<p>Last summer felt different across large parts of Europe and the Mediterranean. Temperatures broke local records, forests dried out, and daily life bent under relentless heat.</p>



<p>A new study goes further than asking whether climate change played a role. It quantifies how much specific fossil fuel and cement producers contributed to 213 major heatwaves from 2000 to 2023.</p>



<p>The team examined heatwaves reported by governments and media because they caused serious losses or triggered emergency help.</p>



<p>Researchers analyzed whether human-driven warming made those events more likely or more intense, then linked those changes to emissions from 180 large producers known as “carbon majors.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-real-costs-of-heat">The real costs of heat</h2>



<p>Heatwaves are not just uncomfortable. They threaten health, strain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/electric-vehicles-cant-help-the-planet-without-a-smarter-power-grid/">power grids</a>, and hit farms and factories with real economic pain. </p>



<p>Connecting events to sources provides a clearer picture of responsibility than broad national averages.</p>



<p>The study answers two questions: first, how much has climate change amped up these events, and second, how much did each company’s emissions add to that amplification.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heat-waves-and-climate-change">Heat waves and climate change</h2>



<p>An attribution study estimates how climate change shifts the odds and severity of an extreme event. Scientists compare the world we live in with a modeled preindustrial baseline to quantify the difference.</p>



<p>They use global mean surface <a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/global-temperature/?intent=121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">temperature</a> as a yardstick for how much the planet has warmed overall. A probability ratio tells you how many times more likely an event became compared with the historical world before major industrial emissions.</p>



<p>Across all 213 heatwaves, climate change increased both the intensity and the likelihood. The median boost in intensity rose from about 1.4 °C (2.5 °F) in 2000 to 2009 to about 2.2 °C (4.0 °F) in 2020 to 2023, which matches the broader warming trend reported over land surfaces.</p>



<p>The odds jumped as well. Heatwaves became about 20 times more likely during 2000 to 2009 and about 200 times more likely during 2010 to 2019 compared with 1850 to 1900.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossil-fuel-companies-and-heatwaves">Fossil fuel companies and heatwaves</h2>



<p>The authors traced heatwave contributions from the 180 largest fossil fuel and cement producers. Those emissions account for a major share of historical carbon dioxide and methane released into the atmosphere.</p>



<p>Fourteen entities stand out because their total contribution to warming matches that of the other 166 combined. That pattern shows scale matters, but smaller producers still matter, since even modest shares can push rare events over the edge.</p>



<p>Past research often grouped emissions by country or individual. This work focuses on firms because they extract and sell products with high carbon footprints and have steered business strategies in light of what they knew about climate risks.</p>



<p>The paper highlights that companies have pursued profit within systems that long undervalued climate costs. That context may inform debates about responsibility, insurance, and how to fund adaptation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracing-extreme-heat-events">Tracing extreme heat events</h2>



<p>First, the team applied an established event attribution protocol maintained by World Weather Attribution. The approach compares observed temperatures during each heatwave to a modeled preindustrial world, tests statistical fit, and combines multiple lines of evidence.</p>



<p>Second, they used an <a href="https://www.gfdl.noaa.gov/earth-system-model/">Earth system model</a> to calculate how each carbon major’s emissions changed global temperature over time. Removing one entity’s emissions from the historical record in a model run shows the temperature difference that producer made.</p>



<p>Take the Pacific Northwest heat dome of June 2021. Analyses found human induced warming increased its intensity by several degrees Celsius (roughly 4-9 °F) and made such an event far more likely than it would have been before industrialization.</p>



<p>The new study used a similar framework consistently across the world’s continents. That consistency allows a fairer comparison among many events rather than a handful of famous ones.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-corporate-share-of-heat">Corporate share of heat</h2>



<p>The researchers estimate that about half of the increase in heatwave intensity since preindustrial times can be traced to the carbon majors. Median contributions from the top group to the intensity of these events range up to a few tenths of a degree Celsius (about 0.5 °F).</p>



<p>Some heatwaves would have been virtually impossible without the added warming. The authors report that dozens of events cross that threshold when considering the total human effect.</p>



<p>"It just shows that it's not that many actors ... who are responsible for a very strong fraction of all <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-new-source-of-methane-emissions-discovered-glacial-fracking-arctic/">emissions</a>," said Sonia Seneviratne of ETH Zurich (ETHZ).</p>



<p>That perspective reflects the study’s focus on tracing causal chains from producers to real world impacts. It does not erase individual or national roles, but it sharpens the picture of who profits directly from high emitting activity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limitations-and-open-questions">Limitations and open questions</h2>



<p>Reporting gaps in Africa and parts of South America mean some heatwaves did not make it into the dataset. That undercounts risk in regions that are warming rapidly and often have fewer resources to cope.</p>



<p>Attribution can also be harder for very rare events and where observational records are shorter. Still, the paper documents careful checks on model performance and statistical causality to build confidence in the results.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heat-s-toll-on-society">Heat’s toll on society</h2>



<p>Heat risk scales with age, outdoor work, housing, and access to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-antarctic-waters-are-cooling-in-a-warming-world/">cooling</a>. Better early warning, more shade, and grid upgrades reduce harm now, even as long term solutions tackle emissions.</p>



<p>The legal and policy landscape may shift as attribution strengthens. Courts, regulators, and insurers are already weighing how to assign costs when heat pushes systems beyond design limits, and when losses stack up across sectors.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-connecting-science-to-action">Connecting science to action</h2>



<p>For students and the public, this study shows how scientific tools connect dots from physics to policy. It uses transparent data, multiple models, and clear statistical tests to answer questions many communities are already asking.</p>



<p>It also shows that choices by concentrated actors can have global effects. Understanding that chain helps people think more clearly about accountability and investment.</p>



<p>Researchers plan to apply the same framework to other extremes, including heavy rain, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-drought-has-caused-crisis-levels-of-food-and-water-scarcity/">drought</a>, and wildfires. Each hazard will bring its own statistical wrinkles and data needs.</p>



<p>As methods evolve, expect sharper estimates and more open datasets. That progress will help cities, health systems, and courts make decisions that match the scale of the risk.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09450-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature</em></a>.</p>



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Worsening global heatwaves linked to the fossil fuel industry

Last summer felt different across large parts of Europe and the Mediterranean. Temperatures broke local records, forests dried out, and daily life bent under relentless heat. A new study goes further than asking whether climate change played a role. It quantifies how much specific fossil fuel and cement producers contributed to 213 major heatwaves from 2000 to 2023. The team examined heatwaves reported by governments and media because they caused serious losses or triggered emergency help. Researchers analyzed whether human-driven warming made those events more likely or...

Farmer's,Hand,Watering,A,Young,Plant,,Modern,Agriculture,With,Technology

<p>It's a known fact that plants have an uncanny knack for survival. They have learned to send signals and also use hormones called ABA. These stratgies regulate their internal and external systems.</p>



<p>Scientists from the <a href="https://www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU)</a> have now shed light on a fascinating new piece of the survival puzzle.</p>



<p>According to their recent findings, plants have a clever way of dealing with dry conditions. They send signals from the leaves <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deeper-plant-roots-could-boost-soil-carbon-storage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">down to the roots</a>.</p>



<h2 id="h-plants-send-signals-using-shoot-to-root-signaling">Plants send signals using “shoot-to-root signaling”</h2>



<p>This is a new pathway the scientists call "shoot-to-root signaling." This ensures that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-how-plant-roots-penetrate-hard-soil/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">roots keep growing towards water</a>, even when the surrounding soil is dry.</p>



<p>Here's a quick science recap for you. When plants are under drought stress, they produce a hormone known as abscisic acid (ABA). This hormone has long been considered a "drought stress" hormone.</p>



<h2>How does abscisic acid (ABA) help plants send signals?</h2>



<p>Until recently, scientists held the belief that the roots produced ABA. Then, it traveled to the leaves to aid the plant in conserving water. The hormone works by closing tiny leaf pores, known as stomata. These stomata prevent the plant from losing water.</p>



<p>But science always has room for new discoveries. Over the past few years, plant scientists have uncovered more about this process. They found out that roots send ABA to the leaves. In addition, leaves can also produce their own ABA.</p>



<p>Here comes the surprising part. The SLCU team, led by Dr. Alexander Jones, has found out that leaves can do even more.</p>



<p>Leaves exposed to low humidity or dry air send a signal down to the roots. This signal triggers the roots to keep growing using ABA.</p>



<p>This discovery was a big surprise to scientists. Scientists have always considered ABA a growth stopper, not a growth starter.</p>



<h2>Why is ABA finding significant?</h2>



<p>Well, this “shoot-to-root signaling” potentially helps the plant to look for water deeper in the soil. This gives the plant a better chance of surviving in dry conditions. </p>



<p>The signaling pathway could act as an early warning system. It allows the plant to prepare for upcoming water shortages.</p>



<h2>How did the scientists make this discovery?</h2>



<p>The research team developed and used a new, next-generation biosensor, named ABACUS2. This biosensor helped them to detect ABA levels in living plants. It also allowed them to see exactly how environmental stress, such as dry conditions, could increase these hormone levels.</p>



<p>"We've known for several years that, at low humidity, plants prioritize root growth," said Dr. James Rowe, the first author of the study.</p>



<p>He further added, "The molecular mechanisms behind this phenomenon have been a mystery until ABACUS2 allowed us to measure ABA concentrations at the cellular level in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings.”</p>



<p>Rowe continued, “We saw that when the leaves experience low humidity stress that ABA accumulates in the root tips. The leaves are reacting to the dry air and telling the roots to continue growing, enabling plants to maintain foraging of deeper soil for water."</p>



<h2>ABA delivers more surprises</h2>



<p>What's even more surprising is that this growth-promoting role of ABA goes against its traditional understanding. ABA is usually considered a growth inhibitor. </p>



<p>However, this study shows that it can also stimulate root growth. This helps plants to continue their search for water in dry conditions.</p>



<p>"The root ABA comes from the phloem, which transports sugars and hormones from the shoot and is unloaded in the root tip. ABA signaling can fine-tune root growth as humidity varies," said Dr. Alexander Jones.</p>



<h2>ABA can help scientists manage climate change impact</h2>



<p>This discovery is not just academically interesting. It also has practical implications. This is especially true for understanding how crops adapt to changing environmental conditions.</p>



<p>For instance, it offers insights into the potential reactions of crops, grown under irrigation, when they encounter dry air and wet soil. This is a condition that's becoming increasingly common with climate change.</p>



<p>As with all scientific discoveries, there's more to be learned. The SLCU team plans to dig deeper into these mechanisms.</p>



<p>The next study will focus on the signals between the leaves and roots under drought and low humidity stress. Their findings so far already mark a significant step forward in understanding the intricate survival tactics of plants.</p>



<h2>More about plants’ communication systems</h2>



<p>Plants have intricate internal and external communication systems. These incredible natural mechanisms allow them to adapt to their environment and interact with other organisms. Plants also send signals to coordinate their own growth and development.</p>



<p>Plant communication systems involve a multitude of chemical signals. These include hormones and secondary metabolites. They also send physical signals, such as electrical impulses and mechanical pressure.</p>



<h3>Internal Communication</h3>



<p>The internal communication within a plant is mainly regulated by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-overreact-to-warmer-weather-and-stop-producing-fruit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant hormones</a>. One part of the plant produces these hormones and transports them to other parts. There, they exert their effects.</p>



<p>Plants have several classes of hormones, each with a unique role:</p>



<h4>Auxins</h4>



<p>These primarily participate in cell elongation, apical dominance, and root development.</p>



<h4>Cytokinins</h4>



<p>They promote cell division and bud formation.</p>



<h4>Gibberellins</h4>



<p>They stimulate stem elongation and seed germination.</p>



<h4>Abscisic Acid (ABA)</h4>



<p>It participates in many plant developmental processes, including seed and bud dormancy, controlling organ size, and responding to environmental stresses like drought.</p>



<h4>Ethylene</h4>



<p>It regulates many aspects of growth and development, including ripening of fruit, shedding of leaves, and aging.</p>



<p>Plants also have a vascular system, comprising the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-genes-identified-to-protect-crops-from-drought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">xylem</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-much-energy-do-plants-use-to-lift-water-from-the-soil/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phloem</a>. These act as an information superhighway.</p>



<p>The xylem transports water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant. The phloem transports sugars, hormones, and other signaling molecules from the leaves. </p>



<p>From there, they are produced via photosynthesis to the rest of the plant.</p>



<p>In addition to chemical signaling, plants can also use electrical signals to communicate internally. These signals can be triggered by environmental stimuli. </p>



<p>Disturbances such as injury or changes in light trigger these signals. They can then propagate rapidly throughout the plant, triggering various responses.</p>



<h3>External Communication</h3>



<p>Plants also communicate with their external environment and interact with other organisms.</p>



<h4>Chemical Signaling</h4>



<p>Plants can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, which can serve various purposes. Some <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ozone-pollution-threatens-the-health-of-plants-and-pollinators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VOCs</a> can attract pollinators, while others can ward off herbivores. </p>



<p>Some plants can even release VOCs that signal nearby plants of the same species about an imminent threat, like an insect attack, prompting those plants to start producing defensive chemicals.</p>



<h4>Physical Interactions</h4>



<p>Plants can also respond to physical contact. For instance, climbing plants have specialized structures called tendrils that can sense contact with a physical support and respond by coiling around it.</p>



<h4>Light Signaling</h4>



<p>Plants can perceive and respond to light. This is crucial for processes such as phototropism (growth towards light) and photoperiodism (response to day length). They do this using photoreceptor proteins that can sense different wavelengths of light.</p>



<p>In conclusion, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breakthrough-plants-emit-sounds-when-they-are-stressed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant communication</a> is a complex network of chemical and physical signals. They regulate plant growth, development, and interactions with the environment.</p>



<p>These sophisticated communication systems enable plants to thrive in a wide range of habitats. This is the main reason we see plants everywhere from arid deserts to lush rainforests.</p>



<p>Researchers continue to uncover more about these fascinating systems. Their studies help us better understand how plants adapt to their environment and respond to stress.</p>

Plant leaves send signals to their roots on dry days telling them to keep digging deeper for water

It's a known fact that plants have an uncanny knack...

Farm,Salmon,Fishing,In,Norway,Aerial,Fpv,Drone,Photography.

<p>The world's biggest producers of aquatic foods and the aquaculture industry are under a significant threat. Environmental changes triggered by human activities have placed over 90% of the world’s aquaculture facilities under significant threat.</p>



<p>Countries in Asia, Latin America, and Africa with the highest risk are reportedly least equipped to adapt to these changes.</p>



<p>Over 90% of worldwide 'blue' food production is facing substantial risk from environmental alterations. This covers both captured fisheries and aquaculture systems.</p>



<p>Key players like several Asian nations and the United States are predicted to face the most significant challenges to their production capabilities.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://bluefood.earth/science/vulnerability/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">groundbreaking paper</a> presents the first global analysis of environmental stressors influencing the quantity and safety of blue foods.</p>



<h2 id="h-how-the-aquaculture-and-blue-foods-study-was-conducted">How the aquaculture and blue foods study was conducted</h2>



<p>A total of 17 stressors, such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rapid-arctic-warming-sets-the-stage-for-dangerous-algae-blooms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">algal blooms</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/record-breaking-sea-level-rise-found-along-u-s-coasts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea level rise</a>, fluctuating temperatures, and pesticide exposure, were assessed. Based on their exposure to these key stressors, countries were ranked for the first time.</p>



<p>"Environmental stressors do not care about national borders," observed Ben Halpern, co-lead author of the study and professor at <a href="https://www.ucsb.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC Santa Barbara</a>.</p>



<p>According to him, stressors are moved by air, water, species, and humans, connecting lands to seas and ecosystems to ecosystems.</p>



<p>The study was published by Nature Sustainability under the title "Vulnerability of Blue Foods to Human-induced Environmental Change."</p>



<p>It is one of seven scientific papers released by the <a href="https://bluefood.earth/what-we-do/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blue Food Assessment (BFA)</a>. These papers were published in a global effort to enhance the understanding of future aquatic food sustainability.</p>



<p>Climate change is not the only problem. The report underscores that highly vulnerable blue food production systems exist worldwide.</p>



<p>These include major producers such as Norway, China, and the U.S. The study emphasizes the need to better understand the complex stressors causing environmental change.</p>



<h2>Understanding how environmental stressors impact aquaculture</h2>



<p>Ling Cao is the co-lead author and professor at the <a href="https://mel2.xmu.edu.cn/melwebold/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science at Xiamen University</a> He says we've merely "scratched the surface in our understanding of how environmental stressors are connected and how they can negatively impact the production and safety of blue foods."</p>



<p>Grasping the intricacies of these stressors and their cascading effects is crucial for devising effective adaptation and mitigation strategies.</p>



<p>In the U.S., the main threats to blue food production include species invasion, inland eutrophication or algal blooms, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-warming-could-be-devastating-to-all-living-creatures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean warming</a>, and sea level rise.</p>



<p>Freshwater and marine fisheries are at particularly large risk. Meanwhile, China's freshwater aquaculture, being the largest blue food producer, is also under threat from inland eutrophication and severe weather events.</p>



<p>The authors point out that we should particularly focus on countries like Bangladesh, Eswatini, Guatemala, Honduras, and Uganda. They are highly exposed to environmental change but lack the capacity for adaptation.</p>



<h2>What the researchers learned about aquaculture and blue food</h2>



<p>According to the report, marine fisheries are more vulnerable to climate-related stressors, particularly temperature rise and acidification. In contrast, aquaculture is more likely to suffer from diseases and hypoxia or low oxygen levels.</p>



<p>Rebecca Short, co-lead author and researcher at the <a href="https://www.stockholmresilience.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stockholm Resilience Centre</a>, warns that although we've made progress on climate change, our strategies for blue food systems facing environmental change need urgent attention.</p>



<p>The study strongly suggests transboundary collaboration and adaptation strategies that consider the interconnectedness of ecosystems. Environmental change in one area can significantly impact other regions.</p>



<p>Diversifying blue food production in high-risk countries is recommended unless adequate mitigation and adaptation strategies are adopted. Additionally, it's essential to engage stakeholders more actively in understanding, monitoring, and mitigating pressures on blue food production systems.</p>



<p>The researchers believe that indigenous knowledge will play a vital role in strategic planning and policies. Such knowledge is particularly critical for artisanal fisheries and heavily marine fisheries-dependent countries, like Small Island Developing States (SIDS).</p>



<p>The research also provides an extended dataset ranking countries based on the exposure of their blue food production systems to environmental stressors.</p>



<h2>More about aquaculture and blue food production</h2>



<p>Aquaculture, sometimes referred to as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seafree-new-technology-turns-waste-from-fish-farming-into-seaweed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish farming</a> or shellfish farming, is the cultivation of aquatic organisms. These include fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and aquatic plants.</p>



<p>It involves the farming of species that live in the water (both saltwater and freshwater) under controlled conditions.</p>



<p>Aquaculture plays a critical role in meeting the world's increasing demand for protein. It does so by providing a substantial share of the fish consumed globally.</p>



<p>Blue food refers to all types of aquatic foods. These include both those from aquaculture and wild capture fisheries. Blue foods can range from fish and shellfish to seaweed and other aquatic plants.</p>



<p>Blue food is an essential component of global food systems. It provides not only protein but also essential micronutrients and fatty acids that are beneficial to human health.</p>



<p>Here are some key points about aquaculture and blue food production:</p>



<h3>Diversity of Species</h3>



<p>Aquaculture involves a broad array of species, including finfish like salmon and tilapia, shellfish such as oysters and clams, and even seaweed. The choice of species depends on several factors, including market demand, local environmental conditions, and available technology.</p>



<h3>Types of Systems</h3>



<p>Aquaculture systems can be very diverse and are generally categorized into extensive or intensive systems. Extensive systems tend to rely on natural productivity, while intensive systems often require external inputs. </p>



<p>These include feed, aeration, and pest control. The systems can also be classified based on the type of water used. For instance, freshwater, brackish, or marine.</p>



<h3>Sustainability Issues</h3>



<p>While aquaculture has the potential to provide a sustainable source of protein, it faces several sustainability challenges. These include water pollution, habitat destruction, disease transmission, and the use of wild-caught fish as feed in some types of aquaculture. These factors can have significant environmental impacts.</p>



<h3>Role in Food Security</h3>



<p>Blue food plays a crucial role in global food security. It provides essential nutrients for billions of people and is an important source of livelihood for millions of people, particularly in developing countries.</p>



<h3>Innovation and Technological Advances</h3>



<p>New technologies and practices are continually being developed to improve the sustainability of aquaculture. These include more efficient feeding practices, closed-loop systems that recycle water, and the use of non-fish feed ingredients to reduce reliance on wild-caught fish.</p>



<h3>Regulation and Management</h3>



<p>Aquaculture is subject to a range of regulations and management practices intended to ensure its sustainability. These regulations can cover a variety of aspects, from water quality and disease management to animal welfare and labor rights.</p>



<h3>Challenges from Climate Change</h3>



<p>Like all food production systems, blue food production is vulnerable to climate change. Rising sea levels, increasing temperatures, ocean acidification, and extreme weather events can all pose significant challenges to both aquaculture and wild capture fisheries. Adapting to these changes will be a significant challenge in the coming decades.</p>



<p>Overall, aquaculture and blue food production are essential components of the global food system. They offer the potential to provide sustainable, nutritious food for a growing global population but also present significant environmental and management challenges that must be addressed.</p>

90% of the world’s aquaculture faces substantial risk from human-induced environmental changes

The world's biggest producers of aquatic foods and the aquaculture...

<p>Understanding how our climate will change in the future, and how the stratosphere is involved, is a monumental challenge. Scientists around the world are grappling with this problem.</p>



<p>A research team led by the <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of East Anglia (UEA)</a> just made a major breakthrough. Their research brings new insights about a significant source of uncertainty related to climate change.</p>



<h2 id="h-how-does-water-vapor-in-the-stratosphere-impact-earth-s-climate">How does water vapor in the stratosphere impact Earth’s climate?</h2>



<p>For those who don't know, the stratosphere is a super-dry region of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-atmosphere-is-expanding-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">our atmosphere</a>. It's positioned 15–50 km above the Earth's surface.</p>



<p>When water vapor increases in this region, climate change may accelerate. This rise in water vapor can also slow down the recovery of the ozone layer, the protective blanket that shields us from the Sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.</p>



<p>Professor Peer Nowack, who was once part of the Climatic Research Unit at UEA, led this game-changing research. Along with an international team, Nowack developed a new statistical learning method. It combines satellite observations and top-notch climate model data.</p>



<p>The goal? To better understand how much water vapor we can expect in the stratosphere in the future.</p>



<h2>How the stratosphere study was conducted</h2>



<p>The study, freshly published in the prestigious journal Nature Geoscience, brought out some comforting results. Thankfully, it ruled out the scariest scenarios.</p>



<p>One such terrifying scenario suggested water vapor could go up by more than 25% for every degree of global warming. This new approach brought down the uncertainty by half.</p>



<p>Professor Nowack, currently at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, explained the importance of their study.</p>



<p>He said, “Human-made climate change affects Earth’s atmosphere in many important and often surprising ways. Since water vapor is central to the stratosphere's physics and chemistry, we needed a new approach to address this longstanding uncertainty factor."</p>



<p>In his words, the new method "exploits machine learning ideas" and "makes highly effective use of Earth observations to reduce this uncertainty."</p>



<p>Dr. Sean Davis, a Research Scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the U.S., who co-authored the study, supported Nowack's sentiment.</p>



<p>He said, "With this approach, we were able to show that many climate model projections of very large stratospheric water vapor changes are now inconsistent with observational evidence."</p>



<h2>Climate feedbacks and how they relate to the stratosphere</h2>



<p>Understanding stratospheric water vapor trends under global warming has always been a complicated task. It's even trickier because of climate feedbacks.</p>



<p>Climate feedbacks can either magnify or reduce global warming. They lead to a wide range of possible future temperature increases.</p>



<p>One such feedback involves the amount of water vapor in the stratosphere. While climate models predicted its increase, the extent of the increase was uncertain.</p>



<p>If the stratosphere held too much water vapor due to climate change, it could harm the ozone layer's recovery. It could also harm the Antarctic ozone hole over this century.</p>



<p>&nbsp;But Professor Manoj Joshi, a Climate Dynamics professor at UEA and a co-author of the study, brings a sigh of relief.</p>



<p>He said, "Our research implies that while stratospheric water vapour concentrations are likely to increase with global warming, the large changes that could substantially delay ozone recovery are highly unlikely."</p>



<p>This groundbreaking research was made possible thanks to funding from the UK Natural Environment Research Council through the ML4CLOUDS project. It’s a huge step towards better understanding, predicting, and ultimately combating climate change.</p>



<h2>More about the stratosphere</h2>



<p>The stratosphere is one of the major layers of Earth's atmosphere. It's situated above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. Here are some key details about it:</p>



<h3>Location and Thickness</h3>



<p>The stratosphere starts roughly around 10 kilometers (about 6 miles) above Earth's surface at the equator, but at about 8 kilometers (around 5 miles) at the poles. It stretches upwards to about 50 kilometers (31 miles) high.</p>



<h3>Temperature Gradient</h3>



<p>Unlike the troposphere, where temperature decreases with altitude, the stratosphere sees an increase in temperature with height. This is due to the presence of the ozone layer which absorbs solar ultraviolet radiation, converting it into heat.</p>



<h3>Ozone Layer</h3>



<p>The stratosphere contains the ozone layer, which is about 20 to 30 kilometers (12 to 19 miles) above the Earth's surface. The ozone layer plays a crucial role in absorbing most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation, which can cause skin cancer and cataracts, harm ecosystems, and damage certain types of plastics.</p>



<h3>Weather and Clouds</h3>



<p>The stratosphere is generally stable and calm with few weather disturbances, unlike the turbulent troposphere below it. This is because the temperature increases with altitude in the stratosphere, reducing the amount of convection, or upward air movement.</p>



<p>There are, however, some cloud types that can form in the stratosphere under specific conditions, like nacreous (mother-of-pearl) and noctilucent clouds.</p>



<h3>Air Traffic</h3>



<p>The stratosphere's stability is one reason it's used for commercial jet flight. The lack of weather disturbances and turbulence makes for smoother flights.</p>



<h3>Life</h3>



<p>The stratosphere isn't very hospitable to life as we know it, due to the low temperatures, low pressure, and intense solar radiation. However, some resilient bacteria and spores can survive there.</p>



<h3>Stratospheric Cooling</h3>



<p>While global warming heats up the Earth's surface and the troposphere, it's causing the stratosphere to cool. This is because increased levels of greenhouse gases in the troposphere trap more heat, leaving less to reach the stratosphere.</p>



<h3>Stratospheric Water Vapor</h3>



<p>Changes in the amount of water vapor in the stratosphere can affect the climate. More water vapor can trap more heat, leading to surface warming. It can also impact the ozone layer's chemistry.</p>



<p>Remember, our understanding of the stratosphere and other atmospheric layers continues to evolve as we develop more advanced observational technologies and models.</p>

New study of Earth’s stratosphere has important implications for life on Earth

Understanding how our climate will change in the future, and...

<p>Due to human activities such as greenhouse gas emissions, our planet is rapidly warming. This is already causing devastating consequences for all living beings. </p>



<p>An increasing corpus of scientific articles dealing with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/science-reporting-can-change-climate-change-beliefs/">climate change</a> and its impacts have recently been published. Parts of it are covered by a variety of popular media outlets. </p>



<p>But how does media select and relay research related to these issues to larger audiences? </p>



<p>To answer this question, a team of geoscientists and psychologists led by the <a href="https://www.unil.ch/central/en/home.html">University of Lausanne</a> (UNIL) in Switzerland has recently examined how a collection of over 50,000 scientific articles about climate change from 2020 made its way into the mainstream media.</p>



<p>The analysis revealed that most of the research selected by the media was biased to the natural sciences. They were focused mainly on large-scale climate projections that will occur in the future. They also focused on a narrow range of threats, such as droughts, storms, or melting glaciers, while discarding the social, economic, technological, and local aspects of climate change research. </p>



<h2 id="h-pushing-the-wrong-buttons">Pushing the wrong buttons</h2>



<p>According to the experts, these types of narratives often fail to activate psychological mechanisms that might give rise to pro-environmental behaviors in their readers and may thus potentially backfire, leading to denial and avoidance.</p>



<p>“The individuals exposed to these facts, not feeling directly concerned by them, will tend towards a peripheral, superficial, and distracted treatment of the information,” said senior author Fabrizio Butera, a professor of Psychology at UNIL. “Only a central, deep, and attentive consideration will allow the public to transform what they know into mechanisms of action and commitment.”</p>



<p>“If the goal of mediating research is to have a societal impact, then it seems that we are pushing all the buttons that don’t work,” added lead author Marie-Elodie Perga, an associate professor of Earth Surface Dynamics at the same university.</p>



<h2 id="h-presenting-problems-without-solutions">Presenting problems without solutions&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Although large-scale threats such as those typically covered by mainstream media can create fear and potentially lead to behavioral changes in individuals and groups, such changes can only occur if the problems presented are also accompanied by solutions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By contrast, faced with purely descriptive articles emphasizing highly selected elements of climate change, readers may tend to ignore the problem, search for less anxiety-provoking information, and surround themselves with networks presenting more reassuring scenarios.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-engagement-is-needed">More engagement is needed</h2>



<p>According to Perga, in order to communicate in a more effective way that could encourage society to engage more widely in climate action, “the treatment of environmental issues in a transversal and solution-oriented way would be useful. It would show that climate change has direct consequences on our lifestyles, our immediate environment or our finances, for example.”</p>



<p>Such an approach requires fundamental changes in the behavior of communication managers in research institutions, publishers, and media. “For the time being, the most renowned scientific publications favor end-of-century studies,” Perga explained. </p>



<p>”Journalists then give very wide coverage to the publications of these journals, which are the most highly rated. Instead, in France, for example, a group of journalists has drawn up a charter advocating the adaptation of media coverage of these issues, and calling for more cross-disciplinarity.”</p>



<p>“With news usefulness defined as the ability to engage society in climate actions - through the publication and mediatization of more solution-oriented, interdisciplinary outputs that take into account the public’s resistance to change - both researchers and news professionals may move from being the&nbsp;whistleblowers&nbsp;of the problem to being part of the solution,” the authors concluded.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2023.102675"><em>Global Environmental Change</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>

Media coverage of climate change fails to inspire action

Due to human activities such as greenhouse gas emissions, our...

Coral,And,Fish,In,The,Red,Sea.,Egypt,,Africa

<p>A team comprising dozens of scientists embarked on a mission to find a solution to how coral reefs can survive climate change.</p>



<p>The scientific community has long looked to the past for inspiration. Echoing the spirit of explorers from the 19th and 20th centuries, the Tara Pacific expedition embarked on a mission not unlike those of old.</p>



<p>They sought to discover and understand the unknown. Over a period of two years, their quest led them across the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. The mission: to investigate the mysteries of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/access-to-sunlight-is-critical-for-the-survival-of-coral-reefs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coral survival</a>.</p>



<p>The Tara Pacific <a href="https://fondationtaraocean.org/en/expedition/tara-pacific/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">expedition</a> comprised an international team of 70 scientists from eight different countries. They made the voyage across the Pacific with an ambitious objective in mind. </p>



<p>Their goal was to gather the largest ever genetic dataset from a marine system. This mission specifically focused on coral reefs.</p>



<h2 id="h-coral-reefs-have-10x-more-global-biodiversity-than-assumed">Coral reefs have 10x more global biodiversity than assumed</h2>



<p>During the expedition, the team collected around 58,000 samples from a hundred different coral reefs. Their immense effort resulted in the assembly of an unparalleled genetic inventory.</p>



<p>This massive collection, recently published in Nature Communications, is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-022-01757-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">openly accessible to scientists</a> around the world. The expectation is that this dataset will serve as a fundamental resource for understanding coral habitats. It will also help to aide their goal of boosting coral reef survival amidst climate change for years to come.</p>



<p>The initial analysis of the gathered data revealed some eye-opening findings. Firstly, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-help-corals-survive-when-they-get-into-hot-water/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global microbial biodiversity</a> is significantly higher than previously estimated. Secondly, environmental influences on evolutionary adaptation vary from species to species. Lastly, there appears to be duplication of key genes in corals.</p>



<p>Coral reefs, although they occupy a meager 0.16 percent of the world's oceans, boast an incredibly diverse range of marine life. About 35 percent of known marine species make their home in these vibrant underwater ecosystems.</p>



<p>The team of researchers used a genetic marker-based dataset. They discovered that the microorganisms living in these reefs encompass the entirety of estimated global bacterial biodiversity.</p>



<p>"We have been completely underestimating the global microbial biodiversity", proclaimed Christian Voolstra. He is a professor of genetics of adaptation in aquatic systems at the University of Konstanz.</p>



<p>Voolstra also the scientific coordinator of the Tara Pacific expedition. He suggested that the current estimation of biodiversity, around five million bacteria, may in fact be ten times lower than the real figure.</p>



<h2>Climate impact on the environment are species-specific</h2>



<p>Scientists analyzed 32 archipelagos. These are all natural laboratories providing a diverse set of environmental conditions. This enabled them to explore the relationships between environment and genetic factors across vast geographical scales.</p>



<p>Their research shed light on how environmental influences on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coral-reefs-can-survive-if-given-the-chance-to-evolve/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolutionary adaptation</a> of corals differ depending on the species. This finding was made possible through an examination of telomeres. These are the ends of chromosomes carrying genetic information.</p>



<p>Much like in humans, where <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38499-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">telomere length</a> shortens with age and cell divisions, telomere length in corals also appears to have significant implications. The research team discovered that in highly stress-resistant corals, the telomere lengths remain constant. "They apparently have a mechanism to preserve the lengths of their telomeres," concluded Voolstra.</p>



<p>In contrast, stress-sensitive coral species, typically with a shorter lifespan of about a hundred years, have telomere lengths that respond to environmental stress factors such as temperature changes.</p>



<p>Voolstra emphasized the potential implications of this finding, stating, "A direct imprint of environmental stress levels on organismal resilience may even hold implications for human health."</p>



<h2>Important genes for helping with adaptation are duplicated</h2>



<p>Another critical discovery was that the longevity of some coral species could be attributed to the duplication of specific genes. These genes, deemed important, are found multiple times within the coral genomes.</p>



<p>The scientists were able to identify this phenomenon using a cutting-edge technique called long-read sequencing. This technique allows not just for the identification of present genes, but also the understanding of their order within the genome.</p>



<p>The widespread occurrence of gene duplication could be a reason why corals, despite being exposed to extreme environmental conditions like high UV radiation, are able to live for thousands of years, according to Voolstra.</p>



<p>The Tara Pacific expedition's research will likely be a cornerstone for large-scale studies on coral reef diversity for many years ahead. One of the distinctive features of this expedition was the uniform methodology used at all the sampled locations over the two-year period. This ensured that the resulting data is fully comparable.</p>



<h2>Tara Pacific expedition data collection is freely available</h2>



<p>What makes this program truly special is its commitment to openness. All the datasets are freely available and accompanied by comprehensive physical and chemical measurements.</p>



<p>Voolstra lauds this unique aspect of the expedition, stating, "It is the largest dataset collection on coral reefs ever collected and it is completely open access."</p>



<p>&nbsp;The hope is that this groundbreaking collection will serve as a foundation for the continued study of coral reefs worldwide, fueling scientific advancement for many years to come.</p>



<h2>More about coral reefs and climate change</h2>



<p>Coral reefs, often dubbed as the "rainforests of the sea," are some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on our planet. They cover less than 0.2% of the ocean floor, but they support about 25% of all marine species. However, these vital ecosystems are facing an existential threat from climate change.</p>



<h3>Coral Bleaching</h3>



<p>One of the most noticeable impacts of climate change on coral reefs is coral bleaching. Corals have a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae called zooxanthellae. They live in their tissues and provide them with most of their food and color. </p>



<p>When water temperatures rise due to global warming, corals get stressed and expel the zooxanthellae. This causes them to turn completely white. </p>



<p>This is known as coral bleaching. Bleached corals are not dead, but they are under more stress and are more likely to die.</p>



<h3>Ocean Acidification</h3>



<p>Another major impact of climate change on coral reefs is ocean acidification. The oceans absorb about a quarter of the carbon dioxide (CO2) that humans release into the atmosphere. </p>



<p>When CO2 dissolves in seawater, it forms carbonic acid and lowers the ocean's pH. This makes it more acidic. This process is called ocean acidification.</p>



<p>Coral reefs are made of calcium carbonate, and acidified seawater makes it more difficult for corals to build and maintain their skeletons. This impedes reef growth and makes the reefs more susceptible to erosion and damage from storms.</p>



<h3>Sea-Level Rise</h3>



<p>Climate change also causes sea-level rise, which can affect coral reefs. If sea levels rise too quickly, deeper water can smother corals. </p>



<p>On the other hand, if sea levels rise too slowly, corals may grow above the water surface. This would then expose them to air, sunlight, and extreme temperatures, which can harm them.</p>



<h3>Increased Storm Frequency and Intensity</h3>



<p>Climate change may also lead to more frequent and intense storms. Storms can cause physical damage to coral reefs, breaking them apart and scattering the coral.</p>



<h3>Coral Disease</h3>



<p>Warmer water temperatures are also linked to increased outbreaks of coral diseases, which can cause mass mortality events on reefs.</p>



<p>While the situation is critical, it's not without hope. Coral reefs are remarkably resilient, and if given a chance, they can recover from bleaching events and other disturbances. </p>



<p>However, reducing greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to slowing the rate of global warming and ocean acidification. Additionally, protecting reefs from local stressors such as pollution and overfishing can improve their resilience to climate change. </p>



<p>Furthermore, scientists are researching ways to help corals adapt to changing conditions. These include breeding heat-tolerant coral varieties and developing innovative restoration techniques.</p>

Massive study provides answers to how coral reefs can survive climate change

A team comprising dozens of scientists embarked on a mission...

<p>In a revolutionary new study from <a href="https://duke.edu/">Duke University</a>, researchers have found that not only do warmer temperatures make turtle eggs more likely to hatch as females, but these females may also be better equipped to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ant-queens-have-a-secret-weapon-to-slow-down-aging/">reproduce</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The findings, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.06.008"><em>Current Biology</em></a>, hint at why many animals have temperature-dependent sex determination, despite the inherent risks of such a strategy in the face of fluctuating climates. Moreover, these findings could also predict the future of these species in a rapidly warming world.</p>



<h2 id="h-intriguing-results">Intriguing results</h2>



<p>The study was led by senior author Professor Blanche Capel and postdoctoral researcher Boris Tezak. According to the results, the number of "germ cells" or pre-eggs that an embryo carries is heightened by higher incubation temperatures. Intriguingly, the researchers discovered that these germ cells themselves contribute to the embryo's feminization.</p>



<p>"Sex determination by temperature isn’t just one mechanism," explained Professor Capel. “Higher temperatures seem to affect sex determination in incremental ways through multiple cell types in the embryo.”</p>



<p>These germ cells, in their increased numbers, appear to fuel the feminization process, explained Tezak. “The temperatures that produce females are also the temperatures that increase germ cell number,” he said.</p>



<p>This process isn't limited to turtles, either. Professor Capel pointed out that higher numbers of germ cells also govern female development in fish. To validate their theory that a larger number of germ cells leads to female turtles, the researchers removed some germ cells from red-eared slider embryos incubated at a temperature expected to produce equal proportions of males and females. The result was a surprising increase in male hatchlings.</p>



<h2 id="h-temperature-dependent-sex-development">Temperature-dependent sex development</h2>



<p>The enigma of temperature-dependent sex development, known to scientists for decades and apparent across various parts of the tree of life, is thought to have evolved in diverse ways. "It popped up everywhere," said Tezak. The question then arises: "Why would this seemingly risky strategy, especially in the context of weather variations and climate change, persist?”</p>



<p>The Duke team believes the answer lies in the reproductive advantage this system provides. "A female that hatches with more germ cells is presumably more reproductively fit - it increases her reproductive potential to carry more eggs,” said Tezak.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“We’ve linked the female pathway to the increased number of germ cells, and if that does make her more reproductively fit, that would go a long way toward explaining why temperature-dependent sex development persists."</p>



<p>As global warming continues to escalate, concerns emerge about the fate of turtles and other temperature-sensitive breeders. Tezak expressed the need to evaluate the effects of further temperature increases on the pool of germ cells. "Will it produce less-fit females?"&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted">How the research was conducted</h2>



<p>To investigate, Tezak nurtured clutches of red-eared slider eggs in a controlled environment. Each clutch, sourced from a Louisiana breeder, was incubated in a plastic box filled with moist medium and maintained at a constant temperature.&nbsp;</p>



<p>An interesting phenomenon emerged when eggs incubated at different temperatures were compared. The embryos incubated at higher temperatures (31 degrees Celsius, optimal for female production) were noticeably larger and more active than those incubated at a cooler 26 degrees Celsius, which yields more males.</p>



<p>“We are hypothesizing that there’s a temperature ‘sweet-spot,’” said Professor Capel. “There is a short range where you get a large number of germ cells, and beyond that you start to see declines."</p>



<p>This theory was further underscored by Tezak, who reported peculiar results when eggs were incubated at 33.5 degrees Celsius, only a mere two and a half degrees higher than the optimal temperature for females. "It created some really wonky embryos – there were cyclops and two-headed embryos. We haven’t counted their germ cells yet."&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-future-research">Future research&nbsp;</h2>



<p>To expand their research, the Capel lab is gearing up to receive a delivery of alligator eggs. Notably, alligators exhibit a different pattern of temperature-dependent sex determination compared to the red-eared slider turtle. They produce females at low temperatures and males at high ones.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Intriguingly, the low temperature in alligators aligns with the high temperature in turtles, leading both species to produce females at 31 degrees Celsius.</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>

Warming temperatures could make female turtles better mothers

In a revolutionary new study from Duke University, researchers have...

<p>New research has unveiled a concerning correlation between air pollution and exacerbated Covid-19 cases. This occurred even at pollution levels deemed safe by current standards.</p>



<p>The study, recently published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/13993003.00309-2023"><em>European Respiratory Journal</em></a>, revealed that Covid-19 patients who had been exposed to air pollution required an average of four additional days in the hospital. This discovery presents yet another burden on our health care systems.</p>



<p>Led by Professor Tim S. Nawrot of Hasselt University, the researcher team conducted an extensive study that included 328 patients who were hospitalized for Covid-19 between May 2020 and March 2021.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The researchers scrutinized data on three main pollutants. These were nitrogen dioxide, soot, and fine particles (PM2.5). These were recorded at the patients’ home addresses prior to hospitalization for Covid-19. Furthermore, the amount of soot in the patients' blood was measured.</p>



<h2 id="h-shocking-results-from-covid-pollution-study">Shocking results from covid pollution study</h2>



<p>This data was then compared with clinical outcomes. The research revealed definitive proof of this hypothesized link. People who were exposed to higher concentrations of fine particles and nitrogen dioxide in the week before hospitalization got sicker. They stayed in hospital an average of more than four additional days. </p>



<p>The implications of air pollution on the duration of hospitalization was likened to the impact of aging by a decade.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Moreover, the study implied that increased exposure to higher levels of nitrogen dioxide and soot over the previous four years also lengthened hospital stays. Alarmingly, higher levels of soot in patients' blood increased the chance of requiring intensive care treatment by 36 percent.</p>



<p>"Our findings indicate that people who were exposed to air pollution, even at relatively low levels, were sicker and needed more time in hospital to recover," said Professor Nawrot. </p>



<p>He stressed how the pandemic had already strained healthcare systems, and this correlation between air pollution and increased hospitalization duration further aggravated the burden.</p>



<h2 id="h-further-proof-of-link-between-covid-and-air-pollution">Further proof of link between covid and air pollution</h2>



<p>In a parallel study, also featured in the <em>European Respiratory Journal</em>, researchers utilized data on all 3.7 million Danish individuals aged 30 or older to assess the impact of air pollution on Covid-19.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The study concluded that long-term exposure to pollution, even at levels significantly below current EU limits, escalated the risk of contracting Covid-19, being hospitalized, and dying from the disease.</p>



<p>The research team collected data from the Danish National Covid-19 Surveillance System - which had been gathered over the initial 14 months of the pandemic - and combined it with detailed information on air pollution levels at people's residences over the preceding 20 years.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The experts found that increases in long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide and fine particles, even at levels well below current EU limits, heightened the risk of contracting Covid-19, and subsequently being hospitalized and dying from the disease.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Notably, individuals with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart disease, asthma, diabetes, dementia, and those from more deprived backgrounds were more vulnerable to the combined effects of air pollution and Covid-19.</p>



<h2 id="h-air-pollution-and-respiratory-infections">Air pollution and respiratory infections&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Study author Dr. Zorana Jovanovic Andersen from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark commented: "These results show how air pollution can compromise our immune system and leave us vulnerable to Covid-19 and other respiratory infections."</p>



<p>"Reduction of air pollution should be in the heart of preventive measures for current and future pandemics, as well as a strategy for dealing with seasonal influenza pandemics. Cleaner air would make populations more resilient to respiratory infections, seasonal epidemics, and major pandemics in future.”</p>



<h2 id="h-urgent-action-is-needed">Urgent action is needed</h2>



<p>Professor Charlotte Suppli Ulrik of the <a href="https://www.ersnet.org/">European Respiratory Society</a>, who was not directly involved in the research, also provided her insights. She stressed the mounting evidence showing that inhaling polluted air significantly contributes to lung diseases. This also includes infections.</p>



<p>"These studies illustrate how exposure to air pollution, at levels that are prevalent in cities across Europe, heightens the risk of individuals contracting Covid-19, getting severely sick, and ultimately, dying from it," said Ulrik. </p>



<p>She noted that the research showed how pollution compounded the stress on our hospitals and health services. This further aggravated an already tense situation.</p>



<p>While the Covid-19 global health emergency has officially concluded, the influence of pollution on our health remains. </p>



<p>Professor Ulrik passionately called for a proactive stance from governments. She urged them to take action to mitigate the effects of pollution on health and healthcare services for the sake of public welfare. </p>



<p>"The impact of pollution on our health is continuing and we need governments to take action for the sake of our health and our health services," said Professor Ulrik.</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>

Air pollution made COVID-19 patients sicker for longer

New research has unveiled a concerning correlation between air pollution...

<p>Lying beneath our coastal waters, seagrasses represent a crucial yet overlooked member of the marine food chain. These vast meadows perform a variety of functions that benefit both the planet and humanity.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Seagrass meadows produce oxygen, absorb <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-tech-can-capture-carbon-dioxide-from-the-atmosphere/">carbon dioxide</a>, provide sustenance and shelter for various marine organisms, and significantly contribute to the global marine food chain. However, according to a recent study conducted by <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford</a> researchers, these ecosystems may be at risk of vanishing due to the impacts of climate change.</p>



<p>Oceans are estimated to absorb about 80% of the excess heat generated by greenhouse gas emissions, which will pose severe challenges to marine species. What remains less known, however, is how seagrasses, a fundamental group in the marine food chain, will adapt or survive.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"The simple question we ask in this paper is, 'How will seagrasses – which are a foundational group in the marine food chain – respond to climate change?'" said study lead author Barnabas Daru, a professor in the Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences.</p>



<h2 id="h-why-are-seagrass-meadows-important">Why are seagrass meadows important?</h2>



<p>Seagrasses are an ancient group of plants that first originated in the ocean, colonized the land, and then returned to the sea around 140 million years ago. These unique ecosystems offer grazing grounds for herbivores such as endangered green sea turtles, manatees, and parrotfish.&nbsp;</p>



<p>They also provide shelter for shrimp, marine invertebrates, and fish, while simultaneously serving as nurseries for approximately 20% of the world's major commercial fisheries.</p>



<p>Many marine organisms depend directly on seagrasses for their survival. However, their influence extends further, offering indirect benefits to a wider array of species.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"For example, sharks feed on marine animals that, in turn, may feed directly or indirectly on plants," explained Professor Daru. "If anything affects these foundational species at the beginning of the food chain, it will have cascading effects on other organisms that depend on them high up in the food chain, including humans."</p>



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



<p>Given the expansive distribution of seagrasses, spanning roughly 116,000 square miles of coastline across 191 countries and all continents save for Antarctica, modeling the impacts of climate change on these plants is indeed a colossal task. To tackle this, the researchers began by mapping the location and abundance of seagrass species using about a century's worth of samples gathered from coastal ecosystems.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The team used field data and information from public seagrass databases, such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and Seagrass-Watch. To compensate for uneven sampling, the researchers used data from extensively sampled regions, like North America and Europe, to predict seagrass habitats for under-sampled areas like Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific.</p>



<p>The researchers then developed global "snapshots" of current oceanic climate and two future timeframes, 2040-2050 and 2090-2100, based on geophysical and environmental data from the Bio-ORACLE website. They modeled four different scenarios for each time period, ranging from a "best-case" climate with low greenhouse gas concentrations, to a "worst-case" scenario characterized by high greenhouse gas concentrations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Each of these scenarios took into account crucial variables like sea temperature, salinity, and sea current speed that significantly influence seagrass growth, distribution, and photosynthesis.</p>



<p>To project future seagrass populations and distributions, Daru and Rock applied a computer model that correlated observed species occurrences to each climate scenario.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-what-the-researchers-learned">What the researchers learned&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The analysis revealed that even under the best-case scenario, seagrasses will face significant reductions in species diversity and composition. Disturbingly, these reductions were observed in every modeled scenario, including the best-case one.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"It probably means that ‘the best’ is still not enough," said Professor Daru. “We have to be more intentional in how conservation efforts are prioritized and this sort of analysis points to the places where these efforts should be done.”</p>



<p>Significant declines were particularly notable in areas referred to as hotspots that are currently outside the existing marine protected areas network. This observation shows that even the currently designated marine protected areas may not be sufficient to prevent the projected decline of seagrass populations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to the experts, this is a stark reminder that the current strategies in place to protect these essential ecosystems may not be adequate to ensure their survival in the face of mounting climate change pressures.</p>



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



<p>"One of the signatures of this modern era of profound human impact on the environment is not even the loss of species, but the reorganization of biotic communities," said Professor Daru.&nbsp;</p>



<p>He further warned that the homogenization of seagrass communities could lead to a loss of their distinctiveness and uniqueness, making them more susceptible to disease and extreme weather events. This would not only impact the vital ecosystem services that these communities provide but also the diverse marine life that depends on them.</p>



<p>A change in seagrass communities could force marine animals that rely on specific seagrasses to either adapt to less favored species or relocate if their preferred seagrass is lost, resulting in a reduction of their fitness and survival.</p>



<h2 id="h-conservation-efforts-are-urgently-needed">Conservation efforts are urgently needed</h2>



<p>Despite these grim projections, the study does not necessarily spell doom and gloom for seagrass meadows. Professor Daru noted that the research has also identified hotspots of change in species diversity and phylogenetic diversity. These areas represent priority regions for conservation efforts.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Our goal, our hope is that by pointing policymakers and conservationists to focus on these hotspots, marine protection will be increased in these areas and the future of seagrasses will - to some extent - be safeguarded,” he expresses.</p>



<p>This groundbreaking research was made possible through the support of the U.S. <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a>. The study underlines the critical role seagrasses play in marine ecosystems and the need for a focused and intentional approach towards their conservation, particularly in the face of climate change.&nbsp;</p>



<p>—-</p>



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Seagrasses face an uncertain future due to climate change

Lying beneath our coastal waters, seagrasses represent a crucial yet...

<p>New research has discovered that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/centuries-of-cooling-have-been-reversed-in-the-gulf-of-maine/">cooling</a> effect produced by volcanic eruptions on Earth's surface temperature is likely underestimated by a factor of two, and potentially up to four, in standard climate models.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This revelation, while not significant enough to counteract human-induced global warming, alters our understanding of the complex global climate system.</p>



<h2 id="h-focus-of-the-study">Focus of the study</h2>



<p>Led by the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a>, the research delves into small-scale volcanic eruptions, stating that they account for almost half of all the sulfur gases spewed into the upper atmosphere. These eruptions may lack the drama of their large-scale counterparts, but their cumulative impact is undeniable.</p>



<p>The results of the study, which are published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2023GL103743">Geophysical Research Letters</a>, highlight the need for a more comprehensive representation of volcanic eruptions, regardless of their magnitude, in climate projections. This could enhance the reliability of these models, shedding a more accurate light on potential future scenarios.</p>



<h2 id="h-volcanic-eruptions-and-climate">Volcanic eruptions and climate</h2>



<p>The course of volcanic eruptions - both their location and timing - remains beyond human control. Yet, the role they play in the global climate system is undeniably important. Upon eruption, volcanoes emit sulfur gases into the upper atmosphere, which subsequently form tiny aerosol particles capable of reflecting sunlight back into space.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Major eruptions, such as the Mount Pinatubo incident in 1991, spew such a vast volume of volcanic aerosols that they single-handedly trigger a dip in global temperatures. But these large eruptions are relatively rare, occurring only a few times per century. On the other hand, small-scale eruptions occur every one to two years.</p>



<p>"Compared with the greenhouse gases emitted by human activity, the effect that volcanoes have on the global climate is relatively minor, but it’s important that we include them in climate models, in order to accurately assess temperature changes in future," said study first author May Chim.</p>



<p>Current climate projections, such as those outlined in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report, base their assumptions on calculations of past volcanic activity (from 1850-2014) and estimates of future activity (from 2015-2100). This approach largely overlooks the impacts of small-scale eruptions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“These projections mostly rely on ice cores to estimate how volcanoes might affect the climate, but smaller eruptions are too small to be detected in ice-core records,” explained Chim.</p>



<p>To address this gap, Chim and her team set out to analyze satellite data to develop a more comprehensive picture. Alongside collaborators from the University of Exeter, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Durham University, and the UK Met Office, the team generated a thousand different scenarios of future volcanic activity using state-of-the-art ice-core and satellite records.</p>



<h2 id="h-what-the-researchers-learned">What the researchers learned&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Through a series of simulations run on the UK Earth System Model, the experts discovered that current climate projections largely underestimate the plausible future level of volcanic activity, leading to a significant underestimation of the impact of volcanic eruptions on factors like global surface temperature, sea level, and sea ice extent.</p>



<p>“Volcanic aerosols in the upper atmosphere typically stay in the atmosphere for a year or two, whereas carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for much, much longer,” said Chim. “Even if we had a period of extraordinarily high volcanic activity, our simulations show that it wouldn’t be enough to stop global warming. It’s like a passing cloud on a hot, sunny day: the cooling effect is only temporary.”</p>



<p>Despite the underestimation of volcanic activity in climate projections, it's important to note that the cooling effect of volcanoes does not compare to the warming effect of anthropogenic carbon emissions. However, the study underlines the importance of fully accounting for the role of volcanoes in our climate models to ensure their reliability.</p>



<h2 id="h-future-research">Future research</h2>



<p>Moving forward, the team plans to apply the insights gained from these simulations to investigate potential threats to the recovery of the Antarctic ozone hole. They aim to understand whether future volcanic activities could impede the healing process of this critical atmospheric layer and thus maintain a relatively high level of harmful ultraviolet radiation at the Earth's surface.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This work underscores the complexities of Earth's climatic systems and highlights the critical role that every element, no matter how minor it seems, plays in shaping our future environment.</p>



<p>In conclusion, while volcanic eruptions may be dwarfed by the scale of human activity in terms of their climate impact, their role is far from insignificant. This study is a powerful reminder that our planet operates on a complex web of interconnected systems, where even the seemingly minor players can exert a profound influence.&nbsp;</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>

Volcanic eruptions play an overlooked role in Earth's climate

New research has discovered that the cooling effect produced by...

<p>A new study has made significant strides in the field of evolutionary biology, unveiling proof of climate adaptation at the genomic level within an endangered species - the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. The groundbreaking research, led by postdoctoral researcher Sheela Turbek of <a href="https://www.colostate.edu/">Colorado State University</a>, is an exceptional demonstration of a wild species adapting to its environmental conditions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Species across the globe are responding to changing climates through either geographical shifts or genetic changes. While experts can observe and document cases where species change locations, genetic adaptations are not as easy to trace.</p>



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



<p>To investigate, Turbek and her team focused on the Willow Flycatcher, an endangered migratory bird native to the Southwestern United States. The research spanned over a century, comparing the genomes of modern specimens to their historical counterparts, some dating back to the late 1800s.</p>



<p>“We used over 200 contemporary samples from the Willow Flycatcher to scan the genetic material for specific regions of the genome associated with important environmental variables,” said Turbek. “This includes things like monthly precipitation and monthly maximum temperature. Once we identified the regions of the DNA we think are involved in climate adaptation, we extracted the genetic information from those regions in both our historical and our modern San Diego samples.”</p>



<h2 id="h-what-the-researchers-learned">What the researchers learned&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The findings, published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nclimate/"><em>Nature Climate Change</em></a>, show a discernible increase in the genetic variation in the Willow Flycatcher population in San Diego, California, over the past century. Turbek theorized that the climatic changes in the region, primarily increasing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humidity-increases-urban-heat-stress/">humidity</a> and precipitation, led to these genomic adaptations in the local Willow Flycatcher population.</p>



<p>Turbek's study builds upon the foundational research conducted by Kristen Ruegg and her team at CSU, who had been exploring similar genetic adaptations for roughly a decade. However, it wasn't until recent technological advancements in genome sequencing in the 2010s that a project of this magnitude became feasible.</p>



<p>Ruegg's preliminary research suggested that the Willow Flycatcher, comprising four different subspecies, had locally adapted to varying climate conditions across geographical regions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Turbek emphasized the importance of this, stating: "The Willow Flycatcher is made up of four different subspecies, and the subspecies in the southwest has faced really precipitous population declines and was listed as federally endangered in 1995." She pointed out the urgency in understanding these adaptive mechanisms, particularly in the face of potential climate-induced extinction.</p>



<p>However, historical samples often contain degraded or contaminated DNA, making it difficult to establish genetic adaptation with a high degree of certainty. This challenge was compounded by the minuscule quantity of DNA available from museum samples, often tiny clippings from a toe pad.</p>



<p>“Museums will send us a little clipping from a toe pad that often has really low DNA concentrations so it’s hard to acquire enough reads of the DNA to have a good idea of what the genetic code looks like,” said Turbek.</p>



<h2 id="h-genetic-adaptations-confirmed">Genetic adaptations confirmed&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Nevertheless, after several years of meticulous genomic sequencing and comparative analysis between historical and contemporary DNA samples, the team finally succeeded. They unveiled compelling evidence that the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher had indeed increased its genetic variation over time.</p>



<p>“We think that it was actually mixing or gene flow into the population from neighboring populations that helped recover the gene pool of the Willow Flycatchers in the San Diego area,” said Ruegg.</p>



<p>“Human-induced climate change is really having a drastic effect on the reproductive activities of many species, and it is going to drive a lot of organisms to the brink of extinction,” said Turbek. “So, the fact that we can document this amount of adaptation over a century-long time scale is somewhat encouraging in that these birds seem to be responding to the amount of climate change that has already occurred. It can help us better predict what’s going to happen in the future, and how species might respond.”</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-the-willow-flycatcher">More about the Willow Flycatcher</h2>



<p>The Southwestern Willow Flycatcher is classified as an endangered species primarily due to habitat loss and fragmentation. This small bird, which relies heavily on riparian ecosystems (near rivers or streams) for breeding, has seen much of its habitat destroyed or altered due to various human activities.</p>



<p>Some of the key factors leading to habitat loss include:</p>



<h3 id="h-urban-development-and-agriculture">Urban development and agriculture&nbsp;</h3>



<p>The growth of cities, roads, and farmland often encroaches on the riparian ecosystems that the flycatchers inhabit.</p>



<h3 id="h-water-management">Water management</h3>



<p>Dams, water diversions for irrigation, and other alterations of river systems can lead to the loss of the vegetation that flycatchers need for nesting.</p>



<h3 id="h-invasive-species">Invasive species</h3>



<p>Non-native plants, such as tamarisk (saltcedar), can change the structure of the vegetation in riparian areas, making them unsuitable for flycatcher nesting.</p>



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



<p>Changes in weather patterns can further degrade the flycatcher's habitat and lead to reduced food availability.</p>



<h3 id="h-predation-and-brood-parasitism">Predation and brood parasitism</h3>



<p>Nest predators, such as snakes and larger birds, as well as brood parasites like the Brown-headed Cowbird (which lays its eggs in the nests of other birds, leading to the other birds raising the cowbird's offspring), can also threaten Willow Flycatcher populations.</p>



<p>These challenges have led to significant population declines, leading to the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher to be listed as an endangered species in 1995.</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>

Genes and climate: Hidden adaptations of an endangered flycatcher

A new study has made significant strides in the field...

<p>In December 2022, at the <a href="https://www.unep.org/un-biodiversity-conference-cop-15">United Nations Biodiversity Conference</a>, nearly 200 countries took action in favor of marine protected areas. They pledged to protect at least 30 percent of the Earth’s terrestrial and marine ecosystems by 2030 in an initiative known as “<a href="https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/global-biodiversity-framework-30x30-target">30 by 30</a>.” </p>



<p>Although newly established <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-protected-areas-are-key-for-our-future/">marine protected areas</a> (MPAs) are crucial for meeting these goals, little research has been conducted to investigate whether MPAs might also have an impact on achieving the United Nations’&nbsp;<a href="https://sdgs.un.org/goals">Sustainable Development Goals</a>, particularly those related to marine ecosystems, food security, and alleviating poverty.</p>



<p>Now, a team of scientists led by the&nbsp;<a href="https://serc.si.edu/">Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)</a> has found that protecting the oceans and providing food security and livelihoods for coastal communities do not have to be mutually exclusive.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In fact, limiting human activity in various parts of the ocean can enhance the health of marine environments, while also increasing the well-being of coastal communities and thus achieving multiple sustainable development goals around the globe.</p>



<h2 id="h-how-the-mpa-research-was-conducted">How the MPA research was conducted</h2>



<p>The experts focused on the impacts of marine protected areas in the Mesoamerican Reef region, which lies within the Caribbean Sea, touching the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras, and stretching almost 700 miles from the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula to the Honduran Bay Islands.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The researchers examined a collection of data from multiple ecological and social organizations, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthyreefs.org/cms/">Healthy Reefs Initiative’s</a>&nbsp;data from monitoring reef fish, and datasets from the <a href="https://www.usaid.gov/">U.S. Agency for International Development</a>. They analyzed factors such as income, food security, and malnutrition.</p>



<h2 id="h-results-of-the-marine-protected-area-study">Results of the marine protected area study</h2>



<p>The researchers not only found that MPAs with the most stringent fishing restrictions helped sustain fisheries, but also discovered a strong link between marine protections and elevated income and food security in nearby coastal communities.</p>



<p>“Our study provides evidence that MPAs in the Mesoamerican Reef region have the potential to benefit both people and nature at the same time,” said lead author Justin Nowakowski, a senior scientist at SERC.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Marine protected areas are hailed as a way to protect fisheries and ecosystems and promote well-being in coastal communities simultaneously,” added co-author Steve Canty, the coordinator of the Marine Conservation Lab at SERC. </p>



<p>“This is one of the first attempts to evaluate these benefits together. Our data critically shows that well-enforced, no-take zones help rebuild fish populations and that these zones are associated with higher well-being in nearby coastal communities.”</p>



<p>By calculating the presence of fish in terms of biomass – the total mass of the fish population in a specific area – the scientists found that MPAs with the highest protections had on average 27 percent more fish biomass than open-access zones without any restrictions. </p>



<p>Also, commercially valuable fish such as grouper were even more abundant, with up to 35 percent more biomass.</p>



<p>Moreover, the analysis revealed that, in terms of social benefits, the average wealth index was 33 percent higher in communities located near the best-protected MPAs. Also, young children living near MPAs were half as likely to suffer stunted growth (a key indicator of malnutrition).</p>



<h2 id="h-further-research-is-needed">Further research is needed&nbsp;</h2>



<p>“MPAs unquestionably help improve the health of reefs and fisheries and, in some cases, may positively impact the well-being of coastal communities,” said co-author Sara E. Bonilla-Anariba. </p>



<p>Bonilla-Anariba is a doctoral student in Rural Sociology at the <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Pennsylvania State University</a>. “However, there is an ongoing debate about the factors influencing their positive outcomes.”</p>



<p>For instance, the study did not manage to reliably identify which groups benefited most from MPAs (e.g. fishing households or individuals who derived their income from other industries, such as tourism). Moreover, the impact of community-led MPAs is another aspect that needs further investigation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“There is still a lot that we don’t know about the interaction between marine protected areas, fisheries, and human well-being,” said co-author Nathan Bennett, the Global Oceans lead scientist for the <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/">World Wildlife Fund</a>. </p>



<p>“How do marine protected areas affect other aspects of human well-being? What factors increase positive outcomes? How effective are coastal, community-led marine protected areas?”</p>



<p>Finally, since locations of MPAs are often biased toward areas with lower human pressure, future research should also take into account the potentially outsized role of location.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“The goals of sustainably managing marine resources, increasing food security, and reducing poverty in local communities do not always lead to tradeoffs - these positive outcomes can occur in the same places. Under the right conditions, conservation interventions like MPAs may be central strategies for achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals,” concluded Nowakowski.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41893-023-01150-4"><em>Nature Sustainability</em></a><em>.</em></p>



<h2>More about marine protected areas</h2>



<p>Marine protected areas (MPAs) are sections of the ocean that are legally protected and managed to preserve their biological diversity and natural and cultural resources. </p>



<p>The primary goal of these areas is to conserve and manage these delicate ecosystems and the species that inhabit them. This includes providing a habitat where species can thrive. Also, protecting cultural sites such as shipwrecks and archaeological finds.</p>



<p>MPAs can come in many forms. They range from small, highly protected areas that prohibit any kind of extraction or disturbance, to much larger zones that permit some sustainable uses. </p>



<p>MPAs can encompass beaches, coastlines, intertidal zones, estuaries, and the open ocean, and can even include areas of the deep sea.</p>



<p>Marine protected areas offer a range of benefits. They protect biodiversity by offering a refuge for endangered species, and by protecting habitats. </p>



<p>They also help support the overall health of the world's oceans. This can have indirect benefits for humans too. For instance, healthy coral reefs and mangrove forests can act as buffers against storm surges and sea-level rise.</p>



<p>MPAs can also help sustain local economies. Many MPAs are important sites for tourism and recreation, and by protecting fish stocks, they can support sustainable fishing and maintain livelihoods over the long term. Research and education are other key activities that take place within MPAs.</p>



<p>Around 7.65% of the world's oceans were covered by marine protected areas. However, scientists and conservationists were advocating for this to be increased to at least 30% by 2030 to safeguard marine biodiversity effectively. </p>



<p>The establishment and effective management of MPAs remain key components of global strategies to halt biodiversity loss and protect ecosystem services. However, it is also important to ensure that the creation and management of MPAs respect the rights and livelihoods of local communities and indigenous peoples.</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>

Marine protected areas improve well-being in coastal communities

In December 2022, at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, nearly...

<p>A team of researchers has found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alarming-study-previously-stable-glaciers-are-now-rapidly-disappearing/">glaciers</a> in the Hindu Kush and Himalaya mountain range region melted 65 percent faster in the 2010s than in the previous decade. This suggests that quickly rising temperatures are already having a major impact in this region.</p>



<p>Moreover, under worst case climate conditions, the world’s highest peaks are at the risk of losing up to 80 percent of their volume by the end of this century.</p>



<p>This study was led by the <a href="https://www.icimod.org/?q=9599">International Center for Integrated Mountain Development </a>(ICIMOD). These experts conducted the study by examining the impact of climate change on an area stretching 1.6 million square miles (4.1 million square kilometers). The area spanned from Afghanistan in the west to Myanmar in the east.</p>



<h2 id="h-shocking-conclusions-about-the-himalaya-mountain-range">Shocking conclusions about the Himalaya mountain range</h2>



<p>In a previous report from 2019, experts from ICIMOD had determined that, even in the most optimistic case – in which average global warming does not surpass 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels – this region would likely lose one third of its glaciers.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to the current report, the region will lose 30 to 50 percent of its volume by 2100. That's if warming levels stay between 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius of warming. If global temperatures rise to 3-4 degrees of warming, the situation gets much worse. Glaciers in Nepal and Bhutan in the eastern Himalayas could lose 75 to 80 percent of their ice.</p>



<h2 id="h-far-reaching-impacts-from-melting-himalaya-glaciers">Far-reaching impacts from melting Himalaya glaciers</h2>



<p>The Hindu Kush Himalaya region will severely affect the lives of 240 million people if such grim scenarios materialize. Additionally, another 1.65 billion people living downstream will also face displacement.</p>



<p>Although many high mountain communities rely on glacial waters to irrigate crops and maintain their livestock, accelerated melting would inundate farmlands downstream. </p>



<p>These periods would alternate with seasons of drought as water sources dry up. Moreover, the erosion of glacial slopes will increase the likelihood of floods, avalanches, and landslides.</p>



<p>“For them, this is home, and their livelihoods are mostly dependent on agriculture, livestock, tourism, and medicinal and aromatic plants,” said co-author Amina Maharjan. He is an expert in Mountain Livelihoods and Economies at ICIMOD. </p>



<p>“What we realized in doing this assessment is that all of these are very, very sensitive to slight changes in climatic conditions and cryospheric conditions in the region.”</p>



<p>For instance, snowfall patterns are already out of sync with seasonality. This shrinks the grazing land for livestock and leading to significant die-offs due to lack of food in Nepal, India, and Bhutan. </p>



<p>Moreover, due to the remoteness and rough terrain of these areas, many mountain communities lack access to immediate disaster response. </p>



<h2 id="h-unforeseen-consequences">Unforeseen consequences </h2>



<p>Finally, rapid climatic changes severely threaten many ecosystems. For example, 14 species of butterflies that have already become extinct in the Murree Hills in Pakistan. In addition, various endemic frog species are currently experiencing breeding problems and developmental deformities. </p>



<p>“The glaciers of the Hindu Kush Himalaya are a major component of the Earth system. With two billion people in Asia reliant on the water that glaciers and snow here hold, the consequences of losing this cryosphere are too vast to contemplate. We need leaders to act now to prevent catastrophe,” concluded Izabella Koziell, the deputy director general of the ICIMOD.</p>



<p>The “Water, ice, society, and ecosystems in the Hindu Kush Himalaya” report can be found <a href="https://hkh.icimod.org/hi-wise/hi-wise-report/">here</a>.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-the-himalaya-glaciers">More about the Himalaya glaciers</h2>



<p>The Hindu Kush Himalaya region, often referred to as the "Third Pole," is home to the largest concentration of snow and ice outside of the polar regions. This region spans eight countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.</p>



<p>The glaciers of the Hindu Kush Himalaya region are vital for the millions of people living downstream, as they provide a steady source of water for agriculture, drinking, and hydroelectric power. </p>



<p>These glaciers feed into major river systems such as the Ganges, Indus, Brahmaputra, and Mekong, upon which a significant portion of the world's population relies.</p>



<p>Some of the key glaciers in the region include the Siachen Glacier (the second-longest glacier outside of the polar regions), the Biafo Glacier, and the Baltoro Glacier. </p>



<p>Each of these glaciers presents unique characteristics and behaviors based on their geographic location, altitude, aspect, and local climate.</p>



<p>Like many glaciers around the world, those in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region are retreating and thinning due to climate change. </p>



<p>The consequences of such glacial loss could be devastating, with impacts on water supply, agriculture, biodiversity, and increase in the likelihood of natural disasters like Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).</p>



<h2>More about the Himalaya mountain range</h2>



<p>The Himalaya mountain range is one of the most iconic and majestic mountain ranges in the world. It stretches across several countries in South Asia, including India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet (China), and Pakistan. Here are some key points about the Himalayas:</p>



<h3>Geography and Location</h3>



<p>The Himalayas span approximately 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) from east to west, and their width varies from 200 to 400 kilometers (125 to 250 miles). The range starts in the northwest with the Indus River in Pakistan and ends in the southwest at the Brahmaputra River in northeastern India.</p>



<h3>Highest Peaks</h3>



<p>The Himalayas are home to some of the highest peaks on Earth, including Mount Everest, which is the highest at 8,848 meters (29,029 feet) above sea level. Other notable peaks include K2, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Dhaulagiri.</p>



<h3>Cultural Significance</h3>



<p>The Himalayas are not only known for their stunning natural beauty but also for their cultural and religious significance. The region is deeply rooted in Hinduism, Buddhism, and other indigenous beliefs. Numerous temples, monasteries, and sacred sites are scattered throughout the Himalayas, attracting pilgrims and tourists alike.</p>



<h3>Biodiversity</h3>



<p>The Himalayas are a biodiversity hotspot, hosting a wide range of plant and animal species. The region is known for its diverse flora and fauna, including the rare and endangered snow leopard, Himalayan musk deer, red panda, and various species of rhododendrons.</p>



<h3>Rivers and Watersheds</h3>



<p>The Himalayas are the source of many major rivers in Asia, including the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Indus, Yangtze, and Mekong. These rivers provide vital water resources for millions of people in the region, supporting agriculture, hydropower generation, and sustaining biodiversity.</p>



<h3>Mountaineering and Trekking</h3>



<p>The Himalayas are a popular destination for mountaineers and trekkers from around the world. Mount Everest and other peaks attract experienced climbers seeking to conquer the highest summits. Additionally, there are numerous trekking routes and trails, such as the Annapurna Circuit and Everest Base Camp trek, offering breathtaking views and a chance to explore the region's natural beauty.</p>



<h3>Environmental Challenges</h3>



<p>The Himalayas face several environmental challenges, including deforestation, habitat loss, climate change, and unsustainable tourism practices. Glacial melting, attributed to climate change, poses a significant threat to the region's water resources and ecosystems.</p>



<h3>Regional Conflicts</h3>



<p>The Himalayas have also been a site of geopolitical tensions between neighboring countries. Disputes over territory and border control exist between India and Pakistan (Kashmir conflict), India and China (Arunachal Pradesh dispute), and India and Nepal (Kalapani dispute), among others.</p>



<p>The Himalayas are a captivating natural wonder that continues to inspire awe and reverence. Their grandeur, cultural significance, and ecological importance make them a truly remarkable mountain range.</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>

Glaciers in the Himalaya mountain range are melting much faster than anyone expected

A team of researchers has found that glaciers in the...

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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>



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<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>



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<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>



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<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>



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<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>



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<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>



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<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>



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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>



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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.

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https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
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<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>



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<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>



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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...

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<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...

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<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...

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<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...

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<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...

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<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...

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<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...

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<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...

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<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

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<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

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

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<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

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