</a> from Chicago north, sleet or rain to the rest of the East Coast, and <a href="http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/rain-snow-to-hammer-northwestern-us-into-the-weekend/70000231">snow and heavy rain</a> in the Pacific Northwest – are expected to bring single-digit or below-zero temperatures to much of the northern U.S.

---

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Polar Vortex is back and it's going to get ugly

The Polar Vortex got an early start this year, and...

Meadow restoration in California. Could restoring some of the surviving meadows in the Sierra Nevada mountains help California bring its carbon emissions down to 1990 levels in the next three years?

The question spurred a team of researchers from the <a href="http://www.unr.edu/">University of Nevada, Reno</a> and citizen scientists with the <a href="http://earthwatch.org/expeditions">Earthwatch Institute</a> to hit the trails, armed with equipment to investigate.

Settlement in the mountains along the California and Nevada border since the mid-1800s has led to the destruction of many of the region’s meadows, said Dr. Ben Sullivan, a professor with the university’s Soil Science Laboratory – and released the carbon stored in the soil for long periods into the atmosphere. 

Water use also dried out the soil in former meadows, microbes move in, degrading the carbon and causing it to be released as gas, he explained. 

While trees and shrubs move into the former meadow space, they can’t take in nearly enough carbon to keep up, Sullivan added. A single acre of meadow can release more carbon through degradation than 11 acres of forest can absorb, he said.

The university decided to team up with Earthwatch Institute and its ranks of volunteer citizen scientists to study four meadows in the Truckee River watershed. Volunteers included 75 citizens from the local area, including a team of high school students from Reno and college students from UNR and the <a href="https://forestrycamp.berkeley.edu/">Berkeley Forestry Field Camp</a>.

The researchers and citizen scientists took samples from trees, shrubs, grasses, and soils. They also measured diameter and height of trees and shrubs and collected other data.

The volunteers’ help allowed the sampling to be done over the course of a few days instead of several weeks, and gave the students valuable experience in the field, Sullivan said. 

Sullivan and his team at the UNR Soil Science Lab will use the collected data to determine how much carbon is being stored in the four meadows, and create a model that can be used by the <a href="https://www.arb.ca.gov/">State of California Air Resources Board</a> to sell carbon credits in exchange for the meadows’ restoration. The board’s cap-and-trade program is one of a number of efforts to bring California’s carbon emissions down to 1990 levels by 2020.

Sullivan hopes to expand the research to more meadows in the Sierras. 

—

Organizations participating in the data collection expeditions included University of Nevada, Reno, the Earthwatch Institute, the <a href="http://berkeley.edu/">University of California, Berkeley</a>, the <a href="http://www.plumascorporation.org/">Plumas Corporation</a>, <a href="http://caltrout.org/">CalTrout</a>, and the <a href="https://www.truckeeriverwc.org/">Truckee River Watershed Council</a>.

---

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Scientists, citizens team up for Sierra Nevadas meadow restoration, California carbon credits

Meadow restoration in California. Could restoring some of the surviving...

A massive earthquake struck the Solomon Islands on Friday, leaving hundreds homeless and triggering small tsunamis throughout the country and other nearby Pacific islands.

No deaths have been reported, according to the aid organization <a href="http://www.wvi.org/">World Vision</a>. However, hundreds of Solomon Islanders reported their homes were badly damaged or completely destroyed in the 7.7-magnitude earthquake. 

Communication has not been restored with some of the more remote communities, so a full assessment of the damage has not yet been made, World Vision officials said.

As many as 3,000 people may have been affected, said Suzy Sainovski, the organization’s Pacific Timor-Leste spokeswoman. Many of the damaged homes were traditional stilt homes, she added.

On the island of Makira, closest to the quake’s epicenter, a hospital was damaged and 20 patients were evacuated, Sainovski said. A church and other buildings were damaged, including the World Vision office. 

A World Vision employee who witnessed the earthquake called it terrifying, in a statement the organization released to the press. People panicked and fled toward high ground, the employee said.

Aftershocks and power outages continued through Friday. Though there were some small tsunami waves in the Solomon Islands and nearby, no larger waves materialized and a tsunami warning throughout the Pacific islands – including Hawaii – was canceled. 

The epicenter of the earthquake was deep, about 30 miles below the surface, according to the <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/">U.S. Geological Survey</a>. Deeper earthquakes tend to cause less damage, the USGS said. 

The Solomon Islands, located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” are a common site for large quakes. In 2013, an 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Solomon Islands, triggering a 4.9-foot tsunami and killing 9 people. Four villages were completely destroyed. 

A 7.1 temblor in 2010 left as many as 1,000 people homeless on the islands, and an 8.1-magnitude quake and tsunami killed 52 in the island nation in 2007.

Hundreds affected by massive earthquake in Solomon Islands

A massive earthquake struck the Solomon Islands on Friday, leaving...

America’s forests are under attack by a variety of different insect infestations, both native and foreign-born, that pose a serious threat to trees and wildlife. 

The Hemlock woolly adelgid sits under branches, quietly sucking the sap until the tree ultimately dies. The emerald ash borer has the ability to cause $12.7 billion in damage in the next four years alone. It is estimated that these insect infestations threaten 63% of the nation’s forests through the year 2027. 

“They are one of the few things that can actually eliminate a forest tree species in short order - within years,” said ecologist David Orwig from <a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard University</a>.

The potential death of so many trees threatens biodiversity from coast to coast, with some hemlock and ash species already headed for extinction. Their death costs millions in damage and dead tree removal, and greatly increases the risk of damaging wildfires. This, in turn, lowers property values and timber industry loses, according to a study in <a href="http://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1939-5582/">Ecological Applications</a>.

Forests also provide the crucial absorption of greenhouse gas emissions. The homes of birds, insects, and the food sources for many animals will also be in danger. 

One of the primary causes of this insect attack on forests is thought to be globalization. Now more than ever, foreign insects from all over the world can enter ecosystems via packages, luggage, and plants. Once they’ve arrived, they can populate quickly.

Climate change exacerbates the problem by inviting insect species to northern areas that have recently warmed. The native bark beetle, in particular, has taken advantage of warming trends by moving up from Mexico all the way to Canada.

"They drain the resin that otherwise defends the tree," said Matt Ayres, an ecologist from <a href="http://dartmouth.edu/">Dartmouth College</a>. "Then, the tree is toast."

Drought conditions make matters worse for already weakened forests now dealing with insect infestations. According to the <a href="http://www.fs.fed.us">U.S. Forest Service</a>, and in California 100 million-plus trees have died in the Sierra Nevada since 2010.

In an effort to contain the growing predator insect populations, scientists have come up with several approaches. The first method would be to introduce bio controls, where an insect that feeds upon the pests in their native land are introduced to the ecosystem. The <a href="http://www.usda.gov/">USDA</a> reports that 24 of the the 30 states with emerald ash outbreaks have released wasps to combat them. 

"With all bio controls, the hope is to create balance — balance between predator and prey," said Ken Gooch from the <a href="http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/">Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation</a>.

Another option would be genetic modification of trees. Chestnut trees can already be tweaked with a wheat gene to make them resistant to chestnut blight, a fungus from Japan that killed millions of trees. According to William Powell, professor at the <a href="https://www.suny.edu/">State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry,</a> genetic engineering could also be used to fight insects.

Scientists will need to get creative, as the trend of predator bugs shows no sign of slowing. Gary M. Lovett, from the <a href="http://www.caryinstitute.org/">Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies</a> in New York, has suggested switching out shipping materials for ones that can’t carry insects. 


Said Lovett, "We have this burgeoning global trade, so we will get a lot more of these."

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By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Insect infestations killing many American forests

America’s forests are under attack by a variety of different...

Using millions of satellite images, researchers have created water maps showing how human activity and Mother Nature have changed global surface water distribution over the past three decades.

The high-resolution maps were created using 32 years worth of images taken by  <a href="https://landsat.usgs.gov/">Landsat</a>, from 1984 to 2015. And it turns out that their results are no wet blanket on the status of Earth’s surface water, at least in most locations.

When the images were translated to maps, the researchers found that land regions lost nearly 35,000 square miles of surface water – about the size of Lake Superior. However, new lakes, ponds, and rivers containing 71,000 square miles of surface water formed in other regions.

However, new and permanent surface water features have appeared in nearly every continental region, the researchers reported in <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature20584.html">the new study</a>. 

The researchers focused on surface water, excluding oceans from their map. They used varying shades of blue, green, and pink to denote permanent, seasonal, new, and lost water. 

Using an algorithm to break the satellite images into 30-by-30-meter squares, then classify each one as land or water, the team was able to do what scientists have struggled with for years: record month-by-month changes on high resolution satellite water maps.

Their study showed a correlation between increased human activity and changes in surface water, the researchers said. For example, more than 70 percent of the 34,749 square miles of surface water that went missing was in Central Asia and the Middle East – where new dams and river diversions occurred.

Drought activity was a natural process also associated with disappearing water, particularly in the U.S. and Australia. 

However, all of the continents except Oceania, which includes Australia and New Zealand, had a net gain of permanent surface water.

The scientists believe that reservoir-filling and other human activity explains the new surface water, along with climate change.

The study and maps were published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.

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By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Water maps show how nature, human activity affect surface water

Using millions of satellite images, researchers have created water maps...

Driving an electric car may seem like one of the most environmentally-friendly decisions one can make. But upon taking a closer look at the manufacturing side, it may turn out that the batteries and electricity needed for the electric car could have come from fossil fuel burning. This begs the question: what exactly is the environmental footprint of electric car?

Scientists from the <a href="https://www.ntnu.edu">Norwegian University of Science and Technology’s</a> <a href="http://www.ntnu.edu/indecol">Industrial Ecology Programme</a> examined the environmental costs of electric cars and published their findings in a report in this week’s issue of <a href="http://www.nature.com/nnano">Nature Nanotechnology</a>. The team provides a model for developers to use alternative nanomaterials for batteries in hopes of creating the most environmentally sustainable cars.

The report illustrates the environmental impacts of the extraction, refining, synthesis, performance, and durability and recyclability of the materials used. The team evaluated the most eco-friendly nanomaterials for building lithium-ion batteries and proton exchange membrane hydrogen fuel cells.

"Our analysis of the current situation clearly outlines the challenge,” said the team. “The materials with the best potential environmental profiles during the material extraction and production phase.... often present environmental disadvantages during their use phase... and vice versa.”

By outlining the environmental costs of each material used to build electric cars, the team hopes that engineers will “make the right design trade-offs that optimize LIB and PEMFC nanomaterials for EV usage towards mitigating climate change.”

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By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How environmentally friendly is the electric car?

Driving an electric car may seem like one of the...

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



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

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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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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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



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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



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



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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



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Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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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