Today's Image of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Space Agency</a> features a Copernicus Sentinel-2 photograph of the city of Bentiu in South Sudan.



"The country has always experienced a degree of seasonal flooding, which normally recedes in the dry season. However, four consecutive years of incessant flooding have submerged villages, farmlands and roads. In 2023, flood waters reached almost 2 meters in some places," said ESA.



"This false-color image, captured in January 2023, clearly shows the extent of the flooded areas around Bentiu. Information from the mission’s near-infrared channel was used to process this image so water bodies appear in dark blue or black. Sediment in the waters is bright blue, while the vibrant shades of red, mainly bordering rivers, denote vegetation."



According to ESA, the yellowish area in the center of the image is the city of Bentiu - standing out like an island surrounded by floods.&nbsp;



"From Bentiu, the Bahr el-Ghazal River meanders through the inundated floodplain in a northeasterly direction. It can be traced in black in the right of the image flowing through Lake No into the White Nile," said ESA.



"Fed by the White Nile, the large, swampy area running from the centre of the image to the bottom right is the Sudd. It is a network of channels, lakes and swamps and one of Africa’s largest floodplains, providing watering and feeding grounds for many endemic mammals and birds, as well as for large populations of migratory species."



Bentiu is known for its significance in the oil industry. It's the capital of Unity State, an area rich in oil fields, making it a crucial economic hub for South Sudan. However, this wealth in natural resources has also made Bentiu a focal point of conflict, particularly during the South Sudanese Civil War.



The city's history has been shaped by its strategic importance in the region. It has seen significant development in the oil sector, but this has been marred by political and ethnic conflicts. These conflicts have often resulted in severe humanitarian crises, affecting the local population with issues like displacement and shortages of basic necessities.



Despite its challenges, Bentiu is a key player in South Sudan's economy and its future development. The city's role in the oil industry cannot be overstated, and efforts are ongoing to stabilize the region and improve living conditions for its residents.



The city's demographics are diverse, reflecting the ethnic variety of South Sudan, but this diversity has also been a source of tension at times. Efforts towards peace and reconciliation in Bentiu and the wider Unity State are crucial for the long-term stability and prosperity of South Sudan.



Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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The city of Bentiu in South Sudan

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency...

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the Malaspina Glacier in southeastern Alaska. With a size of approximately 1,680 square miles, Malaspina is the world’s largest piedmont glacier. It covers an area larger than the state of Rhode Island.&nbsp;



"To human eyes, glacial ice typically looks white tinged with blue. But in this false-color satellite image, the rippled ice of Alaska’s Malaspina Glacier appears more fiery than frosty," said NASA.



"In this configuration, watery features are displayed in reds, oranges, and yellows; vegetation appears green; and rock is shown in shades of blue."



A piedmont glacier forms when steep valley glaciers spill into flat plains, where they spread out into bulbous, lobate shapes. Malaspina is fed by the Seward Ice Field and other smaller glaciers.&nbsp;



Despite its size, it's relatively thin for a glacier of its magnitude, averaging only about 600 meters (2,000 feet) in thickness.



The Malaspina Glacier is a classic example of a glacier experiencing significant retreat and thinning due to climate change. This has raised concerns about its long-term stability and the broader implications for sea-level rise.&nbsp;



The glacier's meltwater contributes to the Gulf of Alaska, and its changes are closely monitored by scientists.



Most of the Malaspina Glacier is located within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Its visually striking nature, including crevasses and moraines, makes it a subject of interest not only for scientists but also for photographers and nature enthusiasts.&nbsp;



The image was captured on October 27, 2023 by the OLI-2 (Operational Land Imager-2) on Landsat 9.&nbsp;



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Malaspina Glacier in southeastern Alaska 

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features...

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/151929/indonesian-fires-return-in-2023" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features an astronaut photograph of the Moon peeking over Earth's horizon. The image was captured as the International Space Station was orbiting over Iraq. 



"Taken at an oblique angle from an altitude of 406 kilometers (252 miles), the photo has a perspective that highlights Earth’s atmospheric limb, or the edge of the atmosphere," says NASA.



"The blue-toned haze that fades into the darkness of space is the mesosphere, which reaches an altitude of about 80 kilometers (50 miles). Above the mesosphere is the thermosphere. Although this layer is part of Earth’s atmosphere, it is commonly considered part of outer space."



According to NASA, the Moon is about 405,500 kilometers (251,000 miles) away from Earth at its furthest point, or apogee.



"Below the wispy clouds in the middle of the view is Lake Assad, a Euphrates River reservoir in northern Syria," notes NASA.



"Lake Assad is Syria’s largest lake and a primary source of the region’s drinking and irrigation water. The Tabqa Dam, which created the lake, is the largest hydroelectric dam in the country."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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The Moon peeks over Earth's horizon

Today's Image of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Space Agency</a> features a rare view of Elephant Island off the coast of Antarctica. The photo was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission in February 2023.



Elephant Island is an ice-covered, mountainous island in the Southern Ocean. It is located in the outer reaches of the South Shetland Islands.



"The highest peaks are Mount Pendragon, which reaches around 970 meters, visible on the southern end, and, moving northeast, Mount Elder, which reaches around 945 meters," said ESA.



"North of Mount Elder, the wide Endurance Glacier can be seen in the centre of the image. It is the main discharge glacier on the island and drains to the south and into the Weddel Sea. Thin sea ice, visible in light blue in front of the calving front, separates the glacier terminus from the open ocean waters."



Elephant Island holds a special place in polar exploration history because of its role in the Ernest Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914-1917). After their ship, the Endurance, was trapped and then crushed by ice in the Weddell Sea, Shackleton and his crew sailed lifeboats over treacherous seas to reach Elephant Island. It was an inhospitable place with no sources of food or shelter, but it was land.



Realizing that there was no chance of rescue from Elephant Island, Shackleton and a few crew members set out in a small lifeboat, the James Caird, to sail 800 miles to South Georgia Island where they hoped to find help. This journey is considered one of the greatest boat journeys ever accomplished. They did eventually reach South Georgia, and Shackleton was able to return to Elephant Island and rescue the remaining crew members.



Though it's largely ice-covered, Elephant Island is home to various wildlife, particularly seals, penguins, and seabirds. The island is uninhabited by humans, but it is a popular destination for expedition cruises and is often visited by those interested in polar exploration history.



Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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Elephant Island off the coast of Antarctica

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Tunulliarfik Fjord, which is located along the southern perimeter of Greenland.



"On March 13, 2023, the Operational Land Imager-2 (OLI-2) on Landsat 9 acquired these natural-color images of Tunulliarfik Fjord. The images have been pan-sharpened to bring out more detail," says NASA.



"At the time, the fjord’s waters were capped with a layer of sea ice. Atop the ice there are several long, straight lines connecting the towns of Narsarsuaq and Qassiarsuk, and running the length of the fjord. Though cracks and ridges can form naturally in the ice, there are indications that people were likely involved with producing some of the tracks pictured here."



The images were reviewed by Nathan Kurtz and several other scientists in the Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The experts determined that many of the tracks were produced by vehicles like snowmobiles. 



“It seems likely that residents from the town or nearby were out on the ice, possibly hunting or traveling,“ said Kurtz.



Tunulliarfik Fjord, also known as Erik's Fjord, is historically significant because it's close to the site where Erik the Red, the Norse explorer, established the first Norse settlements in Greenland around the year 985 AD. These Norse settlements, particularly Brattahlíð, were key starting points for the Norse exploration of the region and are the reason Greenland has its name.



The fjord offers picturesque landscapes typical of Greenland, with steep cliffs, icebergs, and vast open waters. The region is rich in history, and there have been numerous archaeological digs uncovering remnants of the old Norse settlements.



Today, the nearby town of Qaqortoq is one of the primary settlements in the area, providing modern amenities while retaining a deep connection to the region's historical and cultural significance.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&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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Tunulliarfik Fjord in southern Greenland 

Researchers from <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cornell University</a> have investigated the climate history of the San Joaquin Valley. The study reveals a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/indisputable-evidence-of-human-caused-climate-change/">climate</a> marked by intense weather extremes of droughts and floods.



For the investigation, the researchers used <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tree-rings-confirm-the-historic-significance-of-2021-heat-wave/">tree ring</a> data from over 600 years to reconstruct an extensive record of weather and streamflow scenarios.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-weather-extremes">Weather extremes</h2>



This innovative research method, which combined paleoclimatic data with synthetic weather generation, ultimately provides a new lens through which to prepare for climate-related risks.



The study sheds light on the weather extremes that have historically plagued the San Joaquin Valley in central California. These climate extremes include prolonged periods of both drought and floods, surpassing anything recorded in recent history in terms of severity and duration.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-implications-nbsp">Broader implications&nbsp;</h2>



The study insights are particularly important given the valley's status as a major agricultural center and a crucial source of produce for the nation.



Over the last few years, the region has seen a wild swing between severe drought and significant atmospheric rivers. This makes the valley a bellwether for the climate hazards that are facing the rest of California and much of the world, noted study co-senior author Patrick Reed, professor of Engineering at Cornell.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-critical-insights">Critical insights</h2>



One of the key findings of the study is the role of natural variability in influencing short-term weather extremes. However, human-induced climate change becomes a significant factor over periods exceeding 30 years.&nbsp;



The last six centuries have witnessed prolonged phases of heavy rainfall and severe drought that can persist for decades.&nbsp;



Surprisingly, the severity of droughts in the past 30 years rivals some of the worst in the 600-year record, but with a slightly shorter duration. The experts noted that hydroclimatic risks may be underestimated when they are based exclusively on modern records.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-natural-variability">Natural variability</h2>



One of the most significant implications of this research is its potential impact on policy and planning.&nbsp;



“Folks typically want to separate out internal variability versus climate change, just to get a sense of the signal change with anthropogenic warming,” said Professor Reed. 



“But when we’re planning in complex water systems, both are occurring. And we need a sense of what happens when they come together. And what happens is we get extremes we’ve never seen. This opens the envelope of plausible futures in a much wider sense.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



The study suggests that the convergence of natural variability and anthropogenic climate change is likely to result in more frequent, severe, and protracted flood and drought extremes than have been seen in the past 600 years.&nbsp;



The research provides invaluable insights into California's climate history and serves as a crucial tool for future climate resilience planning.



The study was supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. The results are published in <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2023EF003909" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth’s Future</a>, a journal of the American Geophysical Union.



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California’s weather extremes found in 600-year-old tree rings

Researchers from Cornell University have investigated the climate history of...

An important discovery in the study of the Sun's behavior was released today by researchers at the Center of Excellence in Space Sciences India (<a href="http://www.cessi.in/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CESSI</a>). Their work has unveiled a new relationship between the Sun’s magnetic field, solar flares, and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-sunspot-archipelago-15-times-wider-than-earth-spotted-by-nasa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sunspot</a> cycle. This discovery holds significant promise for predicting solar activities with greater accuracy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sun-s-magnetic-field-and-sunspot-cycle">Sun’s magnetic field and sunspot cycle</h2>



The Sun, our nearest star, is a massive sphere of hot ionized gas, or plasma. Within it, immense plasma flows and convection currents interact to form magnetic fields. These fields surface as sunspots, dark patches comparable in size to Earth. These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-sunspot-may-soon-disrupt-earths-power-grids/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sunspots</a> are centers of intense magnetism, possessing a magnetic strength about 10,000 times greater than Earth's.



Occasionally, these sunspot magnetic fields undergo violent disruptions, giving rise to solar magnetic storms such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-massive-solar-flare-struck-earth-on-monday-but-what-does-this-mean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flares</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-solar-outburst-detected-simultaneously-at-earth-the-moon-and-mars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coronal mass ejections</a>. These phenomena emit high-energy radiation and expel vast amounts of magnetized plasma into space. The most intense of these storms can wreak havoc on satellites, power grids, and communication networks on Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenge-of-predicting-solar-flares">Challenge of predicting solar flares</h2>



Sunspot observation, dating back to the early 1600s, reveals a cyclic pattern. Approximately every 11 years, the number of sunspots and the intensity of solar activity peak, leading to heightened <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/canyon-of-fire-solar-eruption-extended-more-than-60000-miles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">space weather disturbances</a>. However, accurately predicting these peaks has been a longstanding challenge.



A dynamo mechanism, powered by plasma flows inside the Sun, drives the solar cycle. This mechanism involves two primary magnetic field components. 



One component manifests in <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sunspots_SDO-NASA_1medium.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sunspots</a>. The other component is active in recycling the Sun's large-scale dipole field, similar to Earth's magnetic field. Every 11 years, this dipole field also reverses its poles.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expanding-on-waldmeier-s-discovery">Expanding on Waldmeier’s discovery</h2>



In 1935, Swiss astronomer Max Waldmeier discovered a relationship known as the Waldmeier effect. Waldmeier found that the faster a sunspot cycle rises, the stronger the strength of the solar storms. This relationship has been pivotal in forecasting the strength of sunspot cycles based on early observations.



Priyansh Jaswal, Chitradeep Saha, and Dibyendu Nandy of <a href="https://www.iiserkol.ac.in/web/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IISER Kolkata</a> have discovered a complementary relationship. They found that the rate of decrease in the Sun’s dipole magnetic field correlates with the rate of rise of the ongoing sunspot cycle. 



This discovery, leveraging data from decades-old solar observatories, connects the two primary components of the Sun's magnetic field. In addition, it supports the notion that sunspots are integral to the solar dynamo process.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predictions-for-the-current-sunspot-cycle">Predictions for the current sunspot cycle</h2>



The IISER Kolkata team demonstrates how monitoring the Sun's dipole magnetic field's rate of decrease, combined with sunspot observations, can predict the peak of an ongoing cycle. Their analysis suggests that the peak of solar cycle 25 is likely to occur in early 2024, with a range of uncertainty extending to September 2024.



In summary, this new discovery opens a window for more accurate forecasting of solar cycle peaks. These are times when the most <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/northern-lights-activity-will-intensify-over-the-next-18-months/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">intense solar activity</a> and space weather disturbances are expected. Such advancements in understanding the Sun's magnetic dynamics are not only pivotal for space weather prediction but also essential for protecting Earth's technological infrastructure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-the-solar-flares">More about the solar flares</h2>



As discussed above, solar storms and solar flares are powerful eruptions of electromagnetic energy and matter from the Sun. They significantly influence the solar system, particularly impacting <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/earths-magnetic-field-origin-structure-and-impact-on-humanity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth's magnetic field</a> and atmosphere. Let's dig a little deeper.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-types-of-solar-storms">Types of solar storms</h3>



The Sun's magnetic field drives solar storms. Complex magnetic field interactions, often occurring near sunspots, lead to a sudden release of energy, causing these different types.



Solar Flares -- Intense bursts of radiation, are the Sun's most common type of solar storm. They emanate from the release of magnetic energy stored in the Sun's atmosphere and can last from minutes to hours.



Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) -- Massive bursts of solar wind and magnetic fields rising above the solar corona or being released into space. CMEs can eject billions of tons of coronal material and carry an embedded magnetic field stronger than the background solar wind interplanetary magnetic field (IMF).



Solar Proton Events -- These involve large quantities of high-energy protons released by the Sun. These particles can reach Earth within minutes to hours of a major solar flare, posing a risk to astronauts and satellites.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-solar-storms-on-earth">Impact of solar storms on Earth</h3>



Solar storms can disrupt satellite operations, communications signals, and navigation systems. They can induce electrical currents in power lines, leading to power outages.



The interaction of solar storm particles with Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere creates spectacular light shows known as auroras, predominantly visible near the polar regions.



In summary, solar storms are dynamic and powerful expressions of the Sun's energy. Understanding them is crucial for protecting Earth's technological infrastructure and furthering our knowledge of solar-terrestrial interactions.



The full study was published in&nbsp;<a href="https://academic.oup.com/mnrasl/article/528/1/L27/7441123">Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters</a>



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Solar flares will pummel Earth as the sunspot cycle reaches its peak

An important discovery in the study of the Sun's behavior...

Car,Pipe,With,Co2,Carbon,Dioxide,Emissions.,Combustion,Fumes,Coming

A troubling study reveals startling statistics on the impact of air pollution caused by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/un-chief-fossil-fuel-era-must-end-for-humanitys-survival/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil fuels</a>. The new research estimates that 5.1 million extra deaths occur annually worldwide due to this issue. 



This figure represents a staggering 61% of the total 8.3 million deaths attributed to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-research-proves-that-air-pollution-causes-heart-problems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ambient air pollution</a> from all sources in 2019. The study emphasizes the significant health benefits that could be realized by replacing fossil fuels with clean, renewable energy sources.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-estimating-fossil-fuel-pollution-deaths">Estimating fossil fuel pollution deaths</h2>



While ambient air pollution is recognized as a major environmental threat to health and longevity, pinpointing deaths to specific sources of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/safe-levels-of-air-pollution-can-negatively-impact-the-developing-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">air pollution</a> has been a complex task with varying outcomes in worldwide studies.



In response to this challenge, a team of international researchers devised a novel model. This model aimed to calculate both general and specific mortality rates linked to fossil fuel-related air pollution. Additionally, it evaluated the potential health advantages of adopting policies that transition from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/un-report-current-fossil-fuel-plans-will-shatter-1-5c-climate-goal/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil fuels</a> to clean, renewable energy alternatives.



This team conducted their analysis by determining the surplus of deaths (the count exceeding the expected number in a specific timeframe). They employed the <a href="https://www.healthdata.org/research-analysis/gbd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Burden of Disease 2019</a> study's findings, data on fine particulate matter from <a href="https://ww.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a> satellites, population statistics, and advanced simulations in atmospheric chemistry, aerosols, and risk factors for the year 2019. Their analysis encompassed four distinct scenarios.



In the initial scenario, they hypothesized a complete elimination of emissions from fossil fuels. The second and third scenarios considered reductions in exposure by 25% and 50%, respectively, as steps towards complete fossil fuel elimination. The final scenario envisaged the removal of all human-caused <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ozone-pollution-makes-it-difficult-for-bees-to-find-flowers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">air pollution sources</a>, leaving only natural elements like desert dust and wildfires as contributors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-researchers-learned">What the researchers learned</h2>



The study revealed that in 2019, the global death toll linked to ambient air pollutants like fine particles and ozone amounted to 8.3 million, with fossil fuels responsible for 61% of these deaths (5.1 million). This number represents 82% of the total possible deaths from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/short-term-exposure-to-air-pollution-increases-stroke-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">air pollution</a> that could be avoided if all human-made emissions were controlled.



The most significant impact of ambient <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reducing-air-pollution-could-greatly-boost-carbon-sequestration-by-plants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">air pollution</a> was observed in South and East Asia, especially in China, which experienced 2.44 million deaths annually, and India with 2.18 million. Over half of these deaths (52%) were associated with prevalent health issues, including ischemic heart disease (30%), stroke (16%), chronic obstructive lung disease (16%), and diabetes (6%). 



Approximately 20% of the deaths could not be specifically categorized, but they are suspected to be partly related to conditions like high blood pressure and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-elimination-of-fossil-fuel-pollution">Elimination of fossil fuel pollution</h2>



Eradicating fossil fuels would lead to the most substantial decrease in deaths attributed to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-link-between-air-pollution-and-obesity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">air pollution</a> in South, South East, and East Asia, potentially preventing about 3.85 million deaths each year. This figure is equivalent to 80-85% of the deaths that could potentially be avoided from all human-made air pollution sources in these areas.



In wealthier nations, which largely rely on fossil fuels, about 460,000 deaths per year could be prevented by phasing out these energy sources. This number constitutes roughly 90% of the preventable deaths from all human-caused <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-increases-the-risk-of-non-lung-cancers-too/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">air pollution</a> sources in these countries.



The researchers noted that their new model produced higher death estimates compared to previous studies. This increase is attributed to the inclusion of both general and disease-specific mortality and basing their estimates exclusively on studies of ambient air pollution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cop28-and-the-paris-agreement">COP28 and the Paris agreement</h2>



Despite some remaining uncertainties, the researchers emphasize that replacing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/millions-of-orphaned-oil-and-gas-wells-litter-the-world-and-must-be-cleaned-up/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil fuels</a> with clean, renewable energy aligns with the Paris Climate Agreement's 2050 climate neutrality goal, offering significant benefits for both public health and the environment.



The researchers acknowledge some uncertainties in their model but emphasize the significant public health benefits of replacing fossil fuels. The upcoming <a href="https://unfccc.int/cop28" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COP28</a> climate change negotiations in the United Arab Emirates are seen as a pivotal opportunity to advance the fossil fuel phase-out agenda.



Accompanying the study, an editorial by researchers from Finland and Norway highlights that preventing deaths is just one aspect of the issue. Improved air quality could also reduce the burden of several major diseases. They advocate for a just and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels, emphasizing the role of high-income countries in leading this transition.



In summary, as COP28 approaches, the call for an accelerated phase-out of fossil fuels is clear. The potential health benefits, alongside the positive impact on the climate, make this an urgent and necessary commitment for global leaders.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/383/bmj-2023-077784" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BMJ</a>.



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Air pollution from fossil fuels kills 5 million people each year

A troubling study reveals startling statistics on the impact of...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> series Reactions shows us how to pop a balloon using the chemicals found in orange peels and other common household items.
Orange peels contain a compound known as limonene, which is a hydrocarbon. Limonene is not only responsible for the incredible smell of oranges, but also has a chemical structure that enables the oil to pop a balloon on contact.
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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
Video Credit: American Chemical Society

Popping a balloon using orange juice