<p>A mountain the size of a major Rocky Mountain peak is sitting under the Pacific Ocean north of Palau, and we finally have a map of it. The top rests about 800 feet below the surface, yet the whole <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-plastic-graveyard-uncovered-in-the-deep-mediterranean-sea/">structure</a> climbs roughly 2.6 miles from the deep seafloor.</p>



<p>The discovery comes from a NOAA Ocean Exploration cruise that focused on a rarely mapped stretch of ocean. The team put time on task, swept the area with high resolution acoustics, and confirmed the feature’s size and shape.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-ocean-mountain-discovered">Hidden ocean mountain discovered</h2>



<p>The first public look at this feature appeared in a field <a href="https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/expedition-feature/live-from-the-field-updates-from-garret/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">log</a> posted on September 2, 2025, which described the mountain about 250 miles north of Palau and noted its summit depth and scale. That early report also set the stage for future dives and sampling.</p>



<p>This account comes from <a href="https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/multimedia/garret-odonnell-with-noaa-ship-okeanos-explorer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Garret O’Donnell</a> of NOAA Ocean Exploration, a 2025 <a href="https://seagrant.noaa.gov/communities/students/graduate-fellows/knauss-fellowship-program/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">John A. Knauss</a> fellow aboard NOAA Ship <a href="https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Okeanos</a> Explorer. He is part of the mapping team that turned raw sonar pings into a usable chart of the seamount.</p>



<p>“It’s funny to me that were we not actively mapping these features, we would have no idea that a mountain half the height of Mount Everest lies directly beneath us," O'Donnell enthused. </p>



<p>"Maybe one day the map we made of this behemoth will be used to navigate the feature with a remotely operated vehicle to get a closer look."</p>



<p>The numbers are straightforward and worth stating clearly. The peak sits about 800 feet down, and the full height from the abyssal plain to the summit is about 2.6 miles.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/seamount_ocean-mountain_palau_mapping_NOAA_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/seamount_ocean-mountain_palau_mapping_NOAA_1s.webp" alt="A map showing the depth extent of an unnamed seamount that was fully mapped as part of Beyond the Blue: Palau Mapping 2 expedition. Credit: NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue" class="wp-image-1986402"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>A map showing the depth extent of an unnamed seamount that was fully mapped as part of Beyond the Blue: Palau Mapping 2 expedition. Click image to enlarge. Credit: NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue</em></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-seamounts-matter">Why seamounts matter</h2>



<p>A seamount is an <a href="https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/ocean-fact/seamounts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">underwater mountain</a>, most often the remains of an extinct volcano that never broke the surface or later sank below the waves. </p>



<p>Less than one tenth of a percent of the world’s seamounts have been explored, a figure that captures how much frontier still exists in the deep <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-turtle-day-2025-ancient-creatures-with-modern-challenges/">ocean</a>.</p>



<p>Scientists estimate there are more than 100,000 large seamounts on Earth when you count those taller than about 3,280 feet. That global count was formalized in a 2010 <a href="https://topex.ucsd.edu/sandwell/publications/127.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> that combined satellite and ship data to build a census.</p>



<p>Why do these mountains matter for life in the ocean? Their shape changes currents, concentrates food, and creates habitats that attract fish, corals, and marine mammals.</p>



<p>This point was underscored by NOAA’s national marine sanctuaries team in a 2025 <a href="https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/2025/reasons-seamounts-matter.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">explainer</a> on why seamounts matter.</p>



<p>The new map north of Palau gives researchers a fixed target for future biological work. It also gives navigators and managers a better picture of the seafloor in a region where charts can still be sparse.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-the-new-ocean-mountain">Mapping the new ocean mountain</h2>



<p>The workhorse tool was <a href="https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/technology/sonar-multibeam/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multibeam sonar</a>, an array that sends out many sound beams and times their echoes to build a detailed picture of the seafloor. </p>



<p>Each pass traces a swath under the ship, and careful overlapping tracks stitch those swaths into a complete map.</p>



<p>Teams call the survey <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unprecedented-collapse-panamas-ocean-upwelling-fails-for-the-first-time-in-40-years/">pattern</a> “mowing the lawn,” because it is an even, methodical sweep that favors coverage and consistency. </p>



<p>That approach is slow, but it is the way to find steep slopes, ledges, and summit shapes that single passes can miss.</p>



<p>Precision matters, so crews run regular checks to keep the data within tight error limits. When the seas cooperate, this produces clean coverage that captures the real outline of a feature rather than a guess based on sparse lines.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-palau-sanctuary-setting">Palau sanctuary setting</h2>



<p>The mountain rises inside waters tied to the <a href="https://marine-conservation.org/blue-sparks/projects/palau-nms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Palau National Marine Sanctuary</a>, a <a href="https://picrc.org/work/palau-national-marine-sanctuary/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">policy</a> that closed about 80 percent of the nation’s exclusive economic zone to extractive activity on January 1, 2020. </p>



<p>This makes the area a natural lab for documenting geology and life with less pressure from fishing.</p>



<p>Palau’s sanctuary sits near deep water that drops quickly from the island shelf. That geography lets research ships reach study sites in hours rather than days, which helps when a weather window appears.</p>



<p>Protected status also changes the kinds of questions teams can ask. With a baseline in place, future work can track how untouched seamount habitats function over time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-explaining-the-size">Explaining the size</h2>



<p>The summit at roughly 800 feet makes this feature accessible to surface ship sensors and, with the right systems, to human tended or autonomous vehicles. </p>



<p>The full height of about 2.6 miles shows it is not a small bump, but a major structure that would not look out of place among prominent continental <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-dolphin-day-2025-honoring-the-oceans-most-playful-minds/">peaks</a>.</p>



<p>For context, that height is in the same league as well known mountains on land. The comparison helps illustrate how much topography is hiding in plain sight beneath open water.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/seamount_ocean-mountain_palau_rov-tracks_NOAA_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/seamount_ocean-mountain_palau_rov-tracks_NOAA_1s.webp" alt="The location of the unnamed seamount mapped during the Beyond the Blue: Palau Mapping 2 expedition relative to the ship’s trackline shows the lawn mowing survey pattern and position north of Palau. Credit: NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue" class="wp-image-1986404"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>The location of the unnamed seamount mapped during the Beyond the Blue: Palau Mapping 2 expedition relative to the ship’s trackline shows the lawn mowing survey pattern and position north of Palau. Click image to enlarge. Credit: NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue</em></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-mountain-maps-matter">Ocean mountain maps matter</h2>



<p>A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) can now be guided to interesting ledges and slopes rather than wandering. </p>



<p>Targeted transects can record sponge and coral communities, fish schools, and any signs of mineral crusts that often coat old volcanic rock.</p>



<p>Water sampling can pair with environmental DNA (<a href="http://edna/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eDNA</a>) analysis to list species without seeing them directly. Those data can set a baseline for the site, which is essential for tracking change.</p>



<p>Good <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/bathymetry.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bathymetry</a> improves navigation by reducing the chance of surprise shallows or pinnacles near shipping routes. </p>



<p>It also makes tsunami and circulation models more accurate, since seafloor shape affects how waves and currents move energy.</p>



<p>For research planning, a complete map is the difference between blind searching and directed work. It saves days of ship time and compresses campaigns into focused operations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-seamount-mapping">Future seamount mapping</h2>



<p>The expedition that produced this map connects to a larger push to chart and understand Palau’s deeper waters. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.noaa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NOAA</a> has outlined a multi-cruise <a href="https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/3-research-cruises-depart-to-improve-understanding-of-atlantic-and-southern-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plan</a> in the region, working with local partners to collect high resolution mapping data across the sanctuary.</p>



<p>Each new map reduces uncertainty and opens the door to more detailed work. It is a steady build toward a fuller view of the Pacific floor near Palau.</p>



<p>The global picture still frames the task. A widely cited census estimated more than 100,000 large seamounts worldwide, which shows how much there is left to find and study.</p>



<p>-----</p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



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



<p>-----</p>

Massive underwater mountain discovered that is larger than some peaks in the Rockies

A mountain the size of a major Rocky Mountain peak is sitting under the Pacific Ocean north of Palau, and we finally have a map of it. The top rests about 800 feet below the surface, yet the whole structure climbs roughly 2.6 miles from the deep seafloor. The discovery comes from a NOAA Ocean Exploration cruise that focused on a rarely mapped stretch of ocean. The team put time on task, swept the area with high resolution acoustics, and confirmed the feature’s size and shape. Hidden...

<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-snowstorms-impact-breeding-success-of-petrels/">Petrels</a> are a group of wide-ranging migratory seabirds - including species such as the Northern Fulmar, the European Storm-petrel, and the critically endangered Newell’s Shearwater – that play a key role in oceanic food webs.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Scientists have already warned that many petrel species are already threatened with extinction due to climate change, bycatch, competition with fisheries, and invasive species such as rats and mice on their breeding colonies.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Now, a team of researchers led by the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a> has found that plastic pollution is another major threat for the health of these birds, and could further reduce their resilience to the other threats they are exposed to.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Due to the breadth of their distribution across the world’s oceans, these birds are important “sentinel species” when assessing the risks of plastic pollution in marine ecosystems.</p>



<h2 id="h-how-the-study-was-conducted">How the study was conducted&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The experts overlaid global tracking data assessing the movements of 7,137 individual birds from 77 species of petrel onto pre-existing maps of marine plastic distribution. This method allowed them to identify specific places along the birds’ migration and foraging journeys where they are most likely to encounter plastics.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Each species was given an “exposure risk score” indicating their risk of encountering plastic debris during their time at sea.</p>



<h2 id="h-exposure-in-the-high-seas">Exposure in the high seas</h2>



<p>The analysis revealed that plastic pollution threatens marine life on a scale transcending national boundaries, with a quarter of all plastic exposures occurring in the high seas.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This worrisome phenomenon is likely caused by large systems of rotating ocean currents called gyres where massive accumulations of plastics form, fed by waste entering the seas from many different countries, as well as from a large number of boats.</p>



<p>Seabirds frequently mistake small plastic pieces for food, or end up ingesting plastic already consumed by their prey, leading to injury, poisoning, and starvation. Moreover, during the breeding season, petrels often inadvertently feed plastic to their chicks.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Since they can’t easily regurgitate the plastic, petrels are particularly vulnerable to the toxic chemicals it contains.</p>



<p>“Ocean currents cause big swirling collections of plastic rubbish to accumulate far from land, way out of sight and beyond the jurisdiction of any one country. We found that many species of petrel spend considerable amounts of time feeding around these mid-ocean gyres, which puts them at high risk of ingesting plastic debris,” said joint corresponding author Lizzie Pearmain, a doctoral student in Zoology at Cambridge.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“When petrels eat plastic, it can get stuck in their stomachs and be fed to their chicks. This leaves less space for food, and can cause internal injuries or release toxins.”</p>



<h2 id="h-plastic-pollution-hotspots">Plastic pollution hotspots</h2>



<p>According to the researchers, the North-East Pacific, the South Atlantic, and the South-West Indian oceans – where a vast number of threatened seabirds forage – have mid-ocean gyres full of plastic waste.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Moreover, the investigation also revealed that the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea together account for more than half of petrels’ global plastic exposure risk, although only four species of petrel forage in these regions.</p>



<h2 id="h-plastic-exposure-risk">Plastic exposure risk&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Among the seabird species with the highest plastic exposure risk were several already threatened ones, such as the critically endangered Balearic Shearwater, which breeds in the Mediterranean; the Newell’s Shearwater, endemic to Hawaii; and the Hawaiian Petrel.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Other seabird species that scored high for plastic exposure included three classified as “vulnerable” – the Yelkouan Shearwater, which breeds in the Mediterranean, the Cook’s Petrel, which breeds in New Zealand, and the Spectacled Petrel, which only breeds on an extinct volcano from the Tristan da Cunha archipelago known as the Inaccessible Island.</p>



<p>“Even species with low exposure risk have been found to eat plastic. This shows that plastic levels in the ocean are a problem for seabirds worldwide, even outside of these high exposure areas,” said joint corresponding author Bethany Clark, a Seabird Science Officer at <a href="https://www.birdlife.org/">BirdLife International</a>.</p>



<p>“Many petrel species risk exposure to plastic in the waters of several countries and the high seas during their migrations. Due to ocean currents, this plastic debris often ends up far away from its original source. This highlights the need for international cooperation to tackle plastic pollution in the world’s oceans.”</p>



<p>“While the population-level effects of plastic exposure are not yet known for most species, many petrels and other marine species are already in a precarious situation. Continued exposure to potentially dangerous plastics adds to the pressures,” added co-author Andrea Manica, a zoologist at Cambridge.</p>



<p>“This study is a big leap forward in understanding the situation, and our results will feed into conservation work to try and address the threats to birds at sea.”</p>



<p>The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38900-z"><em>Nature Communications</em></a><em>.</em></p>



<p>—-</p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com"><em>Andrei Ionescu</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Staff Writer</em></p>



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

World’s most endangered seabirds are also threatened by plastic pollution

Petrels are a group of wide-ranging migratory seabirds - including...

<p>To clarify the magnitude of the ongoing climate crisis, scientists from a variety of fields have recently examined how different climate systems have changed and will continue to change as our planet warms. For instance, by using rigorous mathematical models and statistical methods, a team of researchers led by the <a href="https://www.ucsc.edu/">University of California Santa Cruz</a> has analyzed snow cover trends in the Northern Hemisphere over the last half a century, and found evidence of declining snow cover in many regions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Snow plays a major role in the global energy balance, with its high albedo (capacity to reflect light) and insulating characteristics affecting surface temperatures on a regional scale and thermal stability on a larger, continent-wide scale.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-widespread-decline-in-snow-cover">Widespread decline in snow cover</h2>



<p>To better understand snow cover trends, the experts analyzed data collected from weekly satellite flyovers between 1967 and 2021, which was divided into grid sections. The investigation revealed that snow cover is currently declining in nearly twice as many grids as it is advancing.</p>



<p>“In the Arctic regions, snow is going away more often than not – I think climatologists sort of suspected this,” said study co-author Robert Lund, a professor of Statistics at UC Santa Cruz. “But it’s also going away at the southern boundaries of the continents.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>In an analysis that took nearly four years to complete, the experts found that snow presence in the Arctic and southern latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere is generally decreasing.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-snow-cover-has-increased-in-some-places">Snow cover has increased in some places</h2>



<p>However, some regions such as Eastern Canada are experiencing an increase in snow cover, most likely due to rising temperatures in areas that are usually very cold. If temperatures remain below freezing, this phenomenon allows the atmosphere to hold more water, which then falls as snow.</p>



<p>As the researchers stress though, some of the satellite data gathered in mountainous regions proved to be unreliable, showing no snow in the winter. This was probably due to a flow in the algorithm processing satellite data to determine if snow was present or not.</p>



<p>“The reason this study took a lot of work is because the satellite data is so doggone poor,” Lund said. “Whatever the meteorologists did to estimate snow from the pictures in some of the mountainous regions just didn’t work, so we had to take all the grids in the Northern Hemisphere, and figure out whether the data was even trustworthy or not.”</p>



<p>By employing rigorous mathematical and statistical methods to analyze this frequently unreliable data, this study is among the first truly dependable analyses of snow cover trends in the Northern Hemisphere, and could serve as a valuable resource to scientists interested in the effects of climate change on snow cover trends in different areas or time-frames.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The study is published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/JHM-D-22-0182.1"><em>Journal of Hydrometeorology</em></a><em>.</em></p>



<h2 id="h-why-is-snow-cover-important">Why is snow cover important?</h2>



<p>Snow cover plays a crucial role in various aspects of the environment and climate. Here are a few reasons why it is important:</p>



<h3 id="h-temperature-regulation">Temperature regulation</h3>



<p>Snow acts as an insulator, keeping the ground beneath it warmer than it otherwise would be in winter. This insulation is beneficial for plants, insects, and other organisms that overwinter in the soil.</p>



<h3 id="h-hydrological-cycle">Hydrological cycle</h3>



<p>Snow is an essential part of the world's water supply. As snow melts in the spring, it recharges rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater supplies, providing essential water for drinking, irrigation, and energy production.</p>



<h3 id="h-climate-impact">Climate impact</h3>



<p>Snow's high albedo (its reflectivity to sunlight) helps regulate Earth's climate. It reflects most of the sunlight back to space, thereby cooling the planet. When snow cover decreases, the Earth absorbs more sunlight, which can accelerate global warming.</p>



<h3 id="h-habitat">Habitat</h3>



<p>Many animals depend on snow cover for survival. For instance, certain species hibernate beneath the snow, which offers them protection from predators and harsh winter temperatures.</p>



<h3 id="h-nutrient-cycling">Nutrient cycling</h3>



<p>Snow can absorb chemicals and other atmospheric particles as it falls, then slowly release them into the soil as it melts, contributing to nutrient cycling and soil fertility.</p>



<h3 id="h-recreation-and-economy">Recreation and economy</h3>



<p>Snow cover is essential for winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling, which contribute significantly to the economy of many regions.</p>



<p>—</p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com"><em>Andrei Ionescu</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Staff Writer</em></p>



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

Study reveals a widespread decline of snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere

To clarify the magnitude of the ongoing climate crisis, scientists...

Beautiful,Nature,Fantasy,-,Romantic,Beach,And,Full,Moon,With

<p>As the summer twilight fades this evening, the Super Buck Moon will illuminate the sky. While the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-new-quasi-moon-will-stick-around-for-hundreds-of-years/">moon</a> may appear to be full for up to three days, it will reach its absolute peak on Monday, July 3 at 7:39 a.m. EDT.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Nearly a hundred years ago, the Maine Farmer's Almanac began referring to this particular moon as the "Buck Moon." They attributed this moniker to the Algonquin peoples of the northeastern United States.</p>



<p>According to <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a>, each full moon has a myriad of names, many of which different cultures and traditions have passed down over centuries.</p>



<p>"Early summer is normally when the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur," says NASA. Another name for this lunar phenomenon is the Thunder Moon. This is due to the frequency of thunderstorms that occur in early summer.&nbsp;</p>



<p>July's full moon also bears different names across various regions and cultures. Parts of Europe know it as the Hay Moon, reflecting the traditional haymaking season.</p>



<p>Others refer to it as the Mead Moon. Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain cultures honor it as the "Guru" Full Moon (or "Guru Purnima"), a time to pay respect to spiritual or academic gurus.</p>



<h2 id="h-what-is-a-supermoon">What is a "supermoon"?</h2>



<p>A careful observer of the night sky will notice that the moon not only goes through its phases but also seems to vary in size throughout the month. This phenomenon arises from the elliptical path that the moon follows as it orbits the Earth. </p>



<p>At times, the moon swings closer to our planet, reaching its nearest point or "perigee." Other times, it ventures further away, reaching the farthest point or "apogee."</p>



<p>Each full noon we witness throughout the year is at a slightly different distance from Earth. This is due to its elliptical orbit.</p>



<p>As a result, some full moons appear smaller and dimmer, while others look larger and brighter in the sky. The most luminous full moons are called supermoons.</p>



<p>Astrologer Richard Nolle coined the term "supermoon" in 1979. He described it as "a new or full moon which occurs with the Moon at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit (perigee)."&nbsp;</p>



<p>Depending on the celestial mechanics of the year, we may see anywhere from two to five supermoons. In 2023, there will be four supermoons on July 3, August 1, August 31, and September 29.</p>



<h2 id="h-brightness-of-the-super-buck-moon">Brightness of the Super Buck Moon&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Without a side-by-side comparison, it's quite challenging to discern the size of any specific full moon relative to normal. However, the brightness of the moon is often more noticeable.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Retired NASA scientist Fred Espenak anticipates that the Super Buck Moon will shine roughly 25 percent brighter than this year's February apogee full moon, which is the farthest, smallest, and dimmest Full Moon of the year.</p>



<p>This makes it nearly 13 percent brighter than an average full moon, such as those we witnessed back in April or May.</p>



<p>The concept of the "moon Illusion" also plays into our perception of the lunar size. The illusion, which refers to the moon appearing larger when it's near the horizon compared to when it's high in the sky, has been a subject of discussion among scientists and observers alike.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Even though we know the moon's size remains constant, the visual distortion created by this illusion can make comparisons challenging. However, this doesn't hinder our appreciation of the moon's enhanced brightness during a supermoon.</p>



<h2 id="h-full-moon-superstitions">Full Moon superstitions</h2>



<p>Full moons have been a source of fascination and wonder for millennia, leading to a number of superstitions and beliefs. While there's no scientific evidence to support these superstitions, they are still quite intriguing.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 id="h-increased-lunacy-during-a-full-moon">Increased lunacy during a full moon</h3>



<p>The term "lunacy" comes from the Latin word for Moon ("luna"). There's a longstanding belief that a full moon can trigger erratic and outrageous behavior in people. This belief is so ingrained that even today, some people think they are busier in emergency rooms and police stations during a full moon.</p>



<h3 id="h-werewolves-and-shape-shifting">Werewolves and shape-shifting</h3>



<p>The most famous full moon myth might be the legend of the werewolf. The legend goes that some humans transform into a wolf during a Full Moon. This concept is popular in folklore and pop culture, but thankfully, there's no evidence of werewolves existing in real life.</p>



<h3 id="h-sleep-disruption-caused-by-full-moon">Sleep disruption caused by full moon</h3>



<p>Some people believe that a full moon can interfere with sleep. While this might be partially true for light-sensitive sleepers who have their blinds open, scientific studies generally haven't found a substantial connection between sleep quality and lunar phases.</p>



<h3 id="h-increased-fertility">Increased fertility</h3>



<p>In many cultures, the Moon is associated with femininity and fertility. Some myths suggest that a Full Moon can enhance a woman's fertility. While this is a beautiful concept, there's no scientific data to support it.</p>



<h3 id="h-good-luck">Good luck</h3>



<p>In some cultures, people believe that if you make a wish at the time of a full moon, it will be granted. Other superstitions suggest that the full moon is an optimal time for rituals, spells, and other magical practices.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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

Tonight's Buck Moon will be the first of four ultra-bright supermoons

As the summer twilight fades this evening, the Super Buck...

Male,And,Female,Northern,Cardinals,Perched,On,Branch,Of,Chinese

<p>The continuous escalation in global temperatures is causing trouble for our feathered friends, as spring arrives earlier each year. Birds around the world are having fewer offspring, resulting in declining populations across most species.</p>



<p>Birds are finding it increasingly difficult to recognize the arrival of spring and its associated breeding time. This revelation comes from a recent study recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.</p>



<p>The research project was led by a large consortium of scientists from <a href="https://www.ucla.edu">UCLA</a> and <a href="https://www.msu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michigan State University</a>. The team revealed that birds produce fewer offspring if their breeding starts either too early or late in the season. </p>



<h2 id="h-team-examines-why-birds-are-producing-fewer-offspring">Team examines why birds are producing fewer offspring</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/body-sizes-and-shapes-of-birds-are-shrinking-as-the-earth-warms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Birds are struggling to adapt</a> as climate change causes spring to arrive earlier. This is sounding alarm bells to scientists about the potential impact on bird populations.</p>



<p>Spring, for birds, is heralded by the first appearance of green plants and flowers. However, climate change has led these signs of spring to arrive earlier than usual. This results in a troubling mismatch between when spring arrives earlier and when birds are ready to breed.</p>



<p>The study’s authors suggest that this mismatch will likely exacerbate as the global temperature continues to rise. This could lead to catastrophic effects on many bird populations.</p>



<h2>Conservation strategies urged as spring arrives earlier each year</h2>



<p>Casey Youngflesh, the lead author of the study, emphasizes the gravity of the situation. He said, “By the end of the 21st century, spring is likely to arrive about 25 days earlier, with birds breeding only about 6.75 days earlier.”</p>



<p>Youngflesh spearheaded the research during his postdoctoral tenure at UCLA. He further warns of a possible 12% decrease in breeding productivity for the average songbird species due to these shifts.</p>



<p>Scientists are urging for conservation strategies to tackle this issue and mitigate the potential impacts of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-coloration-is-fading-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate-driven changes</a> on bird species.</p>



<h2>Mismatch between breeding times and arrival of spring</h2>



<p>Understanding the potential effects on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/migratory-birds-have-new-strategy-to-cope-with-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">migratory birds</a> as spring arrives earlier has been a significant scientific goal for many years. Morgan Tingley, a UCLA associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, and the senior author of the study, sheds light on the conundrum.</p>



<p>Tingley says, “For nearly 30 years, scientists have hypothesized that animals could become mismatched from plants as springs begin earlier.”</p>



<p>He explains that while some case studies have provided evidence of this phenomenon, it remains unclear whether spring arriving earlier would pose a generalized problem for most species.</p>



<p>Birds’ breeding success depends heavily on timing. Breeding either too early or late could expose their eggs or newborns to adverse weather conditions. This results in birds producing fewer offspring.</p>



<p>The availability of food also plays a vital role. If birds seek food either too early or late compared to its natural availability, they might not be able to nurture their young effectively.</p>



<p>Tingley affirms this finding, revealing that they found impacts on bird reproduction related to both the absolute and relative timing.</p>



<h2>Data analyzed from large bird banding program</h2>



<p>The research involved a substantial amount of data analysis. The scientists used data from a large-scale bird banding program operated by the <a href="https://www.birdpop.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute for Bird Populations</a>.</p>



<p>They analyzed the breeding timing and the number of young produced by 41 migratory and resident bird species at 179 sites near forests throughout North America between 2001 and 2018.</p>



<p>Using satellite imaging, they determined when vegetation sprouted around each site. Their findings showed that each bird species had an optimal breeding time. &nbsp;An early spring arrival or out-of-sync breeding affected the number of young produced.</p>



<p>Interestingly, some bird species, like the northern cardinal, Bewick’s wren, and wrentit, seemed to benefit from the early onset of spring.</p>



<p>These non-migratory species showed improved breeding productivity when spring started earlier. The team hypothesizes that this is attributed to their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/big-brains-may-help-birds-cope-with-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ability to adapt quickly</a> to changes in vegetation growth.</p>



<p>However, these species were outliers. Most non-migratory species, along with their migratory counterparts, struggled with the early arrival of spring.</p>



<h2>Migratory birds struggle more as spring arrives earlier</h2>



<p>The researchers noted that for every four days earlier that spring arrived, bird species adjusted their breeding by only about a day.</p>



<p>Migratory birds face particular difficulties. The time gap between their arrival at breeding sites and the beginning of the breeding season is likely to shrink as spring arrives earlier. This situation could create disturbances in establishing territories and preparing physiologically for egg-laying and rearing young.</p>



<p>"North America has lost nearly a third of its bird populations since the 1970s," says Tingley. With bird populations already under threat, it's crucial to address these climate-related challenges sooner rather than later.</p>



<p>The most severe impacts of timing mismatch are not expected for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-will-severely-impact-birds-by-2080/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">several more decades</a>. However, Tingley underscores the importance of implementing concrete strategies to bolster bird populations before climate change inflicts further damage.</p>



<p>The groundbreaking research received primary funding from the National Science Foundation and was also supported by researchers from the University of Florida, Pennsylvania State University, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and the Institute for Bird Populations.</p>



<h2>More about breeding habits of birds</h2>



<p>Birds, much like other species, have unique and diverse breeding habits. They vary greatly based on their species, location, and environmental factors.</p>



<p>The breeding process generally starts with courtship, which can involve elaborate rituals. For example, male birds often try to attract mates by showing off their colorful plumage, singing complex songs, or performing fascinating dances.</p>



<h3>Mating ritual and nest building</h3>



<p>In many bird species, the male's primary goal during this phase is to demonstrate that he is the best choice for the female. He must convince the female of his fitness and the survival potential of their offspring.</p>



<p>Once a mate is chosen, birds then engage in nest-building. They pick a suitable location, usually somewhere safe from predators and harsh weather conditions.</p>



<p>Depending on the species, the nest may be a simple scrape in the ground. For other species, a complex structure is built using sticks, grass, and other materials. Usually, both the male and female participate in nest construction.</p>



<h3>Incubation period and chick development</h3>



<p>After setting up the nest, birds lay their eggs. The number of eggs varies among species. Some, like the albatross, lay only one egg. Others, like the starling, can lay as many as fifteen. Generally, birds produce oval or round eggs with hard shells for protection.</p>



<p>Birds then enter the incubation period. During this time, they keep the eggs warm to encourage the chicks' development inside. Both parents often share this duty. However, in some species, it falls entirely to the female.</p>



<p>Once the chicks hatch, the parents continue to protect them and provide food until they can fend for themselves. Some birds even teach their young how to fly.</p>



<p>However, these general steps do not cover the incredible diversity of bird breeding habits. As mentioned previously, as spring arrives earlier, many species of birds produce fewer offspring.</p>



<p>Penguins, for example, breed in large colonies in extremely cold conditions. The males incubate the eggs while females go out to hunt.</p>



<p>Brood parasites like cuckoos have a completely different approach. They lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species, leaving the unsuspecting hosts to raise their young.</p>



<p>Despite these differences, all birds share the same ultimate goal in their breeding habits. They all strive too ensure the survival of their species. In doing so, they contribute to the richness of our planet's biodiversity.</p>

Birds produce fewer offspring as spring arrives earlier across our warming world

The continuous escalation in global temperatures is causing trouble for...

<p>A new announcement from the UK's <a href="https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/">Met Office</a> reveals that June 2023 has officially taken the title as the hottest ever recorded.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The news underscores the growing concern around climate change and persistent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-activities-are-fueling-more-extreme-heatwaves/">heatwaves</a>, with scientists cautioning that the worst effects are likely still ahead of us.</p>



<h2 id="h-small-temperature-increase-big-implications">Small temperature increase, big implications&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The average temperature for June clocked in at 15.8C (60.4F), surpassing the prior records set in 1940 and 1976 by an additional 0.9C. Despite the seemingly small margin, this incremental increase bears significant implications.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Paul Davies, the Met Office's chief meteorologist and climate extremes principal fellow, told <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news">BBC News</a>: "An increase of 0.9C may not seem a huge amount, but it's really significant because it has taken the average daytime and the night time temperature for the whole of the UK."</p>



<p>Davies emphasized that this pervasive heat, sustained both during the day and throughout the night, is especially noteworthy in the context of a warming climate. He explained that the elevated temperatures have consequential impacts on society, implications that extend far beyond the confines of scientific observation.</p>



<h2 id="h-record-heat-less-rainfall">Record heat, less rainfall</h2>



<p>Across the UK, new records were established in 72 of the 97 areas where temperature data is collected. Mark McCarthy, the Met Office's Climate Science Manager, confirmed, "It's officially the hottest June on record for the UK, for mean temperature as well as average maximum and minimum temperature."</p>



<p>In the west, temperatures were consistently higher than in the east, where increased cloud cover provided some mitigation of the daytime heat. June also saw a deficiency in rainfall, with only 68% of the average precipitation for the month. Wales, in particular, experienced a dearth of rain, with a total that barely exceeded half of its average monthly rainfall.</p>



<h2 id="h-fingerprints-of-climate-change">Fingerprints of climate change&nbsp;</h2>



<p>This data, collected and analyzed by a supercomputer, has enabled scientists to trace the fingerprints of climate change on the weather.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"We found that the chance of observing a June beating the previous joint 1940/1976 record of 14.9°C has at least doubled since the 1940s," Davies explained. He asserted that alongside natural variability, human-induced climate change has significantly amplified the likelihood of such record-breaking temperatures.</p>



<p>The warm weather aligns with current predictions for a changing climate in the UK. Dr. Richard Hodgkins, senior lecturer in physical geography at University of Loughborough, notes that the patterns are consistent with the expectation of longer, more intense heatwaves, due to weather patterns that appear to get "stuck. "&nbsp;</p>



<p>Dr. Hodgkins described the June heatwave as being "somewhat like a typical weather event for the UK, but stretched out in time much longer than normal."</p>



<h2 id="h-severe-repercussions">Severe repercussions&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The impacts of this unseasonal heat extend beyond human discomfort, with severe repercussions for local wildlife and ecosystems.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Environment groups have sounded the alarm on the harm inflicted upon fish populations, with the warm weather causing water temperatures to rise, and flowering plants wilting under the persistent heat. Wildlife Trusts lamented that nature is being "pounded by extreme weather without a chance to recover."</p>



<p>This heated June comes on the heels of last year's unprecedented event, where the UK saw temperatures above 40C for the first time. Scientists claimed such a high would have been "virtually impossible without climate change."</p>



<p>All this serves as a reminder of the larger, long-term transformations taking place as a result of human-induced climate change.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The world has seen an increase in temperature of about 1.1C since the advent of the industrial revolution approximately 200 years ago, with greenhouse gases from activities such as fuel burning heating the Earth's atmosphere. This latest data from the UK is yet another manifestation of this global phenomenon, underscoring the urgent need for concerted action on climate change.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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

June was the hottest on record for the UK, and the worst is yet to come

A new announcement from the UK's Met Office reveals that...

<p>In the span of nearly a decade, deforestation in Indigenous Territories (ITs) within the Brazilian Amazon has led to the emission of a staggering 96 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). This alarming figure represents a shift in the role of these forests, altering them from a carbon sink to a source of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mountain-rivers-in-the-andes-are-hotspots-for-emissions/">emissions</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The data was revealed in a study led by a Brazilian team of experts and published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.11606/issn.2316-901x.v0i66p108-129"><em>Scientific Reports</em></a>. The shocking trend is not subtle. The last three years of the study period alone (2019-2021) have accounted for almost 60% of this emission, which can be attributed to the rapid acceleration of forest destruction.</p>



<h2 id="h-emissions-from-its-on-the-rise">Emissions from ITs on the rise</h2>



<p>The researchers found that from 2013 to 2021, a total of 1,708 square kilometers (km²) were deforested in ITs, a figure that constitutes 2.38% of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-amazon-rainforest-is-on-the-brink-of-collapse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">total deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon</a>. </p>



<p>They closely studied 232 ITs and discovered an average annual deforestation of 35 km², showing an alarming increase of 129% between 2013 and 2021. Even more shockingly, the increase soared to 195% in the last three years of this period.</p>



<p>The experts also demonstrated that the distance from the borders of the ITs to the areas of deforestation significantly increased during this time, rising 30% from an average of 6.80 km to 8.87 km.</p>



<p>Celso H. L. Silva-Junior, first author of the article and a professor in the Program of Graduate Studies in Biodiversity and Conservation at the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), emphasized the gravity of the situation.</p>



<p>“In absolute numbers, the areas deforested in these ITs may not seem so large, but ITs are supposed to be environmentally protected, so the impact is all the greater," said Professor Silva-Junior.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-cascading-effects-of-amazon-deforestation">Cascading effects of Amazon deforestation </h2>



<p>He further highlighted the cascading effects of deforestation, from the destruction of nature to diseases and threats to the survival of isolated Indigenous communities. A recent instance involved the Yanomami community, many of whom lost their lives due to encroachment by wildcat miners.</p>



<p>Indigenous Territories, typically seen as an effective model of forest conservation, are increasingly succumbing to illegal alluvial panning and mining operations. The authors point to policy reversals on Indigenous rights by the government as a contributing factor to the growing deforestation problem, thereby jeopardizing the Amazon’s essential function as a carbon storehouse.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Tropical forests are critically important in mitigating the detrimental impacts of climate change, serving as carbon sinks when left undisturbed. However, rampant logging, burning, and clearing are transforming these areas into substantial sources of carbon emissions, reinforcing the critical role of ITs in promoting conservation and battling deforestation.</p>



<p>Guilherme Mataveli, a co-author of the study and a researcher in the Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division (DIOTG) of Brazil’s National Space Research Institute (INPE), emphasized the strategic importance of ITs in achieving Brazil's environmental goals and mitigating climate change impacts.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Conservation of the forest and rivers in these areas is essential. The law must be enforced so that they continue acting as a force field to protect the standing forest and the traditional communities who live in them," Mataveli stated.</p>



<h2 id="h-previous-warning-signs-from-the-brazilian-amazon">Previous warning signs from the Brazilian Amazon</h2>



<p>The study, partly funded by the Research Center for Greenhouse Gas Innovation (RCGI) and the <a href="https://bv.fapesp.br/en/40/global-climate-change/">FAPESP Research Program on Global Climate Change</a> (RPGCC), echoes previous warnings.</p>



<p>In a Science article published the previous year, Mataveli cautioned about escalating deforestation in ITs jeopardizing Brazil’s ability to meet its environmental targets. As a part of its Nationally Determined Contribution targets under the 2015 Paris Agreement, Brazil had committed to restoring and reforesting 12 million hectares of forest by 2030 and aiming for zero net carbon emissions by 2050.</p>



<p>Another study by the same group of scientists underscored the alarming expansion of illegal mining activities, particularly by wildcat miners, in the Indigenous Territories within the Legal Amazon, a federally designated area spanning nine Brazilian states created for environmental protection and development.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This type of mining activity saw an enormous 1,217% increase from 1985 to 2020, growing from 7.45 km² to 102.16 km². Almost 95% of this increase occurred in the Kayapó, Munduruku, and Yanomami ITs in the states of Pará and Roraima.</p>



<h2 id="h-urgent-need-for-conservation">Urgent need for conservation</h2>



<p>The scientists’ most recent study found that deforestation intensified in 42% of the analyzed ITs, notably in 20 ITs ranging from Arara in Pará, with a rate of 0.02 km² per year, to Apyterewa, also in Pará, with 8.58 km² per year.&nbsp;</p>



<p>On a more positive note, deforestation decreased in 11% of the ITs analyzed, significantly in five of them. One such area is Alto Turiaçu in Maranhão state, home to approximately 1,500 members of the Awa Guajá, Ka’apor, and Tembé communities.</p>



<p>According to Silva-Junior, these encouraging reductions in deforestation can be attributed to initiatives launched by the Indigenous communities themselves. “The focus of the article was the threats to Indigenous Territories, but this decrease was an interesting finding. In the case of Maranhão, for example, the Indigenous communities achieved this positive result because they have initiatives of their own to combat deforestation, such as groups who patrol the area as forest guardians," he said.</p>



<p>As scientists continue to analyze and reveal the devastating impacts of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon's Indigenous Territories, their findings highlight the urgency of conservation and the importance of these areas in the global fight against climate change.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The challenge that lies ahead is considerable, but the evidence increasingly points to the critical need to uphold and reinforce the protection of these areas for the survival of their Indigenous communities, the preservation of biodiversity, and the health of our global environment.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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

Brazilian Amazon crisis: Deforestation is escalating in Indigenous Territories

In the span of nearly a decade, deforestation in Indigenous...

<p>Since evolution is usually a slow process, many animal species have significant problems adapting to a rapidly changing climate.&nbsp;</p>



<p>To estimate the possible impacts of climate change on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/physical-changes-in-birds-linked-to-global-warming/">birds</a>, a team of scientists led by the <a href="https://nioo.knaw.nl/en">Netherlands Institute of Ecology</a> (NIOO-KNAW) has recently conducted a genomic selection experiment on great tits (<em>Parus major</em>), a model species frequently used in scientific studies. The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ade6350"><em>Science Advances</em></a><em>.</em>&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-studying-how-birds-change-by-examining-the-future">Studying how birds change by examining the future</h2>



<p>“It’s important to know [how fast species can adapt to climate change] because climate change and evolution need to keep a relatively even pace for species to keep up,” said senior author Marcel Visser, a biologist at NIOO-KNAW.</p>



<p>“That’s why we set out to study great tits from the future. In the coming decades, natural selection will produce birds with a particular genetic make-up. To predict the extent to which these birds can respond to natural selection, we sped up evolution through artificial selection of genetically early and late birds in aviaries. We then took the eggs to our long-term population in De Hoge Veluwe national park, to see how their offspring did compared to wild great tits.”</p>



<p>“In the forest, the earliest birds did in fact lay their eggs earlier than great tits selected for laying eggs late,” reported lead author Melania Lindner, a doctoral student in Ornithology at the same institution.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“So we were able to successfully select them for laying eggs early or late in spring. But the earliest birds didn’t lay their eggs significantly earlier than the wild great tits breeding in the forest, while the ones we selected for laying their eggs late, did have a significantly later lay date.” </p>



<p>Thus, the early birds did not seem to breed more successfully than their wild counterparts, suggesting that genetic adaptation towards early lay dates is an extremely slow process.</p>



<h2 id="h-climate-change-is-happening-too-fast-for-animal-evolution">Climate change is happening too fast for animal evolution</h2>



<p>Moreover, climate change will likely cause significant ecological relationship problems to insectivorous songbirds such as the great tit. </p>



<p>According to the experts, their timing no longer matches that of the insects their offspring need to feed on, such as caterpillars, making the young miss out sources of nutrients that usually play a major role in their growth. </p>



<p>While changing their timing could be a possible solution, it is not yet clear how much earlier the birds could actually lay their eggs.</p>



<p>“What we’re seeing now is that climate change is simply going too fast for them,” Visser said. “They won’t be able to adapt sufficiently. In the bleakest climate scenarios, in particular, the birds will fall behind more and more.”</p>



<h2 id="h-climate-impacts-on-animal-evolution-are-camouflaged">Climate impacts on animal evolution are camouflaged</h2>



<p>However, for the moment, the real impact of climate change on great tits is “camouflaged” by density-dependent processes. </p>



<p>For instance, since out of every ten chicks, eight or nine would usually die in their first year due to factors such as predation, food shortages, or competition, if three of them die before fledging due to climate change, the chances of the remaining seven may improve. </p>



<p>Moreover, there is also significant annual weather variation, which makes it more difficult to measure the impact of climate on the birds in the field. </p>



<p>Although the mismatch between wild great tits and their food was surprisingly small during the study period, this situation is likely to change as the climate continues to warm.</p>



<p>&nbsp;“Now that we have looked at the impact of climate change on the relatively straightforward food chain of oak tree, winter moth, and great tit, it’s time to see if we can include a larger number of the species that together make up a food network,” Visser concluded.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-birds-and-climate-change">More about birds and climate change</h2>



<p>Birds are greatly affected by climate change, which has been primarily driven by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes. Here are some of the key ways in which climate change affects bird populations:</p>



<h3 id="h-habitat-shifts">Habitat shifts</h3>



<p>As temperatures rise, the habitats of many bird species are shifting. For instance, birds that typically live in cooler climates may move further north or to higher elevations. This can cause displacement, and in some cases, the birds might not find suitable new habitats, leading to population declines.</p>



<h3 id="h-birds-change-migration-patterns">Birds change migration patterns</h3>



<p>Many birds rely on specific cues for migration, such as temperature and the availability of food. Climate change can cause these cues to change, which can, in turn, affect the timing and patterns of bird migration. This might lead to mismatches between the time when birds migrate and the availability of food and nesting sites.</p>



<h3 id="h-changes-in-food-availability">Changes in food availability</h3>



<p>Climate change can affect the abundance and distribution of prey and plant species that birds rely on for food. For example, if insects emerge earlier in the year due to warmer temperatures but birds do not adjust their migration patterns accordingly, there may be less food available for the birds when they arrive at their breeding grounds.</p>



<h3 id="h-extreme-weather-events">Extreme weather events</h3>



<p>An increase in the frequency and severity of storms, droughts, and other extreme weather events can have devastating effects on bird populations. For example, intense hurricanes can destroy nesting sites, while droughts can reduce the availability of water and food.</p>



<h3 id="h-sea-level-rise">Sea level rise</h3>



<p>Many bird species live in coastal areas, and rising sea levels due to the melting of polar ice caps can result in the loss of critical habitats for these birds. Species that nest on beaches or in marshes are particularly vulnerable.</p>



<h3 id="h-altered-breeding-seasons">Altered breeding seasons</h3>



<p>Warmer temperatures may cause birds to begin their breeding seasons earlier. This can sometimes be beneficial if it allows them to take advantage of more abundant food resources, but it can also lead to problems if, for instance, the young birds are not yet strong enough to survive when it is time for them to migrate.</p>



<h3 id="h-increased-disease-and-parasites">Increased disease and parasites</h3>



<p>Warmer temperatures can also lead to the spread of diseases and parasites that affect bird populations. For example, as temperatures rise, mosquitoes, which are vectors for diseases like West Nile Virus, can expand their range, potentially affecting bird populations not previously exposed to these diseases.</p>



<h3 id="h-species-interactions-and-competition">Species interactions and competition</h3>



<p>As bird species move and adapt to new areas, they may come into contact and compete with other species they didn't encounter before. This can have unpredictable consequences on community structures and the survival of some species.</p>



<p>Conservation efforts aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change on bird populations are important. These can include protecting and restoring habitats, creating corridors for species migration, and taking measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.&nbsp;</p>



<p>—-</p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com"><em>Andrei Ionescu</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Staff Writer</em></p>



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

Is climate change happening too fast for birds to keep up?

Since evolution is usually a slow process, many animal species...

<p>A recent study conducted by researchers from <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Penn State</a>’s College of Agricultural Sciences reveals that traumatic events or "shocks," such as climate disasters and loss of family income, may inflict a long-term toll on the academic progress and future food security of young people. </p>



<p>With climate change exacerbating the frequency of extreme <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-will-climate-change-affect-extreme-weather-events/">weather</a> events and other climate disasters, this problem could see a significant escalation.</p>



<p>Drawing from data gathered in Peru, the researchers found a direct correlation between exposure to a higher number of shocks in early life and lower reading and vocabulary test scores over time.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Furthermore, the impacts extended to a reduced level of food security. The study, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11113-023-09787-x"><em>Population Research and Policy Review</em></a>, provides insights that could potentially inform policies to alleviate the effects of shocks.</p>



<h2 id="h-policies-needed-to-minimize-effects-of-shocks-on-youth">Policies needed to minimize effects of shocks on youth</h2>



<p>The research was led by Carolyn Reyes, a senior research associate at Public Wise. "As climate change leads to more frequent and severe weather events, and economic crises and an ongoing pandemic continue to create challenges for families, it's critical for policies to help minimize the effects of these shocks," said Reyes.</p>



<p>As possible solutions to the rising problem, Reyes suggests potential interventions such as unconditional cash transfers, expanded social protections, and more accessible and widely available insurance programs.</p>



<p>Moreover, the study indicated that recent shocks have a stronger association with negative learning and well-being outcomes. </p>



<p>In particular, Peruvian adolescents aged 15 who had experienced a shock within the preceding three to four years were found to have lower test scores, less food security, poorer health, and a greater burden of household duties.</p>



<h2 id="h-impact-of-climate-disasters-and-shocks-on-youth-is-global">Impact of climate disasters and shocks on youth is global</h2>



<p>"Household shocks experienced by kids can take an important toll on health and learning no matter where they live," said study co-author Professor Heather Randel.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"For example, if teens have to help take care of siblings or assist their parents in earning income, this may divert resources and attention away from school. This in turn can affect the amount of time teens have to focus on schoolwork, or it may push them out of school altogether."</p>



<p>It's worth noting that children are often more vulnerable to shocks than other members of a household. Especially young children could face significant, long-lasting impairment to their physical and cognitive development due to early life shocks.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This problem exacerbates for children from rural households, who could face additional hurdles due to environmental shocks. For example, children may be pulled out of school to compensate for family income loss due to crop failure in a drought.</p>



<h2 id="h-study-focused-on-climate-disasters-and-shocks-on-young-people">Study focused on climate disasters and shocks on young people</h2>



<p>Although previous studies have identified links between shocks and adverse educational outcomes, most of them relied on cross-sectional data instead of longitudinal data, or only examined the effects of one or two types of shock. </p>



<p>Reyes and Randell intended to expand the study to analyze the impacts of multiple shocks on education and multiple aspects of well-being over a 15-year time span.</p>



<p>The study leveraged data from the Young Lives Longitudinal Survey involving 1,713 children from Peru, collected over 15 years. </p>



<p>The researchers considered a diverse range of shocks, including economic or agricultural ones like job loss or crop failure, environmental ones such as floods or earthquakes, and family shocks like divorce or the death of a family member.</p>



<p>Several plausible explanations were proposed by the researchers for these findings. For instance, if a flood wipes out a family's crops, children might be compelled to work more to make up for the lost income, detracting them from school or study. Conversely, a family member's death could have psychological impacts that hinder school progress.</p>



<p>Reyes suggests that the implications of experiencing multiple shocks in early life could potentially extend far beyond adolescence and persist for many years.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Because education and early work experiences are so important for future economic and social success, exposure to shocks could create circumstances that result in a lifetime of hardship,” she said. </p>



<p>“Additional research could explore the exact mechanisms of how these shocks affect schooling and well-being, which could then help in the design of targeted and effective interventions.”</p>



<p>—-</p>



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

Climate disasters and other shocks have long-term impacts on youth

A recent study conducted by researchers from Penn State’s College...

Boto,Amazon,River,Dolphin

<p>A recent study unveils the looming threats the Amazon river dolphins are facing from human activities such as fishing, dam construction, and river dredging.</p>



<p>These beautiful creatures, known for their friendly nature and distinct pink hue, have found their survival challenged due to human interferences in their habitats. Their species has lived in the the vast <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-muddy-waters-of-the-amazon-river-reach-the-atlantic-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">river systems of the Amazon and Orinoco</a> for at least 15 million years.</p>



<p>In a collaborative effort between the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/us-2/?mrasn=756487.940308.RgkAJWXJ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Exeter</a> and Peruvian conservation organization <a href="https://www.prodelphinusperu.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pro Delphinus</a>, researchers tracked eight Amazon river dolphins in the Peruvian Amazon via satellite tags.</p>



<h2 id="h-tracking-the-movements-of-amazon-river-dolphins">Tracking the movements of Amazon river dolphins</h2>



<p>The main focus of the study was to map out the dolphins' movement patterns. They also measured their proximity to various fishing regions, as well as proposed dam and dredging sites.</p>



<p>The data revealed that a staggering 89% of the dolphins' home range living area overlapped with fishing zones. In addition, the researchers located the dolphins an average of 156 miles away from the nearest proposed dam. The nearest intended dredging site is only 78 miles away.</p>



<p>Even though these distances seem substantial, one should note that a dolphin's range can cover more than 30 miles. The effects of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/conservation-planning-in-the-amazon-should-be-redirected-to-freshwater-species/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dam construction</a> and dredging can impact long stretches of river habitats.</p>



<p>Moreover, many of these endangered Amazon river dolphins inhabit regions much closer to the proposed development sites, compared to the seven males and one female dolphins tagged in this research.</p>



<h2>Struggling for survival against human activities</h2>



<p>Dr. Elizabeth Campbell, a key researcher from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/cornwall/research/facilitiesandcentres/cec/">Centre for Ecology and Conservation</a> at Exeter's Penryn Campus in Cornwall, warns, “It’s clear that the Amazon river dolphin is facing increasing threats from humans.”</p>



<p>Dr. Campbell elaborates that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/overfishing-is-wiping-out-large-bodied-fish-in-the-amazon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fishing practices</a> can lead to a significant reduction in dolphin prey. These aquatic mammals are also at risk from intentional killing and accidental capture, known as bycatch.</p>



<p>She adds, “Bycatch has been known to be a threat to these dolphins for the last 30 years, but there’s no real data on how many dolphins are caught per year.”</p>



<p>The construction of dams is another expanding threat, primarily in Brazil. There are 175 dams currently operating or under construction in the Amazon basin. At least 428 more are planned for the next 30 years.</p>



<p>As if that wasn’t enough, they must now contend with the Amazon Waterway. This massive construction project, recently approved and contracted, involves dredging sites across the four main rivers of the Amazon basin.</p>



<h2>Peruvian government must regulate human activities</h2>



<p>However, researchers believe that the Peruvian government can counter these threats and preserve biodiversity.</p>



<p>Dr. Campbell urges, “Peru has a chance to preserve its free-flowing rivers, keeping them a safe and healthy habitat for river dolphins and many other species.”</p>



<p>She advises the government to consider the negative effects that these construction projects have already caused in other regions and to take preventive measures.</p>



<p>Dr. Campbell proposes expanding river dolphin tracking programs to improve understanding and conservation efforts.</p>



<p>She says, “River dolphin tracking programs should now be expanded to span multiple seasons, to track more females at our study sites and to increase the numbers tracked in other areas to improve our knowledge of the movement patterns of this species.”</p>



<p>The Amazon river dolphin, <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/10831/50358152">listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List</a>, is a vital part of the aquatic ecosystem of the Amazon and Orinoco basins.</p>



<p>This study was funded by the South American River Dolphin Initiative and <a href="https://www.wwf.org.pe/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WWF Peru</a>. It shines a spotlight on the urgent need to protect these amazing dolphins from the damaging effects of human activities.</p>



<p>The team's findings are published in the <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0030605322001557" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">journal Oryx</a> under the title, “Satellite-monitored movements of the Amazon River dolphin and considerations for their conservation.”</p>



<h2>More about Amazon river dolphins</h2>



<p>In the vast aquatic network of the Amazon and Orinoco basins, a unique creature swims with grace and agility—the Amazon river dolphin.</p>



<p>Also known as the boto or pink river dolphin due to its distinct hue, this freshwater mammal presents a captivating sight. However, beneath the charm of these pink-skinned creatures lies a distressing narrative about their struggle for survival.</p>



<h3>Physical Features and Habitat</h3>



<p>The Amazon river dolphin stands out as the largest of the river dolphins. Adults reach up to 8 feet in length and weigh between 185 and 355 pounds. Their most striking characteristic is their pink skin. This coloring intensifies in males with age due to accumulated scars from fights or interactions with other river objects.</p>



<p>These dolphins inhabit the murky waters of the Amazon and Orinoco river basins. They boast a long, sharp-toothed snout for snatching prey, and a flexible neck that allows them to navigate the intricate river systems efficiently.</p>



<h3>History of the Amazon river dolphins</h3>



<p>From a biological standpoint, the Amazon river dolphin belongs to a group of species that made a dramatic evolutionary shift millions of years ago.</p>



<p>Researchers believe that these dolphins descended from oceanic dolphins that migrated into freshwater habitats. Fossils found in the Amazon Basin suggest that river dolphins have inhabited the region for approximately 15 million years.</p>



<p>Throughout history, Amazon river dolphins have played a significant role in the myths and folklore of indigenous communities living near the Amazon River. Local legends often depict them as shape-shifters with supernatural abilities.</p>



<p>Some tales portray them as tricksters or enchanters who transform into handsome men to seduce women in local communities. Other legends believe that sighting these dolphins can bring luck or even magical powers.</p>



<h3>Behavior and Diet</h3>



<p>Amazon river dolphins are typically solitary, occasionally forming small groups. They display a playful and friendly nature, often interacting with humans. This attribute that has endeared them to local communities and tourists alike.</p>



<p>Their diet consists of a wide variety of fish, crustaceans, and sometimes small turtles. The dolphins' flexible necks and sharp teeth allow them to hunt efficiently in the complex river environment.</p>



<h3>Significant Threats to Amazon river dolphins</h3>



<p>Despite their amicable nature, the Amazon river dolphins face significant threats from human activity. One of the primary threats is accidental capture in fishing nets or bycatch. The increase in commercial fishing in the Amazon River has escalated this risk significantly.</p>



<p>Habitat loss due to dam construction poses another significant threat. The construction of dams disrupts the natural flow of rivers. This interference alters the dolphins' habitats and impacts their migration, feeding, and breeding patterns.</p>



<p>Pollution is also a critical concern. Industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and oil spills degrade the water quality of their habitats. This, in turn, creates serious health risks to the dolphins and their prey.</p>



<h3>Conservation Status</h3>



<p>The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the Amazon river dolphin as an endangered species. This status underscores the urgency to protect these unique creatures from the escalating threats they face.</p>



<h3>Conservation Efforts</h3>



<p>Recognizing the urgency, several conservation initiatives are underway to protect the Amazon river dolphins. Key efforts include establishing protected areas, implementing tighter fishing regulations, and banning the deliberate killing of dolphins.</p>



<p>Scientific research forms a vital part of these conservation strategies. As mentioned previously, researchers are using satellite tracking technologies to study the dolphins. </p>



<p>They are monitoring movements, feeding habits, and breeding patterns. This knowledge is critical for developing effective protection strategies and influencing policy decisions.</p>



<p>In addition, education and awareness campaigns are helping to inform local communities and the wider public about the importance of protecting these unique creatures and their habitats.</p>



<h3>Conclusion</h3>



<p>The Amazon river dolphin, with its distinctive pink skin and playful nature, is more than just a charming inhabitant of the Amazon River. It is a vital part of the river ecosystem.</p>



<p>As the threats to their survival escalate, the need for robust and effective conservation efforts becomes increasingly critical. Protecting these unique creatures requires a collective effort from governments, conservation organizations, local communities, and individuals.</p>

Amazon river dolphins are at great risk of extinction due to human activities

A recent study unveils the looming threats the Amazon river...

Aerial,View,Of,Earth,Surrounded,By,Space,Junk,From,Space

<p>A new study conducted by researchers at the <a href="https://www.uma.es/?set_language=en">University of Malaga</a> (UMA) reveals a dark side to space exploration and satellite technology. Space debris, or space junk, is a threat to space exploration and also our planet.</p>



<p>The escalating quantity of defunct objects in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breakthrough-surges-of-cosmic-radiation-from-space-directly-linked-to-earthquakes/">space</a> is a direct result of human activities beyond Earth's atmosphere. The mess we have made in space could be setting us up for a potentially devastating future.</p>



<p>Since the launch of the first satellite in 1957, the proliferation of space debris has been relentless. The <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> (ESA) estimates that there are now over 131 million pieces of space junk. These range in size from one millimeter to ten centimeters, circumnavigating our planet at speeds of 36,000 kilometers per hour.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Remnants of rockets, dysfunctional satellites, and even stray astronaut tools make up the clutter. The debris presents a serious threat to operational satellites and future space missions. “Any piece larger than one centimeter is potentially lethal in case of collision," said Professor José Luis Torres.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-theoretical-model">Theoretical model</h2>



<p>Together with Professor Anelí Bongers, Torres led a project focused on Space Economy, which applied quantitative analysis to establish a theoretical model that outlines an optimal rate of satellite launches based on the existing amount of space debris.</p>



<p>Using data from NASA and ESA, the model uses computational simulations to investigate the impact of anti-satellite tests on the volume of space debris and the consequential probability of collisions with operational satellites. There are approximately 6,000 satellites that are currently orbiting Earth.</p>



<p>The UMA researchers dynamically calculated the quantity of space debris based on the optimal behavior of space-operating companies in determining the rate of satellite launches and the number of satellites. Their study shows that the amount of space debris adversely influences the quantity of launches and satellites.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“The calculations also show that anti-satellite tests generate more than 102,000 new pieces of this waste larger than one centimeter and that its negative effects take 1,000 years to disappear due to the high altitude at which tests are carried out," said the researchers.&nbsp;</p>



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="sA5iz7AQa5-2831809-12187" type="single"]</div>



<h2 id="h-unregulated-global-market">Unregulated global market</h2>



<p>The experts approached the study of space debris from an economic perspective. They view outer space as a global common good that, similar to the high seas, risks overexploitation.</p>



<p>This approach highlights the lack of express regulation beyond a non-binding United Nations International Treaty. As a consequence, they identify a clear "market failure," where the absence of property rights encourages misuse of this resource, resulting in negative externalities.</p>



<p>The researchers express concern that our increasing dependence on tech companies operating in space implies a continued rise in the volume of space debris. With that comes an increased probability of collision. “We are facing a huge unregulated market, which problems have just started," they wrote.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-hypothetical-space-war">Hypothetical space war</h2>



<p>In a startling scenario, the UMA study also investigates the fallout of a hypothetical space war. The simulation assumed the destruction of 250 satellites. Under such circumstances, the model predicts a surge of space debris by an astonishing 25.5 million fragments,each larger than one centimeter. This would exponentially escalate the probability of collision and satellite destruction.</p>



<p>The study, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10242694.2023.220802"><em>Defense and Peace Economics</em></a>, is a stern reminder of the potential consequences of space debris on our global economy and the physical problems it may impose on Earth. </p>



<p>The research also highlights the implications for human activities in space, both commercial and scientific. If we don't check the current rate of space debris generation, it could render space exploration impossible.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-space-debris">More about space debris&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Space debris, also known as space junk, refers to objects that are no longer functional and orbit the Earth. These objects include defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, fragments from collisions, and other remnants of human activities in space. The accumulation of space debris poses a significant threat to operational satellites, spacecraft, and even astronauts.</p>



<h3 id="h-key-points-about-space-debris">Key points about space debris:</h3>



<h4 id="h-origins">Origins</h4>



<p>Space junk can originate from various sources, such as satellite launches, on-orbit explosions, and mission-related activities. Collisions between objects in space generate more debris, creating a cascade effect known as the Kessler Syndrome.</p>



<h4 id="h-types-of-debris">Types of debris</h4>



<p>Space debris can vary in size, from tiny paint flecks and screws to larger objects like dead satellites. Even smaller debris particles can pose a risk due to their high velocities in orbit.</p>



<h4 id="h-orbital-zones">Orbital zones</h4>



<p>Space junk can be found in different orbital regions, including low Earth orbit (LEO) below 2,000 km, medium Earth orbit (MEO) between 2,000 km and 35,786 km, and geostationary orbit (GEO) at 35,786 km. The majority of debris is concentrated in LEO.</p>



<h4 id="h-risks-and-challenges">Risks and challenges</h4>



<p>Space debris poses risks to operational satellites, as even a small collision with debris can cause significant damage or complete destruction. This risk increases with the growing number of satellites in orbit. It also poses a threat to crewed missions and the International Space Station (ISS).</p>



<h4 id="h-tracking-and-monitoring">Tracking and monitoring</h4>



<p>Space agencies and organizations track and monitor space debris using radar systems, telescopes, and other technologies. They catalog and predict the trajectories of larger objects to minimize the risk of collisions.</p>



<h4 id="h-mitigation-measures">Mitigation measures</h4>



<p>To address the problem, several mitigation measures have been proposed and implemented. These include designing satellites and rockets with measures to limit debris generation, deorbiting satellites at the end of their operational life, and removing larger debris through active removal missions.</p>



<h4 id="h-international-cooperation">International cooperation</h4>



<p>Space debris is a global issue that requires international cooperation. Organizations like NASA, ESA, and other space agencies collaborate to develop guidelines, share tracking data, and work on debris mitigation strategies.</p>



<p>Efforts are underway to develop advanced technologies for cleaning up space debris and prevent further accumulation. These include concepts like active debris removal, space-based lasers, and other innovative solutions. The goal is to ensure the long-term sustainability of space activities and preserve the space environment for future generations.</p>



<p><em>—--</em></p>



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

Future space exploration could be shut down by orbiting space debris

A new study conducted by researchers at the University of...

Earth,Water,Resources,Generating,New,Life.,Digital,Illustration.

<p>Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a superabsorbent hydrogel material. It is capable of absorbing moisture and extracting water from the air. </p>



<p>This groundbreaking material could be a game-changer, particularly in desert and drought-prone regions.</p>



<p>The material is able to swell as it absorbs <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/could-water-vapor-become-a-reliable-source-of-fresh-water/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">water vapor</a>. This allows it to continuously draw in moisture even under dry conditions of 30 percent relative humidity.</p>



<p>Remarkably, it does this without any leakage. After absorbing the water, one can heat, condense, and collect it as ultrapure water.</p>



<h2 id="h-supercharged-hydrogel-is-the-secret-sauce">Supercharged hydrogel is the secret sauce</h2>



<p>What's the secret behind this new material's extraordinary absorbency? The material is a hydrogel, a naturally absorbent substance used in products such as disposable diapers.</p>



<p>The team of engineers supercharged the hydrogel's moisture-absorbing capabilities by infusing it with lithium chloride. Scientists know this salt for its desiccating power.</p>



<p>Earlier studies limited how much salt could be infused into the hydrogel. This <a href="https://www.mit.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIT team</a>, however, was able to exceed that limit. They achieved unprecedented levels of moisture absorption even in extremely dry environments.</p>



<p>Carlos Díaz-Marin is a mechanical engineering graduate student at MIT and member of the <a href="https://drl.mit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Device Research Lab</a>. </p>



<p>He said, "We've been application-agnostic, in the sense that we mostly focus on the fundamental properties of the material. But now we are exploring widely different problems like how to make air conditioning more efficient and how you can harvest water. This material, because of its low cost and high performance, has so much potential."</p>



<h2>You can quickly produce hydrogel in massive amounts</h2>



<p>If we can manufacture this superabsorbent hydrogel quickly and on a large scale, it could serve as a passive water harvester. Additionally, we could also integrate it into air conditioning units to save energy by dehumidifying the air.</p>



<p>The MIT team sought to improve hydrogels' moisture-absorbing abilities, particularly from the air. They found that salts like lithium chloride were efficient at absorbing moisture and decided to combine the two.</p>



<p>Gustav Graeber was a member of the MIT team and is now a principal investigator at <a href="https://www.hu-berlin.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humboldt University</a> in Berlin. He said, "The hydrogel can store a lot of water, and the salt can capture a lot of vapor. So it's intuitive that you'd want to combine the two."</p>



<h2>How the hydrogel was created</h2>



<p>In a new approach, the MIT team spent days and even weeks allowing the lithium chloride to infuse into the hydrogel, instead of the usual 24 to 48 hours used in previous experiments. </p>



<p>The results were astonishing. After 30 days, the hydrogels had absorbed up to 24 grams of salt per gram of polymer, quadrupling the previous record.</p>



<p>This record-breaking absorption ability held across a range of humidity levels. In dry conditions of 30 percent relative humidity, the hydrogel captured an astonishing 1.79 grams of water per gram of material.</p>



<p>Díaz-Marin further commented, "Any desert during the night would have that low relative humidity, so conceivably, this material could <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organisms-steal-water-from-rocks-to-survive-desert-conditions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">generate water in the desert</a>." The focus now, he said, is on improving the rate of water uptake, to allow for faster cycling and more frequent water harvesting.</p>



<p>The team published their study in the journal Advanced Materials. The research was supported, in part, by the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the Swiss National Science Foundation. </p>



<p>The innovation showcased by these researchers offers a glimpse of a future where even the driest of regions may have access to a consistent water source.</p>



<h2>Material used in diapers was the spark for creating the hydrogel</h2>



<p>This astonishingly absorbent hydrogel is a product of MIT's Device Research Lab. This lab is dedicated to creating innovative materials aimed at solving global energy and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/un-world-is-falling-way-behind-on-water-security-targets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">water challenges</a>.</p>



<p>The team chose to focus on enhancing the capabilities of hydrogel, a material that people have used for years to absorb moisture, especially in products like diapers.</p>



<p>The team pondered, "Our question was, how can we make this work just as well to absorb vapor from the air?" Díaz-Marin shared. They researched extensively and found that some salts, like rock salt, could efficiently soak up moisture.</p>



<p>&nbsp;Of these, lithium chloride stood out due to its incredible ability to absorb over ten times its own mass in moisture. However, lithium chloride by itself can only pool the moisture around it without retaining it.</p>



<h2>Getting from diapers to a groundbreaking hydrogel material</h2>



<p>This led the researchers to combine hydrogel and lithium chloride, resulting in a superabsorbent material that could attract and hold in moisture.</p>



<p>Graeber clarified this approach by stating, "It’s the best of both worlds. The hydrogel can store a lot of water, and the salt can capture a lot of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/could-water-vapor-become-a-reliable-source-of-fresh-water/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">water vapor</a>. So it’s intuitive that you’d want to combine the two.”</p>



<p>The innovation of the MIT team, however, didn't stop there. They noticed that other teams had hit a roadblock when it came to the amount of salt they could infuse into the hydrogel. </p>



<p>Previous attempts were only able to infuse 4 to 6 grams of salt per gram of polymer, yielding absorption of about 1.5 grams of vapor per gram of material in 30 percent relative humidity conditions.</p>



<p>Instead of stopping there, the MIT team decided to push the boundaries. They experimented with a longer infusion process that went on for weeks instead of hours.</p>



<p>The research team sliced tubes of hydrogel into thin disks and placed each disk into a different concentration of lithium chloride solution. They weighed the disks each day to measure how much salt they had absorbed, then returned them to their solutions.</p>



<h2>Final results of their work exceeded expectations</h2>



<p>The results were striking. After a month-long process, hydrogel incorporated up to 24 grams of salt per gram of polymer. When tested under various humidity conditions, the enhanced gels swelled and absorbed more moisture without leaking. </p>



<p>This happened even at a very low 30 percent relative humidity. At this dry condition, the gels captured a "record-breaking" 1.79 grams of water per gram of material.</p>



<p>Díaz-Marin enthused, "Any desert during the night would have that low relative <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humidity-increases-urban-heat-stress/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">humidity</a>, so conceivably, this material could generate water in the desert." </p>



<p>He indicated that their next objective is to enhance the rate at which the material absorbs moisture.</p>



<p>Graeber added, "The big, unexpected surprise was that, with such a simple approach, we were able to get the highest vapor uptake reported to date. Now, the main focus will be kinetics and how quickly we can get the material to uptake water. That will allow you to cycle this material very quickly, so that instead of recovering water once a day, you could harvest water maybe 24 times a day."</p>



<h2>More work ahead to unleash the vast potential of the hydrogel</h2>



<p>The research carried out at <a href="https://drl.mit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIT's Device Research Lab</a> underlines the vast potential of this superabsorbent material. This could mark a significant advancement in the quest for more sustainable water harvesting and energy-saving practices.</p>



<p>The world awaits the next developments with eager anticipation as we move closer to a future where the scarcity of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-amazon-is-the-main-source-of-rain-in-the-atacama-desert/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">water in desert regions</a> could be a thing of the past.</p>



<h2>More about global water security</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tackling-the-worlds-climate-driven-water-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global water security</a> is a critical issue that's becoming more important due to growing populations, climate change, and increased industrial demand. It refers to the reliable access and availability of clean, safe water for everyone, everywhere. It's an essential aspect of global security, health, and development.</p>



<p>There are numerous challenges that threaten global water security. Here are some of them:</p>



<h3>Water Scarcity</h3>



<p>Water scarcity is caused by a combination of factors like overuse, wastage, pollution, and climate change. <a href="https://www.un.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The United Nations</a> estimates that by 2025, nearly two-thirds of the world's population could be under "water-stressed" conditions.</p>



<h3>Climate Change</h3>



<p>Changes in weather patterns due to climate change can lead to droughts, floods, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/water-supply-from-icy-mountains-will-become-less-reliable/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unpredictable rainfall</a>, making water availability less predictable.</p>



<h3>Population Growth and Urbanization</h3>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-population-set-to-hit-eight-billion-by-next-week/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rapid population growth</a> and urbanization often lead to increased demand for water, sometimes outpacing the supply.</p>



<h3>Pollution</h3>



<p>Pollution from industry, agriculture, and domestic waste can contaminate water sources, making them unsafe for human consumption and reducing the overall available clean water.</p>



<h3>Inadequate Infrastructure</h3>



<p>In many parts of the world, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/water-security-in-africa-remains-very-poor/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">water infrastructure</a> is outdated or inadequate. This can lead to significant water loss due to leakage or inefficient distribution systems.</p>



<h3>Political and Transboundary Issues</h3>



<p>Water sources often cross national borders, and disagreements over usage rights can lead to conflicts. Effective water management and cooperation between countries are essential for global water security.</p>



<p>Addressing these challenges requires a combined global effort. Potential solutions include improved water management strategies, increased investment in infrastructure, implementing water conservation measures, pollution control, and using new technologies like the superabsorbent hydrogel developed by MIT engineers.</p>



<p>Achieving global water security is not just about having enough water, but also about ensuring the water is safe and can be accessed by everyone. It's an integral part of sustainable development and vital for the health and survival of communities around the world.</p>

New hydrogel material can extract unlimited amounts of water from the air

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed...

<p>In an effort to counteract the threats posed by global climate change to endangered and vulnerable species, U.S. officials have announced a significant amendment to federal regulations. </p>



<p>Scientists will now be permitted to relocate endangered species outside their historical habitats. These relocations are done with the hope of protecting them from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-sixth-mass-extinction-is-currently-in-progress/">extinction</a>.</p>



<p>Published by the Biden administration, the new legislation facilitates the potential relocation of some of the nation's most at-risk species. All of these species are protected under the Endangered Species Act. </p>



<p>The regulation does not solely apply to plants and animals impacted by climate change. It also covers wildlife endangered by invasive species.</p>



<p>Until now, this measure was considered a desperate last resort, according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/">Associated Press</a>. The AP report notes that in Hawaii, efforts are underway to transport threatened seabirds to new islands to safeguard them from the threat of sea level rise.</p>



<p>This summer, officials plan to reintroduce Guam kingfishers to the Palmyra Atoll, located south of Hawaii. These birds are now extinct in the wild after brown tree snakes, which were unintentionally brought to Guam in the 1950, ravaged their population.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-species-relocation">Species relocation&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The idea of introducing species to new territories was previously met with resistance. This was largely due to fears of disrupting local ecosystems and overpopulating the local flora and fauna. </p>



<p>However, the looming threat of climate change, which is gradually transforming habitats worldwide, has prompted more widespread acceptance of the practice among scientists and government officials.</p>



<p>Interior Secretary Deb Haaland pointed out in her statement that the full impact of climate change hadn't been recognized when the previous rules against endangered species relocations were instated. </p>



<p>Now, however, "global warming intensifies, habitat changes are forcing some wildlife to new areas to survive, while squeezing other species closer to extinction," she explained. </p>



<p>Haaland further stated that this facilitation of relocations would strengthen conservation efforts and help ensure the protection of species for future generations.</p>



<h2 id="h-potential-consequences">Potential consequences&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Despite this, not everyone is on board with this approach. Republicans in Western states, who still harbor resentment over the contentious reintroduction of gray wolves two decades prior, were among the most vocal opponents. </p>



<p>State officials from Montana, New Mexico, and Arizona expressed apprehension. They warned of the potential for ecological upheaval as "invasive species" are deliberately brought into new habitats.</p>



<p>Montana Governor Greg Gianforte's spokesperson, Jack O’Brien, relayed state officials' intent to scrutinize the changes but voiced disappointment at the federal officials' decision to announce them just before a holiday weekend.</p>



<p>In the past, introducing species to new areas has occasionally resulted in catastrophic consequences. One example of this is the spread of Asian carp throughout U.S. rivers and streams.</p>



<p>Nevertheless, various state wildlife officials and independent scientists endorsed the change. They suggest that certain species, such as the Key deer of southern Florida, desert flowers in Nevada and California, and the St. Croix ground lizard in the Virgin Islands, could benefit from this approach.</p>



<h2 id="h-destruction-of-natural-habitats">Destruction of natural habitats&nbsp;</h2>



<p>However, Patrick Donnelly from the <a href="https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/">Center for Biological Diversity</a> expressed concern that the new rule might be misused to make room for developmental projects at the cost of destroying natural habitats. </p>



<p>His group has been actively fighting against plans for a Nevada lithium mine that could threaten an endangered desert wildflower, the Tiehm’s buckwheat.</p>



<p>"The Tiehm’s buckwheat situation has raised the specter of a mining company intentionally destroying an endangered species’ habitat and then attempting to create new habitat elsewhere as compensation," said Donnelly. "It’s troubling that this new rule doesn’t contain an explicit prohibition on such an arrangement.”</p>



<p>The recent introduction of this relocation rule forms part of a series of steps taken by the Biden administration to roll back major modifications made to the endangered species program during the Trump administration. </p>



<p>These prior modifications were primarily advocated for by industry groups but were met with substantial backlash from environmentalists.</p>



<p>Recently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared its intention to revive an old regulation that offers blanket protections for species newly identified as threatened. </p>



<p>This decision signals a significant shift in policy, as officials have also confirmed that economic impacts will no longer be a factor in deciding the need for protection of various plant and animal species.</p>



<p>The restoration of this regulation and the new species relocation rule show the Biden administration's commitment to prioritizing ecological conservation, even as it struggles with the complex and far-reaching effects of climate change.</p>



<h2>More about the Endangered Species Act</h2>



<p>The U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) was established in 1973. It is a crucial piece of federal legislation aimed at protecting species at risk of extinction.</p>



<p>The ESA classifies species as either "endangered" or "threatened." </p>



<p>"Endangered" means a species is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. "Threatened" indicates a species is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future.</p>



<h3>Endangered Species Act is implemented by FWS and NMFS</h3>



<p>The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) implement the Act. The FWS manages terrestrial and freshwater species, while the NMFS handles marine wildlife and anadromous fish.</p>



<p>Under the Act, these agencies must maintain a list of endangered and threatened species. The selection process is strictly biological, setting aside economic, political, or social considerations.</p>



<h3>Creating recovery plans for endangered species</h3>



<p>The ESA also mandates the creation of recovery plans for listed species. These plans detail steps to help the species recover and delist them. They often involve habitat restoration, population surveys, and public education efforts.</p>



<p>The Act prohibits "taking" listed species, where "taking" involves actions like hunting, harassing, or significantly modifying the species' habitat.</p>



<h3>Conservation and international trade</h3>



<p>Moreover, the ESA controls international trade in endangered and threatened species. Importing, exporting, or commercial activity involving listed species is generally prohibited.</p>



<p>The Act also empowers the government to purchase land for conservation. It promotes cooperative agreements with states and provides grants for state and local conservation efforts.</p>



<p>Lastly, the Act allows for citizen involvement. Any person or organization can petition to have a species listed, delisted, or reclassified.</p>



<p>The Endangered Species Act has faced much opposition and and many challenges over the years. Despite these obstacles, the ESA has done its job fairly well. It has played a significant role in preventing the extinction of numerous species and protecting critical habitats in the U.S.</p>



<p><em>—--</em></p>



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

US endangered species can now be relocated to escape climate threats

In an effort to counteract the threats posed by global...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHHxOej4QfE
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Researchers found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and traffic pollution.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-invisible-threat-in-urban-air"><strong>Invisible threat in urban air</strong></h2>



<p>City dwellers face an unseen danger with every breath. New findings from Emory University researchers suggest that fine particulate matter from <a href="http://earth.com/news/traffic-related-air-pollution-might-increase-alzheimers-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vehicle emissions may significantly elevate the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease</a>. The study examined brain tissue samples from 224 individuals who had confirmed diagnoses and volunteered their brains for scientific research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disturbing-connections-emerge"><strong>Disturbing connections emerge</strong></h2>



<p>Scientists analyzed neuritic plaques — protein clusters that characterize Alzheimer's — while mapping each participant's exposure to PM2.5 particles based on residential location and surrounding traffic density. The correlation proved more alarming than anticipated. Individuals experiencing higher pollution exposure showed nearly double the likelihood of elevated plaque accumulation in brain tissue.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-timing-matters"><strong>Timing matters</strong></h2>



<p>The research team discovered that pollution exposure during the final year before death demonstrated the strongest association with brain changes. This timeline suggests relatively rapid impacts from environmental toxins on neural health. The connection remained robust even after accounting for various demographic and health factors.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-vulnerability-patterns"><strong>Genetic vulnerability patterns</strong></h2>



<p>Perhaps most concerning, people lacking the APOE gene—which naturally predisposes individuals to Alzheimer's — exhibited more than twice the susceptibility to pollution-related brain damage. Study author Dr. Anke Huels noted this indicates environmental elements like air contamination could trigger the disease in cases where hereditary factors don't explain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-public-health-implications"><strong>Public health implications</strong></h2>



<p>These findings, published in <em><a href="https://www.neurology.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neurology</a></em>, underscore the critical importance of air quality regulations in urban planning. The research suggests that implementing stricter emission controls and promoting alternative transportation could serve as powerful tools in Alzheimer's prevention.</p>



<p>As cities worldwide grapple with growing traffic congestion and aging populations, this study highlights an urgent need for comprehensive approaches to environmental health that protect both our lungs and our minds.</p>



<p>—–</p>



<p>Like what you saw and read?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a>&nbsp;for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—–</p>



<p>Check us out on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth.com</a>.</p>



<p>—–</p>

Traffic fumes may trigger Alzheimer's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHHxOej4QfE Researchers found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and traffic...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-waters-beneath-ancient-craters">Hidden waters beneath ancient craters</h2>



<p>Scientists have made a startling discovery that challenges everything we thought we knew about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturn-moon-mimas-has-remarkably-young-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn's moon Mimas</a>. Beneath the heavily cratered surface that earned it the nickname "Death Star" lies a global ocean that formed just 5 to 15 million years ago—a remarkably young age by cosmic standards.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cassini-data-reveals-orbital-secrets">Cassini data reveals orbital secrets</h2>



<p>The discovery, led by Dr. Valéry Lainey of the <a href="https://observatoiredeparis.psl.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Observatoire de Paris</a>, emerged from careful analysis of <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>'s Cassini spacecraft data. By studying subtle irregularities in Mimas's orbit around Saturn, researchers detected the gravitational signature of liquid water hidden 20 to 30 kilometers beneath the moon's icy shell.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-unlikely-ocean-world">An unlikely ocean world</h2>



<p>At only 400 kilometers in diameter, Mimas seemed like the least likely candidate to harbor a subsurface ocean. Unlike other ocean moons such as Europa and Enceladus, which show clear surface signs of internal activity, Mimas displays no obvious hints of the liquid water beneath its ancient, crater-scarred exterior.</p>



<p>"Mimas is a small moon, and its heavily cratered surface gave no hint of the hidden ocean beneath," explained Dr. Nick Cooper from <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University of London</a>, a study co-author.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-astrobiology">Implications for astrobiology</h2>



<p>The ocean's recent formation makes Mimas a prime target for studying how oceans develop and potentially support life. This discovery adds another member to the exclusive club of ocean worlds in our solar system, each offering unique insights into the conditions necessary for habitability.</p>



<p>The research, published in <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a></em> journal, demonstrates how advanced orbital analysis can reveal hidden features of celestial bodies, opening new possibilities for understanding ocean formation throughout the cosmos.</p>



<p>—–</p>



<p>Like what you saw and read?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a>&nbsp;for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—–</p>



<p>Check us out on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth.com</a>.</p>



<p>—–</p>

Scientists discover unexpected young ocean on Saturn's cratered moon Mimas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ 'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DuSr87SHY
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">57 million-year ice age mystery solved by Australian scientists.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-earth-became-a-frozen-wasteland">When Earth became a frozen wasteland</h2>



<p>Imagine Earth as a giant snowball, frozen solid from the North Pole to the equator. This wasn't the plot of a science fiction movie – it was our planet's reality 700 million years ago during an extreme ice age that has puzzled scientists for decades.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-discovery">The discovery</h2>



<p>Australian researchers from the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Sydney</a> have finally cracked one of geology's greatest mysteries: what caused the Sturtian glaciation and why it persisted for an unprecedented 57 million years. This period occurred long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, when no complex plants or multicellular animals existed.</p>



<p>Dr. Adriana Dutkiewicz, the study's lead author, describes a world completely unlike today's climate. "Imagine the Earth almost completely frozen over," she explained. "The planet was blanketed in ice from poles to equator, and temperatures plunged."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-combination-of-climate-factors">The combination of climate factors</h2>



<p>The research team discovered that this massive freeze resulted from a "double whammy" of geological events. First, plate tectonic activity reduced volcanic carbon dioxide emissions to historically low levels. Volcanic activity typically releases CO2 into the atmosphere, creating a greenhouse effect that keeps Earth warm.</p>



<p>Simultaneously, weathering of volcanic rocks in what is now Canada actively absorbed atmospheric CO2, further reducing greenhouse gas concentrations. When atmospheric carbon dioxide levels dropped below 200 parts per million – less than half of today's levels – glaciation engulfed the entire planet.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-climate-implications">Modern climate implications</h2>



<p>Published in the journal <em><a href="https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/geology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geology</a></em>, this research provides crucial insights into Earth's climate system. While geological climate changes occur over millions of years, the study emphasizes that human-induced climate change is happening at a pace ten times faster than previously observed natural changes, highlighting the urgent need to understand our planet's delicate climate balance.</p>



<p>—–</p>



<p>Like what you saw and read?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a>&nbsp;for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—–</p>



<p>Check us out on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth.com</a>.</p>



<p>—–</p>

What caused the planet's longest ice age

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DuSr87SHY 57 million-year ice age mystery solved by Australian scientists....

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXGGiynIjs
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the opposite.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-contrasting-climate-response">A contrasting climate response</h2>



<p>Most coastal towns are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sinking-land-will-intensify-the-effects-of-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preparing for higher sea levels</a>, but <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-no-longer-has-to-worry-about-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greenland presents</a> a different scenario during climate change. The ground there is rising at a remarkable rate. Over the past decade, some areas have lifted about 20 centimeters, which translates to roughly 2 meters per century. This rate significantly exceeds current projections for sea level rise.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geological-rebound-process-through-climate-change">Geological rebound process through climate change</h2>



<p>The mechanism behind this phenomenon is straightforward. As the ice sheet melts, the immense weight is removed from the bedrock, causing the land to rebound upward. This process resembles the way compressed material springs back when pressure is released.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-monitoring-networks">Scientific monitoring networks</h2>



<p>Researchers at the <a href="https://www.dtu.dk/english/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Technical University of Denmark</a> are documenting this uplift using the GNET network, consisting of 61 GPS stations positioned around Greenland's coast. These sensors can detect movement with millimeter precision, providing detailed measurements of the ongoing changes.</p>



<p>The data reveal that current uplift rates exceed the gradual rebound occurring since the last ice age ended approximately 12,000 years ago. This acceleration corresponds directly with increased ice sheet melting rates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coastal-transformation">Coastal Transformation</h2>



<p>This uplift is actively reshaping Greenland's coastline. New islands and rocky formations, called "skerries," are emerging as previously submerged land surfaces rise above the water level. This represents a notable contrast to global concerns about rising seas.</p>



<p>The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, demonstrates the varied regional impacts of climate change. While many locations face rising water levels, Greenland's bedrock is literally rising above the surrounding seas.</p>



<p>The full study was recently published in <em><a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2023GL104851" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geophysical Research Letters</a></em>.</p>



<p>—–</p>



<p>Like what you saw and read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—–</p>



<p>Check us out on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth.com</a>.</p>



<p>—–</p>

Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXGGiynIjs Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSM3EVeGHJU
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to implement the latest AI Agent building platform.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-agent-training-transforms-the-workplace-fear-factor-into-a-competitive-advantage">AI agent training transforms the workplace 'fear factor' into a competitive advantage</h2>



<p>Organizations that offer comprehensive artificial intelligence training to their workers find remarkable value that extends well beyond basic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mind-wandering-might-be-more-productive-than-you-think/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">productivity improvements</a>. Emerging research demonstrates that carefully crafted AI training programs <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-does-not-replace-human-creativity-but-enhances-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">enhance</a> corporate performance, lower operational costs, and dramatically improve employee psychological well-being by turning workplace uncertainty into professional empowerment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-the-widespread-ai-anxiety-crisis-among-us">Addressing the widespread 'AI anxiety' crisis among us</h2>



<p>A staggering 53% of employees expressed concern that the use of AI tools to automate work tasks could make them appear disposable to their employers, according to <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft</a>'s 2024 workplace survey. Such pervasive worry about being substituted by machines has caused what researchers have termed "AI technostress" – a psychological state that can result in occupational burnout and poorer mental well-being.</p>



<p>Data published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanities and Social Sciences Communications</a> showed that belief in AI learning ability was a moderator in the link between technology adoption and work pressure, and higher confidence significantly lowered negative psychological responses. Workers provided ample training to become competent with AI software have significantly lower stress.</p>



<p>Companies like <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindStudio</a> have platforms for building what are known as "AI Agents".  In essence, AI Agents are simply tools that employees can build for themselves or their teams quickly and inexpensively.   MindStudio will even train entire companies, from the CEO on down, at no cost. By letting MindStudio empower employees, companies avoid hiring more IT staff, buying more software, and implementing solutions to problems that do not exist.</p>



<p>MindStudio even has partners locally for companies, like <a href="http://www.dominnus.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dominnus</a> with offices in the Carolinas, California, and Denver, to help build AI Agents and support employees as they become resident AI experts for their organization.  The training provided by MindStudio is applicable across other AI Agent building platforms as well.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-productivity-through-focused-learning">Revolutionary productivity through focused learning</h2>



<p>Organizations that implement large-scale AI training programs achieve dramatic outcomes. Employees performed tasks significantly better when they utilized AI support compared to when they didn't, according to <a href="https://www.nngroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nielsen Norman Group</a> research findings. Their study documented productivity increases of 66% for a variety of professional tasks.</p>



<p>Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis research finds workers record 33% higher productivity in time working with generative AI tools. The benefit is equivalent to 5.4% of work time savings for AI users – around 2.2 hours per week for full-time workers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-psychological-well-being-benefits-through-ai-competence">Psychological well-being benefits through AI competence</h2>



<p>The emotional transformation when employees are provided with proper technology training is a fundamental transformation from fear to professional confidence. A survey of 600 employees across industries, carried out by ScienceDirect, proved that AI capabilities strengthen work environment commitment and improve job satisfaction.</p>



<p>A <a href="https://www.lut.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LUT University</a> study discovered that AI adoption has no direct effect on workers' well-being but does so indirectly through working conditions like task optimization and safety protocols. Strategically deployed AI that involves correct training can actually increase workplace mental well-being.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-replacement-anxiety-to-partnership-confidence">From 'replacement anxiety' to 'partnership confidence'</h2>



<p>Although 35% of those interviewed in recent McKinsey studies were concerned about workforce displacement, firms with large-scale training initiatives witness such fears dissipate quickly. The World Economic Forum found that two out of three respondents believe AI competencies will enhance their career prospects and job marketability.</p>



<p>This shift from fear to trust has measurable implications for job satisfaction. Applied Sciences research indicates AI can create tailored wellness programs based on individual employee requirements.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-financial-benefits-of-increased-retention">Financial benefits of increased retention</h2>



<p>The mental health advantages of AI learning have a direct impact on organizational bottom lines in the form of a positive feedback cycle with high retention of employees. Recent ROI research validates that artificial intelligence learning has a beneficial impact on employee turnover and satisfaction levels.</p>



<p>PriceWaterhouseCoopers' research documents 20% to 30% improvements in productivity, market speed, and revenue in organizations that attempt systematic AI adoption through comprehensive training.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-advantages-of-ai-enabled-teams">Environmental advantages of AI-enabled teams</h2>



<p>AI training has unforeseen environmental benefits as it makes the work environment more efficient. According to a study in Scientific Reports, the carbon footprint in writing and illustrating work is significantly lower when AI performs it compared to humans. AI software produces 130 to 1,500 times less CO2 equivalent per page of text created than human authors.</p>



<p>In addition, AI-driven remote work functionality significantly reduces environmental impact. Research by Cornell University and Microsoft indicates that remote workers reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 54% by not commuting daily to offices. Hybrid workers working remotely two to four days a week can reduce their carbon footprint by 11% to 29%.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cumulative-organizational-advantages">Cumulative organizational advantages</h2>



<p>The compounding gains of better mental well-being, reduced turnover, increased productivity, and environmental benefits flow to enterprises from the pairing. McKinsey analysis estimates the long-term AI potential at $4.4 trillion in incremental productivity growth opportunity from business use cases.</p>



<p>As of now, 75% of knowledge workers globally utilize generative AI, mirroring widespread adoption patterns. Organizations that provide organized training and assistance see the most favorable results in productivity, worker satisfaction, and ecological sustainability.</p>



<p>The research overwhelmingly indicates that companies that invest in proper AI education, like that offered through <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindStudio</a>, establish win-win scenarios where employees are both more empowered and less stressed, and companies enjoy the gains of increased productivity, reduced turnover, and improved mental health outcomes throughout their workforce.</p>



<p>For more on MindStudio's free AI training for companies, visit the website's of MindStudio and Dominnus from the links below.</p>



<p>The research was published across a variety of peer-reviewed journals, including <a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanities and Social Sciences Communications</a>, <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence</a>, and <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci">Applied Sciences</a>.</p>



<p id="block-9bd989d6-2fd3-4580-957f-6cacce134f08">-----</p>



<p id="block-eff5dea3-a9bb-40b5-a923-e5a9978bc0e2">Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p id="block-43e218f4-0391-477c-8396-eb777c8c80a3">Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



<p id="block-1f9a227a-ec37-4140-81b8-ffa4a7cc6689">-----</p>



<p>MindStudio.AI: <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.mindstudio.ai</a></p>



<p>Dominnus: <a href="https://www.dominnus.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.dominnus.com</a></p>

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSM3EVeGHJU Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-natural-solution-to-disease-through-crop-modification">A natural solution to disease through crop modification.</h2>



<p>The agricultural industry stands at a crossroads between productivity and environmental responsibility, and crop modification often carries a negative connotation. While chemical pesticides have long been the go-to solution for crop protection, their harmful effects on ecosystems and human health have prompted scientists to seek alternatives. The recent breakthrough by <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a> researchers offers a promising path forward through the precise manipulation of plant-associated microbial communities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-science-behind-microbial-partnerships">The science behind microbial partnerships</h2>



<p>Plants naturally harbor diverse ecosystems of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that function as biological allies. These microscopic partners contribute to disease resistance, nutrient absorption, and stress tolerance. However, until now, scientists lacked the tools to deliberately reshape these communities to enhance crop protection.</p>



<p>The Southampton team's approach centered on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/engineered-plant-microbiomes-the-future-of-crop-protection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">modifying lignin biosynthesis genes in rice plants</a>. This strategic intervention altered the plant's metabolic output, creating conditions that favored beneficial bacterial populations while suppressing harmful ones. The result was a living defense system embedded within the plant itself.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-global-food-security">Implications for global food security</h2>



<p>The successful demonstration against Xanthomonas oryzae, the pathogen responsible for bacterial blight in rice, represents more than a laboratory achievement. Rice feeds nearly half the world's population, and bacterial blight causes devastating crop losses annually. Traditional control methods rely heavily on pesticides that contaminate soil and water systems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-beyond-disease-resistance">Looking Beyond Disease Resistance</h2>



<p>While disease protection represents the immediate application, the research framework opens doors to broader agricultural improvements. Future developments could engineer microbiomes to enhance nutrient uptake, reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers. This dual benefit addresses both crop productivity and environmental sustainability.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-path-forward">The path forward</h2>



<p>As this technology advances from laboratory to field applications, it promises to reshape sustainable agriculture. The ability to program plants with their own biological defense systems could herald a new era where crops protect themselves naturally, reducing chemical inputs while maintaining yields necessary for global food security.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44335-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



<p>-----</p>

Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4 Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease A natural...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



<p>Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?</p>



<p>The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What was acid rain?</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The science behind it</strong></h2>



<p>Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.</p>



<p>While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The crisis at its peak</strong></h2>



<p>During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Environmental devastation</strong></h2>



<p>The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.</p>



<p>By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.</p>



<p>Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Economic impact</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The solution: government action and technology</strong></h2>



<p>Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Clean Air Act of 1990</strong></h2>



<p>The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Cap-and-trade success</strong></h2>



<p>Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.</p>



<p>The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Technology advances</strong></h2>



<p>Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.</p>



<p>The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today"><strong>Why we don't hear about it today</strong></h2>



<p>Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Success doesn't make news</strong></h2>



<p>There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Mission accomplished</strong></h2>



<p>The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone"><strong>Is it really gone?</strong></h2>



<p>The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.</p>



<p>EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What this teaches us</strong></h2>



<p>The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.</p>



<p>Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Conclusion</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.</p>



<p>Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.</p>



<p>This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.</p>



<p>Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p><strong>Sources:</strong> <em>This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions</strong></h2>



<p><strong>1. Is acid rain completely gone?</strong> No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.</p>



<p><strong>2. How long did solving take?</strong> Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.</p>



<p><strong>3. What made the solution successful?</strong> Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.</p>



<p><strong>4. Do other countries have acid rain problems?</strong> Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.</p>



<p><strong>5. Could acid rain return?</strong> Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.</p>



<p><strong>6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"?</strong> The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</a></p>



<p>-----</p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



<p>-----</p>

The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

Green,Ecoduct,Over,An,Empty,Highway,During,Sunset.

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
</div></figure>



<p>A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that wildlife tunnels significantly reduce amphibian road mortality during seasonal migrations. </p>



<p>Frogs and salamanders often cross roads to reach breeding ponds each spring, but many are killed by vehicles. </p>



<p>Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a>, in collaboration with local citizens and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, installed two underpass tunnels in 2015. </p>



<p>Over a 12-year monitoring period, they observed an 80.2% reduction in amphibian deaths, and up to 94% for non-climbing species like salamanders. </p>



<p>The study used a before-after-control-impact design and documented more than 5,200 amphibians, highlighting the tunnels’ effectiveness even in nearby buffer zones.</p>



<p>Funded at $342,397 - far cheaper than wildlife crossings for large mammals - the project showcased the power of community-led conservation.</p>



<p>Local groups initiated the effort after observing mass amphibian deaths. Wildlife cameras later captured over 2,200 amphibians using a tunnel in just one spring, along with other species like raccoons and bobcats, indicating wider ecosystem benefits.</p>



<p>This marks the first peer-reviewed, long-term data set in the northeastern U.S. confirming amphibian-specific underpasses work. </p>



<p>The study urges transportation departments to incorporate these designs into road planning and highlights how community action, thoughtful infrastructure, and persistence can make a real difference for biodiversity.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the <em><a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1617138125000780" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal for Nature Conservation</a></em>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



<p>-----</p>

Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that...

<p>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. </p>



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



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



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



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



<p>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. </p>



<p>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).</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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>.</p>

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"]</div>



<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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.</p>



<p>“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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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;</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="EjmSP20gQK-2593093-12187" type="single"]</div>



<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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. </p>



<p>"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."</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p>"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.”</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



<p>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."</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"] Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="f8fukm28Vz-2491833-12187" type="single"]</div>



<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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;</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p>"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;</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Goddard</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

[sendtonews key="f8fukm28Vz-2491833-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"]</div>



<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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;</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/&nbsp; NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3UUsNkFOuS-2487333-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



<p>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;</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

[sendtonews key="3UUsNkFOuS-2487333-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"]</div>



<p>Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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;</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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.</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"]</div>



<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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.</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p>"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."</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>"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."</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="fxH3eJHEkQ-2010196-12187" type="single"]</div>



<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: ESA</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

[sendtonews key="fxH3eJHEkQ-2010196-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="Ccjk8KEMzv-2550719-12187" type="single"]</div>



<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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. </p>



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



<p>"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.</p>



<p>"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."</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p>"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."</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

[sendtonews key="Ccjk8KEMzv-2550719-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

News coming your way