For over a century, oil and gas companies have been pulling carbon out of the ground in the form of fossil fuels. Now, researchers are flipping that idea on its head - by putting carbon back underground. And not just anywhere, but into the very same wells that once helped release it.



This new approach doesn’t rely on fancy tech or sci-fi ideas. Instead, it uses leftovers from farms and forests - like corn stalks and tree trimmings - to create a thick liquid called bio-oil. 



Packed with carbon pulled from the air by plants, bio-oil can then be pumped into abandoned <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/abandoned-oil-wells-could-revolutionize-energy-storage/">oil wells</a> for permanent storage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-old-oil-wells-meet-new-solutions">Old oil wells meet new solutions</h2>



Across the U.S., there are hundreds of thousands of old oil and gas wells sitting empty. Many of these wells weren’t properly sealed and now pose environmental and safety hazards. 



Plugging the wells costs about $1 million each. At the same time, tons of plant waste is discarded every year, ranging from corn stover in the Midwest to forest debris in the West. This is where researchers at <a href="https://www.iastate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Iowa State University</a> saw a match.



“On the one hand, you have these underutilized waste products. On the other hand, you have abandoned oil wells that need to be plugged. It’s an abundant resource meeting an urgent demand,” said Professor Mark Mba-Wright, who led the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oil-wells-for-carbon-capture">Oil wells for carbon capture</h2>



The process at the center of the research is called fast pyrolysis. It sounds complicated, but the idea is simple: you heat dried plant bits to extremely high temperatures (over 1,000°F) in the absence of oxygen. 



The result is three products - bio-oil, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-is-biochar-and-how-can-it-help-us-mitigate-climate-change-carbon-storage/">biochar</a>, and gas. The bio-oil captures most of the carbon. The gas helps fuel the system. The biochar can be sold to farmers to improve soil.



“One of the innovations here is that you can do <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carbon-capture-technology-faces-uncertainty-despite-heavy-investment/">carbon capture</a> with units the size of a skid loader or a combine. You can start small,” Mba-Wright said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bio-oil-machines-for-the-job">Bio-oil machines for the job</h2>



The team modeled a network of 200 mobile pyrolysis units that could be moved around rural areas to process plant waste on-site. 



Each machine would handle about 10 tons of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/satellite-view-of-forest-biomass-reveals-hidden-carbon-trends/">biomass</a> daily, producing bio-oil that could be stored in terminals before being transported to empty well sites for injection.



Each unit would cost around $1.3 million to build. According to the study, the system could sequester carbon for about $152 per ton, which makes it cost-competitive with other carbon capture methods. For wood-based materials, the cost could drop closer to $100 per ton.



Filling a single crude oil well requires more than 216,000 gallons of liquid - plenty of space to lock away carbon for good. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-undocumented-oil-wells">Undocumented oil wells</h2>



The researchers estimate that there could be as many as 800,000 undocumented orphaned wells in the U.S., far beyond the 120,000 wells targeted by a $4.7 billion federal cleanup effort passed in 2021.



“The more units they build, the better they would get at building them,” Mba-Wright said. This is thanks to what’s called a “learning rate,” which means that building more machines over time helps lower both production and operating costs.



This isn’t just theory. A San Francisco startup, Charm Industrial, has already started using this method and signed deals with large companies to help them meet climate goals. These companies want carbon-removal credits, and bio-oil injection is emerging as one of the most promising ways to earn them.



"We hear it time and again: after taking a close look among their options, leading carbon-removal buyers find that bio-oil sequestration represents one of the highest-quality and most cost-effective approaches,” said Peter Reinhardt, CEO and co-founder of Charm Industrial.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-opportunities-for-carbon-removal">Opportunities for carbon removal </h2>



Charm funded part of the Iowa State study to better understand the technology’s full potential.



“While they were confident about the technology itself, they were looking for some validation of how much <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mountains-both-carbon-sinks-and-carbon-sources/">carbon</a> could be sequestered and how economical the process could be,” Mba-Wright said. “There are a lot of steps involved in getting this to work at scale.”



One important detail is that this method stacks up well against another popular carbon-removal option - direct air capture. That system also removes carbon from the air, but it’s more expensive to build and doesn’t offer the side benefits of using agricultural waste or creating new revenue for rural communities.



“What we’re trying to show here is that carbon removal doesn’t need to be either/or. There are a lot of opportunities,” Mba-Wright said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-win-for-rural-economies">A win for rural economies</h2>



Besides helping the climate, this system could give new life to the rural economy. Farmers could sell their leftover crop waste. Forest managers could get paid to clear wildfire-prone debris. 



Furthermore, small towns could host bio-oil terminals and benefit from new jobs and investments.



"Iowa State’s experts showed that bio-oil sequestration using corn stover can deliver a high-value, durable carbon removal product that outcompetes other technologies, while providing new markets for crop residues and delivering new economic value to the rural economy,” Reinhardt said. 



“As the carbon-removal sector grows, Charm is grateful to work with farm and forest communities to grow this opportunity."



The full study was published in the journal <a href="http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0196890425005047">Energy Conversion and Management</a>.



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Old oil wells are getting a new job - storing carbon

For over a century, oil and gas companies have been pulling carbon out of the ground in the form of fossil fuels. Now, researchers are flipping that idea on its head - by putting carbon back underground. And not just anywhere, but into the very same wells that once helped release it. This new approach doesn’t rely on fancy tech or sci-fi ideas. Instead, it uses leftovers from farms and forests - like corn stalks and tree trimmings - to create a thick liquid called bio-oil. Packed...

Trees may seem like quiet bystanders, but they’re vital to the health of ecosystems, the stability of our climate, and even our own survival. As the planet heats up, these ancient organisms are being pushed to their limits - and the impacts reach far beyond the forest.



A new study has shed light on the future of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-trees-decide-between-growing-and-breathing/">trees</a> under climate change. The research team modeled how more than 32,000 tree species might respond to changing temperatures. 



The findings are stark. If greenhouse gas emissions remain high, most trees on Earth could find themselves living in climates they have never known.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-trees-will-face-a-changing-climate">Most trees will face a changing climate</h2>



The study reveals a major upheaval for the world’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/traditional-forest-farming-is-an-overlooked-climate-solution/">trees</a>. According to study lead author Dr. Coline Boonman from <a href="https://www.wur.nl/en.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wageningen University</a>, the team found that nearly 70% of tree species will see significant climate shifts in at least part of their range by the end of this century.



"For some species, over half of their habitat could be affected under an extreme 4°C warming scenario," said Dr. Boonman.



This means trees in these regions will face temperatures, rainfall, and seasonal patterns outside their historical experience. For organisms adapted to specific conditions, these shifts may prove overwhelming. Some species may fail to reproduce. 



Others may suffer from drought, disease, or increased competition. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/amazon-trees-glow-more-under-stress-but-photosynthesize-less/">Trees</a> cannot quickly move. They grow slowly, with some species taking decades to mature. As the climate shifts fast, many may be left behind.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-will-hit-some-regions-harder">Climate will hit some regions harder</h2>



The study does not just warn of future risks. It shows where those risks are most concentrated. The researchers mapped “exposure hotspots" - regions where tree diversity is most likely to face serious disruption.



These include large parts of Eurasia, northwestern North America, northern Chile, and the Amazon Delta. In these areas, the changes in climate could be so extreme that native species may not survive without human intervention.



“This research provides a global map of where <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trees-are-part-of-the-climate-solution-but-not-the-whole-answer/">trees</a> are most vulnerable to climate change,” explained Dr. Boonman. “It’s a crucial tool for conservation planning and ecosystem resilience.”



Understanding where the most vulnerable regions lie helps conservationists and land managers act before it is too late. 



Some tree species might be relocated. Others may require intensive management or protection from added stressors like logging and land conversion. Without this data, efforts may arrive too late or miss the most critical areas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-lives-and-heightened-risk">Long lives and heightened risk</h2>



Unlike animals, most trees cannot shift their range quickly in response to climate change. Their seeds may spread, but their growth is slow. Entire forests take decades or centuries to establish. That makes them especially prone to harm from fast-moving changes. 



Temperature increases, erratic rainfall, or intense droughts can all break the rhythm trees rely on to flower, fruit, and regenerate.



Importantly, this study only looked at climate exposure. It did not include other threats such as illegal logging, invasive pests, or pollution. This means that the risk to tree species is likely even greater than reported. 



A tree struggling with drought may also be weakened against disease. A forest hit by fire may face development before it can recover. Climate stress is just one part of a complex web of pressures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-refuges-amid-the-heat">Refuges amid the heat</h2>



Not all news from the study was grim. The researchers also identified what they call climate refugia. These are areas expected to remain relatively stable despite the overall global warming trend. 



In such zones, trees could persist with less stress, acting as sanctuaries for biodiversity if protected. These stable environments offer a rare opportunity. If shielded from human interference, they may become the lifeboats of future forests. 



In a rapidly warming world, these refuges could harbor tree species long enough for the climate to stabilize or for new conservation tools to be deployed. Their preservation is vital for long-term efforts to protect forest ecosystems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mitigation-and-conservation-strategies">Mitigation and conservation strategies </h2>



The study emphasizes the importance of quick and strategic conservation work. Protecting refugia must become a priority. 



Likewise, tracking high-risk species and identifying how they respond to stress will be key. In some cases, assisted migration, or moving trees to safer areas, may be the only option to preserve them.



Dr. Josep Serra-Diaz (Botanical Institute of Barcelona, CSIC-CMCNB), co-author of the study, called for urgent and focused global action. 



“This provides a comprehensive global study that shows where to focus our attention to conserve and where mitigation and adaptation need to be focused, looking at small scale opportunities to keep our treed ecosystems diverse," said Dr. Serra-Diaz.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-risks-to-tree-species">Climate risks to tree species</h2>



We cannot separate tree survival from our own. Forests play a vital role in regulating climate. 



Trees cool the atmosphere, absorb carbon, and even support water systems that nourish agriculture. If forests collapse, the damage will ripple through food systems, cities, and economies.



As climate exposure increases, preserving the stability of forests is not just an ecological concern. It is a human necessity. The question now is not whether trees will be affected, but whether we can act in time to protect them. 



Through research, planning, and collective action, there is still a chance to safeguard these ancient allies. But the window is closing.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2420059122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Tree species face unprecedented climate shifts across their ranges

Trees may seem like quiet bystanders, but they’re vital to...

We know the oceans are changing. But how have they changed over the last half-billion years? Until now, we had no clear measure of how the total mass of ocean life - not just its variety - has evolved over deep time. 



In a first-of-its-kind effort, scientists from <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a> measured how the biomass of marine organisms - the actual amount of living material in the ocean - has changed over the last 540 million years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-term-changes-in-ocean-life">Long-term changes in ocean life</h2>



The study shows a long-term trend of rising <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deforestation-causes-biomass-loss-beyond-directly-affected-areas/">biomass</a>, with noticeable crashes during major extinction events. This pattern closely tracks with known increases in marine biodiversity, suggesting a deep link between how much life the ocean holds and how varied that life is.



Study lead author Pulkit Singh is a postdoctoral scholar in Earth and Planetary Sciences in the <a href="https://sustainability.stanford.edu/">Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability</a>.



“Understanding the amount of biomass is important because it represents key traits about an ecosystem that are not captured by the number of species or even the number of niches that they fill,” said Singh.



“But as we move into the past, our measurements of biomass are very limited, so that was the big gap in biological history we wanted to fill with our study.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-life-changes-across-history">Ocean life changes across history</h2>



Getting to this result took years of meticulous work. Singh and his team dug into data from over 7,700 marine limestone samples spanning hundreds of millions of years. 



The samples came from more than 100 published studies and Singh’s own data collection. Each rock was cut and polished into slices thin enough for light to pass through, then examined under a microscope. 



Using a method called petrographic point-counting, the researchers calculated what percentage of each sample was made up of skeletal remains - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossilized-shells-can-help-predict-the-impacts-of-climate-change/">shells</a> from animals, certain algae, and single-celled protists.



It’s not just busywork. The amount of shell material in these rocks tells scientists how much living material existed at different points in Earth’s history. 



More shells in the ocean generally mean more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/all-living-things-emit-a-subtle-glow-that-ceases-at-death/">living things</a>. And more life usually means more energy flowing through ecosystems - a strong signal of planetary health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-challenge-of-measuring-biomass">The challenge of measuring biomass </h2>



Tracking <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-biodiversity-crisis-is-actually-worse-than-we-thought/">biodiversity</a> through deep time has been part of science since the 19th century. But measuring biomass - the total amount of living material - is a much rarer effort. 



Measuring biomass demands massive amounts of data and offers no guarantee of a clear pattern.



“The first quantitative effort to document and graph biodiversity across geological time was made in 1860, but until Pulkit’s paper, there’s never been a corresponding biomass-across-time paper,” noted senior study author Professor Jonathan Payne. 



“I’m impressed by his intellectual courage to go and take a chance on a project like this.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biomass-over-millions-of-years">Biomass over millions of years</h2>



The earliest rocks examined, from the Cambrian period about 540 million years ago, showed low shell content - under 10 percent on average. 



By the Ordovician, starting around 485 million years ago, shell percentages rose. This increase lines up with the Cambrian Explosion, a period when life rapidly diversified.



Early on, sponges were major players. Later, they were overtaken by echinoderms (ancestors of starfish) and arthropods like trilobites. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-gradual-increase-in-biomass">A gradual increase in biomass </h2>



Over the next 230 million years, shell content stayed mostly above 20 percent, aside from big dips during <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-life-became-strangely-uniform-after-earths-worst-mass-extinction/">mass extinctions</a>.



One of the sharpest declines came during the Permian-Triassic extinction about 250 million years ago - the “Great Dying.” Shell material dropped to just 3 percent. 



Life rebounded after that, although smaller setbacks followed during the end-Triassic and the well-known Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction 66 million years ago.



In our current era - the Cenozoic - shell volume climbed above 40 percent, boosted by creatures like mollusks and corals. “The overall pattern that we were able to capture is that it’s a gradual increase,” Singh said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-consistent-biological-patterns">Consistent biological patterns </h2>



The team knew they had to rule out alternative explanations. Maybe shell-boring predators were less common in the past. Maybe certain environments were overrepresented in the data. 



To check, the researchers sorted samples by depth, latitude, and geological setting. The trend held steady.



“The more tests we did and the more we divided our dataset, we realized that these big biological patterns we were seeing stayed over time,” Singh said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-did-ocean-life-keep-growing">Why did ocean life keep growing?</h2>



The answer may come down to diversity. As life evolved to fill more ecological roles, it got better at using available energy. Organisms became more specialized, more interconnected. 



That allowed ecosystems to recycle nutrients more efficiently - from sunlight-eating phytoplankton to decomposers returning nutrients to the cycle.



“The overall idea is that there is more food available in ecosystems and because of that, the ecosystems can support more life, there’s more energy available, and that leads to greater abundance expressed in biomass,” Singh said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-humans-are-rapidly-changing-ocean-life">Humans are rapidly changing ocean life</h2>



The study paints a long view of life’s upward climb, but it ends before the modern age. Today’s oceans face threats from overfishing, pollution, acidification, and climate change. 



Researchers agree - we’re already in the middle of a human-caused sixth mass extinction. And if biodiversity keeps falling, we may see long-term drops in biomass too - with effects that could last millions of years.



“From our study’s perspective, modern times are quite complicated given the extent of human activity that’s rapidly altering conditions planetwide, including in the oceans,” said Payne. 



“But our findings show that overall biomass is linked to biodiversity and that losses in biodiversity may suppress productivity for geologically meaningful intervals, adding one more argument of why conserving biodiversity is essential for the health of humans and our planet.”



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0960982225007353">Current Biology</a>.



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Fossils reveal 500 million years of changes in ocean life

We know the oceans are changing. But how have they...

Climate usually conjures images of vast regions and decades-long change, but it also shifts over a few miles in a single afternoon.



A team of researchers led by <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Pennsylvania State University</a> has shown that these microclimates can nudge bees toward particular patches of a field and, in doing so, make or break yields of wild <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-why-blueberries-are-blue/">blueberries</a>.



The project unfolded on a 170-acre commercial blueberry operation in coastal Maine, where researchers divided the rolling terrain into 120 one-square-meter plots and then carpeted it with sensors.



Every ten minutes during blossom season, those sensors logged temperature and humidity, while students noted how many blossoms opened, which bees showed up, and how much fruit ultimately ripened on 100 plots.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microclimates-shift-bee-patterns">Microclimates shift bee patterns</h2>



Across that single field, conditions proved anything but uniform. Temperature varied by as much as 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and relative humidity differed by nearly 30 percent. The warmest ground also tended to bear more flowers, and bees noticed.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-honey-bee-day-protecting-our-vital-pollinators/">Honey bee</a> foragers trucked in by the grower and wild native bees alike located the most densely blooming areas of the fields and focused their foraging in these areas. 



Wild bees, in particular, were warmer-than-average chasers, arriving earlier in the day and flying under a wider range of conditions than their managed counterparts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-targeting-bees-with-climate-data">Targeting bees with climate data</h2>



Those results matter, said lead author Heather Grab, an assistant professor of plant science at Penn State.



“Remote sensing techniques could measure flower density patterns across the field and identify low blooming regions, which may be a promising method for selecting candidate areas to convert to conservation habitats,” she explained.



In other words, growers might pinpoint unproductive corners and swap them out for wildflower strips or nesting sites that bolster pollinators and the crop alike.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cracking-bee-yield-mysteries">Cracking bee yield mysteries</h2>



The bee and microclimate study reflects a three-way partnership among <a href="https://pollinators.psu.edu/">Penn State’s Center for Pollinator Research</a>, the <a href="https://www.pitt.edu/">University of Pittsburgh</a>, and <a href="https://www.wymans.com/">Wyman’s</a>, one of the nation’s largest wild blueberry companies.



“Our collaborators at Wyman’s noted that some parts of their fields consistently produced fewer berries, but there was no obvious reason,” recalled Christina Grozinger, director of the <a href="https://www.huck.psu.edu/">Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences</a> at Penn State.



“We decided to tackle this mystery by developing new strategies for monitoring and modeling crop yield, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollinators-are-disappearing-and-its-bad-news-for-plants/">pollinator</a> activity, and environmental variation, in collaboration with Vikas Khanna’s group at the University of Pittsburgh.”



“Tackling these issues demands interdisciplinary strategies that integrate knowledge from diverse fields, as demonstrated by this research team," added Khanna, a professor of civil and environmental engineering in Pittsburgh.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-bees-and-blossoms">Mapping bees and blossoms</h2>



To capture the field’s hidden patterns, Pittsburgh students fanned out with stacks of battery-powered dataloggers. 



Over weeks, they verified that warmer niches, often on gentle south-facing slopes, held thicker carpets of blossoms.



They also mapped fifteen honey bee hives and tracked where their tenants flew. The data confirmed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organic-farms-and-meadows-can-help-save-wild-bees/">wild bee</a> numbers did not dip near hive clusters, easing fears that managed pollinators squeeze out native ones.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tiny-climates-big-effects">Tiny climates, big effects</h2>



The team found that much of the variation could be traced to subtle shifts in temperature and humidity across time and space - changes that played out over the course of a day and among different microclimates within the same field.



Because warmer areas of the field also had more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flowers-hear-bee-sounds-and-make-sweeter-nectar-in-response/">flowers</a> and higher yields, changes to the climate that increase microclimate variability may contribute to increased yield variability within fields.



Globally, bee declines have been tied to sweeping forces such as habitat loss and hotter summers. 



Yet this study shows that decisions made at the scale of dozens of meters&nbsp;- where to mow, where to plant shelterbelts, where to turn off irrigation - might tip the balance for both bees and berries.



It also underlines that managed honey bees do not automatically undermine wild pollinators; the two guilds can divide labor across a mosaic of microclimates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-farms-and-pollinator-gains">Future farms and pollinator gains</h2>



Future work will test whether similar trends unfold on other blueberry farms and in other crops, and whether year-to-year swings in weather shift the sweet spots. 



For now, the Maine experiment suggests that seeing a farm through a microclimate lens could help growers optimize production while carving out refuge for native insects.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/remote-sensing-can-help-prevent-plastic-from-reaching-the-ocean/">Remote sensing</a>, smart sensors, and precision agriculture can let farmers manage flowers as well as fruit, which is good news for bees, and ultimately good news for the people who depend on them.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016788092500266X?via%3Dihub">Agriculture, Ecosystems &amp; Environment</a>.



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Hidden microclimates attract bees and boost farm yields

Climate usually conjures images of vast regions and decades-long change,...

By the end of this century, drought conditions could leave bees with nectar that's nearly empty of calories - up to a 95% loss. That’s not just bad news for bees. It’s also bad for plants, crops, and the people who grow and rely on them.



In a more moderate future, where rainfall drops by 30 percent, nectar calories could still fall by about a third. That kind of change ripples through entire ecosystems and straight into agriculture.



The findings come from scientists at <a href="https://www.international.unesp.br/">São Paulo State University</a> (UNESP), based on research supported by FAPESP.



“In terms of calories potentially lost in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flowers-hear-bee-sounds-and-make-sweeter-nectar-in-response/">nectar</a>, this is equivalent to more than a ton of sugar per hectare, from 1,325 to 71 kilos. Without nectar to consume, the bees leave, the plants don’t reproduce, and the farmers lose production,” said study co-author Professor Elza Guimarães.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rainfall-drought-and-food-for-bees">Rainfall, drought, and food for bees</h2>



The research team found that more rain can actually help nectar production. Under increased rainfall, nectar calories jumped by 74 percent. But that doesn’t mean “more rain” is always good.



“A high frequency and intensity of rainfall can have devastating consequences for plants, flower visitors such as birds and insects, and the maintenance of interactions between plants and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildflowers-are-self-fertilizing-to-deal-with-a-lack-of-pollinators/">pollinators</a>,” said Maria Luisa Frigero, the study’s first author, who conducted the research during her master’s program at UNESP.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-rainfall-patterns-disrupt-rainforest-food-webs/">Rainfall</a> affects everything from how easily bees can fly, to how much energy they need to stay warm and forage, to how nutrients move through soil. Heavy rains can wash away vital nutrients, erode topsoil, and suppress pollinator activity.



"The most recent IPCC report, AR6, presents evidence that extreme events, such as intense rainfall and droughts, are becoming increasingly frequent and severe in different regions worldwide," wrote the researchers.



"On one hand, the direct effects of an excessive increase in rainfall on crop production include soil erosion and damages to crop, jeopardizing food production; on the other hand, extended periods of drought can lead to land degradation, resulting in a decrease of crop productivity."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inside-the-greenhouse">Inside the greenhouse</h2>



The team conducted controlled experiments using <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/squash-bees-are-rapidly-spreading-around-the-world/">zucchini</a> plants, growing them in greenhouses where light, temperature, and nutrients were kept consistent. The only variable was the amount of water each group received. 



The researchers tested four different watering scenarios: one group received normal rainfall, serving as the control; another group received 30% less water; a third group got 57% more; and the final group experienced a simulated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-a-humble-plant-may-help-us-save-crops-from-drought/">drought</a> followed by extreme rainfall.



Each group had 30 plants. In total, 120 plants were observed for 60 days. No pollinators were allowed in, ensuring precise measurement of nectar and sugar production per flower and per plant.



Even though this work focused on one species under greenhouse conditions, the researchers believe the results are representative of what could happen to other crops in natural environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-impact-of-drought-on-bees">The impact of drought on bees</h2>



“We’re now exploring the effects of climate change on native and cultivated plant species by testing the impact of heat waves and other extreme events," said study co-author Priscila Tunes.



"Another development of this study is the investigation of how bees react to the changes that occur in flowers in this context, by means of behavioral analyses."



Tunes and the team are pushing the research forward, not just by measuring what plants produce, but by watching how pollinators respond.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-nectar-to-our-plates">From nectar to our plates</h2>



This study draws a direct line from climate change to nectar, pollinators, and food production. It shows how changes in rain patterns - something as simple as more or less water - can ripple outward into big, visible consequences.



And it raises real questions for the future: What happens if flowers stop feeding bees? Who will pollinate the plants? And what will we do when the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mixed-cover-crops-may-be-the-future-of-sustainable-farming/">crops</a> don’t come?



"Animal pollination is responsible for most plant species’ reproduction including several crops that rely especially on bees for fruit and seed production," wrote the researchers.



"Thus, extreme climate events can cause disruptions in pollination mutualism and lead to a decrease in the production of many crops worldwide."



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-94565-2">Scientific Reports</a>.



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How droughts could starve bees and crops

By the end of this century, drought conditions could leave...

Carrying the first P-band synthetic-aperture radar ever flown in space, the&nbsp;European Space Agency's (ESA) Biomass satellite lifted off less than two months ago with a simple but demanding goal: to chart the trunks, branches, and stems of every forest on Earth.



By mapping that woody material, scientists can finally calculate how much <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-models-may-overestimate-how-much-carbon-trees-release/">carbon</a> the world’s trees lock away - and how those stocks shift year by year as climate and land-use pressures grow.



The spacecraft is in the early stages of commissioning, a period when engineers check every system and tweak instrument settings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-first-biomass-satellite-images-impress">First Biomass satellite images impress</h2>



The spacecraft is in the early stages of commissioning, a period when engineers check every system and tweak instrument settings. 



Even at this stage, Biomass is producing imagery so detailed and vivid that the mission team recently revealed the first samples at <a href="https://lps25.esa.int/">ESA’s Living Planet Symposium</a>.



“As is routine, we’re still in the commissioning phase, fine-tuning the satellite to ensure it delivers the highest quality data to accurately determine how much carbon is stored in the world’s forests,” said ESA’s Biomass Project Manager, Michael Fehringer.



“Biomass is equipped with novel space technology, so we’ve been closely monitoring its performance in orbit, and we’re very pleased to report that everything is functioning smoothly." 



"Its first images are nothing short of spectacular," he said. "They’re only a mere glimpse of what is still to come.”



The agency released five forest scenes and two surprise targets - one in the Sahara Desert, another in Antarctica - that demonstrate the radar’s power.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vivid-shots-of-amazon-forests">Vivid shots of Amazon forests</h2>



The debut frame showcases a broad swath of northern Bolivia. Hues of green signal dense <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-amazon-rainforest-is-approaching-widespread-collapse/">rainforest</a>, while reds highlight floodplains and wetlands, and blue-violet patches mark open savanna. 



Cutting across the tableau is the meandering Beni River as it flows from the Andes toward Brazil.



In places that have seen heavy agricultural expansion, such as Bolivia’s lowlands, thick forest has given way to farmland. Biomass will let scientists calculate how much carbon those clearances have released.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/biomass-satellite_Bolivian-forest_first-images_ESA_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/biomass-satellite_Bolivian-forest_first-images_ESA_1s.webp" alt="This image from the Biomass satellite features part of Bolivia. Bolivia has experienced significant deforestation, ranking among the highest globally for primary forest loss. Although there are complex reasons at play, this is primarily driven by forest clearance for agricultural expansion. Credit: ESA" class="wp-image-1975507"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This image from the Biomass satellite features part of Bolivia. Bolivia has experienced significant deforestation, ranking among the highest globally for primary forest loss. Although there are complex reasons at play, this is primarily driven by forest clearance for agricultural expansion. Click image to enlarge. Credit: ESA</figcaption></figure>



A companion view from the optical Sentinel-2 mission looks similar to the untrained eye, but it captures only the forest canopy. 



Biomass, by contrast, records reflections all the way to ground level, revealing the three-dimensional forest structure that is essential for precise carbon accounting.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biomass-satellite-radar-photos">Biomass satellite radar photos</h2>



Another early pass sweeps over the Brazilian Amazon, where pink and crimson tones expose seasonally flooded forests, and deep greens outline rugged uplands.



Over Indonesia’s Halmahera Island, the radar paints lava-sculpted terrain beneath dense jungle, even pinpointing Mount Gamkonora, an active <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-orbit-may-trigger-massive-volcanic-eruptions/">volcano</a>. 



Each image underlines the advantage of long-wavelength radar: it can see through leaf and branch to the landforms below.



“Looking at these first images, it’s clear to see that our Earth Explorer Biomass satellite is set to deliver on its promise,” said ESA’s Director of <a href="https://vision.esa.int/earth-observation-programmes-eop/">Earth Observation Programs</a>, Simonetta Cheli. “We fully expect that this new mission will provide a groundbreaking leap in our ability to understand Earth's forests."



"By combining cutting-edge radar technology with scientific excellence, we can unlock vital insights into carbon storage, climate change, and the health of our planet’s precious forest ecosystems."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beneath-sand-ice-and-forests">Beneath sand, ice, and forests</h2>



Engineers designed Biomass primarily for forests, but P-band signals can penetrate up to five meters of dry sand - enough to trace buried riverbeds in deserts - and slip into ice to map glacier flow.



A striking glimpse of Chad’s Tibesti Mountains shows the radar slicing across sandy basins and ancient volcanic ridges, hinting at hidden water reservoirs that could aid arid-zone planning.



The Antarctic image is equally intriguing: despite surface snow, radar echoes outline the valleys of the Transantarctic Mountains and track the slow creep of the Nimrod Glacier toward the Ross Ice Shelf. Future data could refine models of ice-sheet stability and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-much-did-sea-levels-rise-after-the-last-ice-age-alarming-new-clues-revealed/">sea-level rise</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-repeat-views-add-dimension">Repeat views add dimension</h2>



While one-off scenes are dramatic, Biomass will make its biggest impact through repeated coverage. The satellite’s novel sampling scheme combines observations made from slightly different angles over a 200-day cycle.



With such a method, scientists can reconstruct forest height and wood volume in three dimensions, producing global biomass maps every year for at least five years.



Those maps will feed carbon-cycle models, help nations report on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-mitigation-strategies-may-be-endangering-biodiversity/">climate mitigation</a> goals, and monitor whether conservation policies actually keep carbon in trees.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bright-future-for-the-biomass-satellite">Bright future for the Biomass satellite</h2>



Commissioning continues through the summer: ground teams will calibrate radar pulses, validate positioning, and analyze signal-to-noise ratios. Once the mission declares full readiness, data will flow freely to researchers worldwide.



The first images suggest that Biomass has plenty more to reveal - whether it is spotlighting hidden waterways under Saharan dunes or weighing every stand of timber from the Congo Basin to Siberia.



As climate negotiators chase reliable inventories of carbon sources and sinks, ESA’s newest Earth Explorer is poised to deliver the definitive ledger for the planet’s forests, and perhaps much more besides.



To see more of the first Biomass satellite <a href="https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/Biomass/Biomass_satellite_returns_striking_first_images_of_forests_and_more" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">images and videos, click here...</a>



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Biomass satellite mission sends first images of Earth's most extreme environments

Carrying the first P-band synthetic-aperture radar ever flown in space,...

When Brian Menounos stepped onto British Columbia’s Haig Glacier last summer, the ice under his crampons felt thinner than ever.



“Over the last four years, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/melting-glaciers-are-reshaping-landscapes-and-national-borders-around-the-world/">glaciers</a> lost twice as much ice compared to the previous decade,” he later warned. “Glacial melt is just falling off a cliff.”



A new study pieces together twenty-plus years of satellite images, laser surveys, and boots-on-ice measurements from the Rockies, Cascades, and Swiss Alps.



The verdict: glaciers in western Canada, the contiguous United States, and Switzerland have already surrendered roughly 12 percent of their total volume since 2021 - and the pace is accelerating.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientists-mapped-glacier-melt">Scientists mapped glacier melt</h2>



Menounos, a <a href="https://www.unbc.ca/">University of Northern British Columbia</a> professor and chief scientist at the <a href="https://hakai.org/">Hakai Institute</a>, led an international crew that surveyed three benchmark glaciers in western Canada, four in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, and twenty in Switzerland.



These ice structures do more than decorate postcards. They are summer water towers for farms, rivers, and hydropower; they draw hikers and skiers by the millions; and they even steady mountain slopes by gluing rock walls together.



The team combined high-resolution laser altimetry from aircraft, on-site stake readings, and thousands of satellite scenes.



Those overlapping snapshots told a consistent story: from 2021 through 2024, the monitored glaciers shed as much ice as they had during the entire previous ten years. In sheer water volume, the loss is equivalent to draining huge alpine <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/water-reservoirs-are-shrinking-and-becoming-less-reliable/">reservoirs</a> within a few melt seasons.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dust-and-fire-darken-glaciers">Dust and fire darken glaciers</h2>



Why did melting suddenly roar ahead? Two culprits stand out. The first is heat. Early-season <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deadly-heat-waves-in-europe-can-be-predicted-by-melting-sea-ice/">heat waves</a> have flipped the melt switch weeks ahead of schedule, scrubbing away winter snow that normally reflects sunlight and protects the ice below.



Switzerland’s record-hot summer of 2022 and western Canada’s scorching spring of 2023 gave the glaciers no time to recover. As Menounos put it, “2023 was the year of record, no question.”



The second culprit is surface darkening. Pure snow is brilliant white, bouncing most sunlight back to space. But when windblown dust or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-making-wildfire-smoke-more-deadly/">wildfire</a> soot coats the surface, that reflectivity - scientists call it albedo - plummets, and the ice soaks up heat like a blacktop road.



In the Alps, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saharan-dust-crosses-the-atlantic-a-journey-seen-from-space/">Saharan dust storms</a> tinted the snow a dull ocher. Across North America, smoke from unprecedented wildfire seasons peppered the ice with black carbon. 



At Haig Glacier, the researchers estimate that darkening by soot accounted for nearly forty percent of the melt between 2022 and 2023.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-blind-spot-in-climate-projections">A blind spot in climate projections</h2>



These albedo changes aren’t just cosmetic. They crank up melt rates beyond what temperature alone would dictate, yet most global glacier models still ignore the effect. Menounos believes that oversight is dangerous.



“If we’re thinking, Well, we have 50 years before the glaciers are gone, it could actually be 30,” he said. “So we really need better models going forward.”



Meanwhile, wildfire activity is poised to intensify under continued warming, sending ever more carbon-rich ash onto the shrinking ice. 



That feedback loop - hotter summers, bigger fires, darker glaciers, faster melt - suggests that standard forecasts may be too optimistic about how long mid-latitude ice will survive.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-melting-glaciers-reshape-landscapes">Melting glaciers reshape landscapes</h2>



Glaciers in Alaska or Greenland dominate sea-level discussions, but the mountain ice in this study plays a different yet critical role.



During late summer droughts, meltwater keeps rivers flowing, cools <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/many-young-salmon-break-the-typical-migration-rules-boosting-survival-chances/">salmon</a> habitat, and refills reservoirs that power cities from Seattle to Bern. 



As the ice retreats, that dependable trickle will shrink, leaving farms, hydro dams, and ecosystems exposed to deeper dry spells.



A faster melt-out invites hazards, too. When valley glaciers thin, steep rock faces lose their frozen mortar and can tumble into valley bottoms. Newly formed glacial lakes, dammed only by loose rubble, can burst in sudden floods.



The catastrophic debris flow in British Columbia’s Elliot Creek in 2020, linked to rapid deglaciation, hints at risks that could multiply as ice fronts march uphill.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-landscape-without-long-term-ice">A landscape without long-term ice</h2>



All of this raises a sobering question: how do communities adapt to a future with little or no perennial ice? Menounos argues that water planners, engineers, and tourism operators need to start drawing up new playbooks.



“Society needs to be asking what are the implications of ice loss going forward,” he said. “We need to start preparing for a time when glaciers are gone from western Canada and the United States.”



That might mean revisiting water-sharing agreements, fortifying infrastructure against outburst <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flood-fatalities-experts-reveal-the-hidden-health-impacts/">floods</a>, or reinventing alpine tourism for snow-starved summers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-warning-etched-in-melting-glaciers">A warning etched in melting glaciers</h2>



The study’s most unsettling lesson is how quickly feedbacks can compress geologic timescales into human lifetimes. A hotter atmosphere begets larger fires; those fires darken glaciers; dark ice melts at turbo speed, exposing yet more dark ice. Each loop feeds the next.



If policymakers needed a tangible example of climate acceleration, these rapidly vanishing ice fields provide it. 



The sight of a glacier “falling off a cliff” is no longer a metaphor. It is a literal snapshot of Earth’s changing face - one that may disappear from living memory far sooner than we ever imagined.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2025GL115235">Geophysical Research Letters</a>.



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Glaciers from the Rockies to the Alps are melting much faster than expected

When Brian Menounos stepped onto British Columbia’s Haig Glacier last...

Soft corals have been part of coral reef ecosystems for millions of years, yet scientists are only beginning to grasp how many kinds exist and where they live. Even after decades of research, large parts of reef life remain a mystery.



“A majority of the things that are out there on coral reefs are simply unknown to us or haven’t been formally described or named,” said Catherine McFadden, a professor of life sciences at <a href="https://www.hmc.edu/">Harvey Mudd College</a>.



McFadden leads a new study with an international team from Harvey Mudd College and the Florida Museum of Natural History.



It’s the largest-ever genetic survey of soft corals, built from more than 4,400 museum specimens collected over two decades. And it has fundamentally changed how scientists understand coral diversity and where it occurs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-center-of-coral-life">New center of coral life</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coral-reefs-may-be-more-resilient-than-we-thought/">Coral reefs</a> are typically richest in species in the central Indo-Pacific. That’s the Coral Triangle - Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and surrounding islands - a region known for its warm, shallow waters and unmatched biodiversity.



But this new study found that soft corals break that rule. They don’t have just one center of diversity - they have two.



The first overlaps with the Coral Triangle, as expected. But the second hotspot? It’s thousands of miles west, along the coasts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/madagascar-extinctions-linked-to-human-expansion-1000-years-ago/">Madagascar</a> and Southeast Africa. Here, soft corals are just as diverse - maybe more so - than in the better-known Indo-Pacific. That’s not the case for their harder cousins.



Stony corals, which build reefs from calcium carbonate, are less common and less varied in East Africa. Soft corals are different. And this difference may hold clues to how coral ecosystems evolved, and how they’ll survive in the future.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-coral-branches-split">Ancient coral branches split</h2>



Stony and soft corals both evolved from the same ancient group: Anthozoa. This group originated around 771 million years ago. Shortly after, it split into two major branches - Hexacorallia and Octocorallia. The former gave us stony corals. The latter gave us soft corals.



Their differences go far beyond skeletons. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-reproductive-secrets-of-stony-corals/">Stony corals</a> have hard structures that make them easier to identify by shape. Soft corals lack these features, making them notoriously hard to tell apart.



“It is really challenging to identify them in the field. It’s a colony of very similar polyps, often with similar growth forms, and that’s about it,” said Gustav Paulay, co-author of the study and curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looks-deceive-in-soft-corals">Looks deceive in soft corals</h2>



Soft corals use water pressure to keep their shape and rely on tiny calcium structures called sclerites for support. These structures are beautiful under a microscope, but unreliable when it comes to classification.



“We call them snowflakes because every single sclerite is different,” McFadden said. “They have intricate forms. They’re hard to quantify. And we don’t have a good understanding of what makes them different.”



Once scientists began using DNA to study soft corals, it exposed major gaps in how these species had been classified. Visual identification alone had masked both hidden diversity and false differences.



“There are many cases where people thought there was a widespread species, but when we do the genetic work, it turns out it’s six or eight different things that in some cases aren’t even closely related to each other,” McFadden said. 



“We have the opposite problem as well where corals take a different growth form in some environments, but genetically, we’re not finding any differences between them.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-constant-struggle-on-the-reef">A constant struggle on the reef</h2>



Despite their different lineages, soft and stony corals often compete for the same space. The battle can get nasty.



Soft corals release toxic chemicals to keep others at bay. Stony corals strike back with stinging tentacles or even smother competitors with digestive tissue. Coral reefs may look peaceful, but turf wars are constant.



And yet, both types of coral have adapted to reef life in their own ways—until you get to the western Indian Ocean, where soft corals seem to be pulling ahead.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reefs-stranded-by-tectonics">Reefs stranded by tectonics</h2>



This unexpected diversity in the Indian Ocean has roots in ancient geography. Twenty million years ago, a vast seaway called the Tethys Sea connected oceans from Asia to the Atlantic. It was full of coral reefs -until continental drift closed it off.



As Africa and Europe moved together, coral systems were squeezed and isolated. Some were cut off entirely. 



“As the Indonesian archipelago formed, reefs ended up colonizing that, and the diversity shifted there,” Paulay said.



The reefs of Madagascar and East Africa are remnants of what once stretched across a much wider region. This isolation might help explain their unique mix of species today.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-soft-corals-don-t-travel-well">Why soft corals don’t travel well</h2>



One big reason soft corals have two diversity centers comes down to how they reproduce.



Corals reproduce both asexually and sexually. In sexual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-corals-have-sex-new-secrets-of-spawning-revealed/">reproduction</a>, some corals “broadcast” their eggs and sperm into the ocean. Others, called brooders, keep fertilized larvae inside until they’re ready to release them.



Broadcasting allows coral larvae to travel far - sometimes hundreds of miles. Brooding larvae, on the other hand, tend to sink near their parents. They don’t go far, and that limits their range.



Soft corals, especially brooders, aren’t good travelers. This helps explain why they’re largely missing from places like the tropical Atlantic and parts of the Pacific. It also explains why so many are unique to a single region.



The study found that endemic species - those found only in one area - were most common in the western Indian Ocean. And most of those were brooders.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-warming-threatens-rare-corals">Warming threatens rare corals</h2>



Endemic species are vulnerable. If their habitat disappears, they have nowhere else to go. The soft corals of Madagascar and East Africa face serious threats from warming oceans, overfishing, and pollution.



“When <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coral-bleaching-has-reached-catastrophic-levels-on-the-great-barrier-reef/">bleaching</a> occurs with stony corals, they can often recover, depending on the severity and length of time they bleach,” McFadden said. “That’s not been documented with soft corals. They bleach, and they’re gone.”



If soft corals are more sensitive to bleaching - and more geographically restricted - the risks are compounded. But this also creates opportunity. Knowing where biodiversity is concentrated helps scientists know where to look for new species and where conservation efforts can do the most good.



“If you look at the number of studies that have actually identified species reliably across broad geographic ranges, it’s really focused on just maybe a half dozen groups of organisms,” McFadden said.



Most of those studies target species that humans use or consume. Soft corals don’t fall into that category. But they matter - ecologically, biologically, and as part of the reefs that support life in the ocean.



This new research gives us a clearer picture of coral diversity. More importantly, it reminds us how much we still don’t know - and how much there is left to protect.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-98790-7">Scientific Reports</a>.



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Scientists discover hidden hotspot where soft corals are thriving

Soft corals have been part of coral reef ecosystems for...

Can lichen survive on planets blasted with far more solar radiation than Earth? It’s a question that cuts to the heart of whether life could exist beyond our planet. Scientists have been looking to the skies for answers - and now, a new study offers one. 



Researchers from the Desert Research Institute (<a href="https://www.dri.edu/">DRI</a>) and the University of Nevada, Reno (<a href="https://www.unr.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNR</a>) have found that a common lichen growing in the Mojave Desert can survive levels of ultraviolet radiation previously thought to be lethal.



The study shows that this humble desert lichen might hold the key to understanding how life could endure in extreme environments on other worlds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-is-the-lichen-black">Why is the lichen black?</h2>



The idea for the study started with something small and simple - a color.



“I was just walking in the desert and I noticed that the lichens growing there aren’t green, they’re black,” said Henry Sun, associate research professor of microbiology at DRI.



 “They are photosynthetic and contain chlorophyll, so you would think they’d be green. So I wondered, ‘What is the pigment they're wearing?’ And that pigment turned out to be the world’s best sunscreen.”



That “sunscreen” is a dark pigment on the surface of the lichen, Clavascidium lacinulatum, which lives in harsh, sun-drenched environments like the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/burrowing-animals-in-the-mojave-desert-escape-the-heat-of-climate-change/">Mojave</a>. Despite being constantly bombarded with solar radiation, the lichen survives - and thrives.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exoplanets-face-uv-extremes">Exoplanets face UV extremes</h2>



Our planet’s atmosphere filters out the most dangerous form of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/uv-radiation-played-a-role-in-earths-largest-mass-extinction/">ultraviolet radiation</a>: UVC. It's the shortest and most harmful of the UV spectrum. 



We never experience it on Earth’s surface, but many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exotic-worlds-tess-unveils-126-new-exoplanets/">exoplanets</a> orbit stars that emit it in high doses - especially M and F type stars.



UVC is powerful enough to sterilize hospital rooms. It breaks down DNA and prevents reproduction in even the hardiest microorganisms. 



So the idea that anything could live on a planet exposed to that kind of radiation has seemed like a long shot. That is, until now.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-90-days-under-the-lamp">90 days under the lamp</h2>



Sun and his then-graduate student, Tejinder Singh, collected lichens from the desert near their homes in Las Vegas. They exposed the lichens to nonstop UVC radiation under lab conditions for three months - far longer than most studies of this kind.



“In order for a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-microorganisms-swim-without-a-brain-and-why-it-matters/">microorganism</a> to persist on a planet, it has to last longer than a day,” Sun explained. “So, our experiment had to be long enough to be ecologically significant. We also wanted to go beyond just activity and demonstrate viability.”



When the lichen was rehydrated after the experiment, half of the algal cells were still alive. They didn’t just survive - they replicated.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-lichen-survived">How the lichen survived</h2>



To understand the chemical shield protecting the lichen, the team worked with chemists at UNR. Together, they ran experiments that revealed a simple secret: the acids in the lichen's outer layer function like additives in plastic that prevent UV damage.



The researchers sliced the lichen open and found a dark, protective top layer - like a natural sunblock. 



Lichen is a mix of algae or cyanobacteria living in partnership with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fungi-can-think-and-make-smart-decisions-without-a-brain/">fungi</a>. When the algal cells were separated from the fungi and protective layer, they couldn’t take the radiation. They died in under a minute.



Sun said what surprised them most was that this protection is not even necessary for survival on Earth. Our atmosphere already blocks UVC. “The protection is a mere bonus thanks to their remarkable UVA and UVB protection,” he said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-even-the-air-matters">Even the air matters</h2>



Solar radiation isn’t the only threat. When UV rays interact with certain chemicals in the air - like oxygen and nitric oxide - they can trigger reactions that create reactive oxygen species. These molecules can damage cells even more.



So the team ran another test. They placed the lichen in an oxygen-free environment while continuing UVC exposure. The result: less radiation damage.



“We came to the conclusion that the lichen’s top layer - a less than millimeter thick skin, if you will - assures that all the cells below are protected from radiation,” the researchers wrote. 



“This layer acts as a photo stabilizer and even protects the cells from harmful chemical reactions caused by the radiation, including reactive oxygen.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-beyond-earth">Life beyond Earth</h2>



The takeaway? Planets that seem too hostile might still host life. Microorganisms could adapt, protect themselves, and persist - just like the black lichens in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/burrowing-animals-in-the-mojave-desert-escape-the-heat-of-climate-change/">Mojave Desert</a>.



“This work reveals the extraordinary tenacity of life even under the harshest conditions, a reminder that life, once sparked, strives to endure,” said Singh, who is now at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. 



“In exploring these limits, we inch closer to understanding where life might be possible beyond this planet we call home.”



In short, life might not need Earth-like conditions to exist. It may just need a way to adapt - and a very good tan.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/ast.2024.0137">Astrobiology</a>.



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Desert lichen may offer clues to life beyond Earth

Can lichen survive on planets blasted with far more solar...

Bird species add color, movement, and sound to our world. They pollinate plants, control pests, and spread seeds. But their future is in danger.



A new study from the <a href="https://www.reading.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Reading</a> warns that climate change and habitat destruction threaten global bird diversity. 



The loss of unique birds like the bare-necked umbrellabird, helmeted hornbill, and yellow-bellied sunbird-asity would shrink the variety of bird forms that support <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/big-brains-and-wide-ranges-cant-save-birds-from-climate-change/">ecosystems</a>.



This projection triples all recorded bird extinctions since 1500 CE. Even with protection from hunting, habitat loss, and climate change, 250 species may still disappear. Some birds are now too fragile to survive without direct help.



“Many birds are already so threatened that reducing human impacts alone won't save them. These species need special recovery programs, like breeding projects and habitat restoration, to survive,” explained Kerry Stewart, lead author of the study.



“We face a bird extinction <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-are-struggling-to-keep-pace-with-a-warming-climate/">crisis</a> unprecedented in modern times. We need immediate action to reduce human threats across habitats and targeted rescue programs for the most unique and endangered species.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-large-bird-species-are-most-at-risk">Large bird species are most at risk</h2>



The researchers studied nearly 10,000 bird species using IUCN Red List data and advanced models. 



The results showed that large-bodied birds are especially at risk. These birds struggle more with hunting pressure and climate stress. Birds with broad wings face severe danger from habitat destruction, especially in forests.



The study went beyond just species counts. It measured the expected loss of “functional diversity,” a term describing the variety of bird shapes, diets, and behaviors. 



Under current trends, global bird functional diversity could fall by about 3.2% in the next 100 years. This drop may sound small, but it would seriously damage ecosystems. 



Large, distinct <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-evolution-timeline-pushed-back-20-million-years-by-baminornis-zhenghensis-discovery/">species</a> often provide unique services. Their disappearance would leave functional gaps that smaller or similar birds cannot fill.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limits-of-protection-alone">Limits of protection alone</h2>



The researchers tested three future scenarios: complete, partial, and minimal threat abatement. In the best case, where all human threats were removed across species ranges, around 250 species would still go extinct. That is nearly half of all projected losses, even with ideal conservation.



Some birds, like the Cebu flowerpecker, remain highly vulnerable despite facing few listed threats. With fewer than 70 individuals left, they may vanish without specific recovery steps like habitat restoration or captive breeding.



The study shows that reducing threats is not enough. Many species are already too close to the brink. Past damage, small populations, and isolated habitats all contribute to ongoing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-are-molting-earlier-in-the-fall-as-seasons-shift/">risks</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-threats-to-rare-bird-species">Threats to rare bird species</h2>



The research evaluated six main threats: habitat loss, hunting, climate change, invasive species, disturbance, and pollution. 



Habitat loss contributed the most to species decline, affecting over 1,600 species. Yet when it comes to preserving unique bird traits, other threats matter more.



Driver-specific results showed that reducing hunting or accidental deaths helped conserve rare bird features more effectively, even if fewer total species were saved. That means some threats disproportionately affect birds with uncommon traits.



Birds with long tails and short beaks, for example, benefited more from reduced hunting. Birds with broad wings responded better to protection from habitat destruction. These patterns help tailor conservation actions to bird traits most at risk.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strategic-recovery-of-unique-species">Strategic recovery of unique species</h2>



One solution stood out: target the most unique birds for rescue. The researchers created a list of 200 functionally unique species. Protecting just the top 100 could conserve over two-thirds of global bird functional diversity.



These birds include nectar-feeders, scavengers, and seed dispersers. From the Sulu hornbill to the southern royal albatross, many are island-dwelling, wide-ranging, or limited to one location. They carry traits that help regulate temperature, shape ecosystems, and fill rare ecological roles.



Preventing the extinction of around 37 of these birds could achieve this 68% protection goal. Since past efforts have already saved 21 to 32 bird species since 1993, this new goal appears feasible with commitment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-must-be-done-now">What must be done now</h2>



Even in optimistic futures, threats cannot be erased quickly or completely. Species recovery programmes, including in-situ and ex-situ measures, are needed for the most vulnerable.



“Stopping threats is not enough,” said Professor Manuela Gonzalez-Suarez. “Prioritizing conservation programs for just 100 of the most unusual threatened birds could save 68% of the variety in bird shapes and sizes. This approach could help to keep ecosystems healthy.”



Habitat protection remains key. But to safeguard ecosystem resilience, conservationists must also think about functional diversity, not just species counts.



The coming century will test humanity’s will to preserve Earth's avian legacy. Without sharp decisions and bold action, we risk losing many birds and the ecological balance they help maintain.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-025-02746-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.



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Hundreds of bird species could vanish in the next century

Bird species add color, movement, and sound to our world....

Tiny clusters of drifting debris called "marine snow" shower through the ocean every day, ferrying food and carbon from the bright surface to the dark seafloor.



New <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2505085122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">experiments</a> now show that the smallest flakes plunge more quickly than their larger cousins, overturning a century of textbook fluid dynamics and hinting at fresh twists in the planet’s carbon budget.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-marine-snow-the-basics">Understanding "marine snow" - the basics</h2>



This “snow” consists of dead and decaying animals, plankton, fecal matter, mucus, and other tiny detritus that clump together into slow-sinking flakes. 



Despite the whimsical name, marine snow plays a serious role in the ocean's ecosystem - it serves as a crucial source of food for many deep-sea organisms that live far below sunlight’s reach. 



Without this steady rain of carbon-rich material, life in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-trash-debris-now-found-in-deepest-parts-of-earths-seas-and-oceans-mediterranean/">ocean’s abyss</a> would be severely limited.



Beyond its ecological function, marine snow also influences Earth’s climate system. As it sinks, it transports carbon from the surface to the ocean floor, effectively removing it from the atmosphere for centuries or even longer. 



This process, known as the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-robots-are-exploring-the-oceans-role-in-climate-control/">biological carbon pump</a>, helps regulate global carbon dioxide levels and mitigate climate change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smallest-marine-snow-sinks-faster">Smallest marine snow sinks faster</h2>



“It basically means that smaller particles can sink faster than bigger ones,” said Robert Hunt and colleagues at <a href="https://www.brown.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brown University</a> and the <a href="https://www.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a> at Chapel Hill, who led the study. 



That counterintuitive sprint happens only in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/stratified-fluid" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stratified fluids</a> such as the ocean, where density increases with depth.



When a porous flake soaks up salt from the layers it crosses, the added mass beats the drag that normally slows tiny objects. 



Because surface‐to‐depth density changes are gentle yet persistent, salt diffusion keeps boosting the <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/marinesnow.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flake’s weight</a> all the way down.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-is-this-important">Why is this important?</h2>



Speed matters. The ocean’s <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021GB007083" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon biological pump</a> moves about 10.2  billion tons of carbon a year from sunlit waters toward long‑term storage below the <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/thermocline.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">thermocline</a>. 



Faster‑than‑expected settling of small fragments may revise estimates of how much carbon actually reaches the deep, especially during spring plankton blooms when the ocean teems with fine detritus.



The same physics could alter the journey of <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microplastics</a>. A recent global <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08818-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">survey</a> found that smaller plastic bits, under 0.004 inch, linger longer at mid‑depths than bigger shards. 



If porosity or biofilm growth changes their salt uptake, these particles might fall sooner than models predict and redistribute pollution hotspots on the seafloor.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-marine-snow-sinks-through-layers">How marine snow sinks through layers</h2>



Hunt’s team built a four‑foot‑long tank whose density changed smoothly from fresh water at the top to salty water below, mimicking the open ocean’s gradient. Carefully controlled pumps dripped the two end‑member waters to create a stable linear stratification.



The researchers then 3D‑printed molds and cast agar shapes (spheres, disks, and rods) with diameters from 0.04 to 0.4 inch. 



Like gelatin desserts, the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/agar" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">agar particles</a> were riddled with pores that quickly exchanged water and salt with their surroundings.



High‑speed cameras tracked each particle’s plunge through the tank. “We ended up with a pretty simple formula where you can plug in estimates for different parameters and get reasonable estimates of the sinking speed,” said <a href="https://engineering.brown.edu/people/daniel-m-harris" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Daniel Harris</a>, an associate professor of engineering at Brown who oversaw the work.



The observations matched the new equation: among spheres, a one‑millimeter bead beat a four‑millimeter bead to the bottom. 



For flat or rod‑shaped bodies, the thinnest dimension set the pace, allowing needle‑like fragments to blitz past bulkier shapes of the same mass.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-salt-makes-porous-marine-snow-fall-faster">Salt makes porous marine snow fall faster</h2>



Classical drag calculations assume an object’s density stays fixed as it falls. Porous bodies break that rule because water flows through them, letting dissolved salt accumulate inside.



The model hinges on <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/porosity" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">porosity</a>, solute <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/diffusivity" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diffusivity</a>, and the <a href="https://aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/lom3.10316" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vertical density gradient</a>. If salt absorption boosts density faster than drag slows descent, size becomes a liability and small wins the race.



This diffusion‑limited regime likely dominates for fluffier aggregates made of <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/phyto.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phytoplankton</a> remains, fecal pellets, or dust‑laden snow. Less porous grains of sand or shell should still follow the familiar bigger‑falls‑faster script.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fast-sinking-marine-snow-changes-estimates">Fast-sinking marine snow changes estimates</h2>



Biogeochemical models track how quickly carbon sinks, gets eaten, or dissolves on the way down. Underestimating the speed of fine aggregates could inflate estimates of mid‑water remineralization and shortchange deep‑sea sequestration.



<a href="https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/ocean-coasts/ocean-acidification" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NOAA</a> notes that the ocean absorbs about 30 percent of the carbon dioxide humans emit each year, buffering climate change. Tweaking particle speeds could shift where, and how long, that captured carbon stays locked away.



Some climate engineers are exploring methods that encourage fast‑sinking flakes, from adding minerals that ballast algae to growing kelp for deep burial. 



Knowing exactly which sizes and shapes drop quickest will sharpen those interventions and gauge possible ecological side effects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-plastic-pollution">Lessons for plastic pollution</h2>



Plastic fragments often pick up biofilms, turning them into tiny sponges that absorb salts and organic goo, much like marine snow. 



If that boosts density, millimeter‑scale fibers might leave surface waters sooner than remote sensing suggests.



A plastic snowfall could ferry toxins to bottom feeders and alter food webs once thought safe from floating litter. Policy aimed at surface cleanup alone may miss this hidden pathway.



Researchers also found that elongated pieces settle according to their thinnest axis. That means synthetic fibers shed from clothing, typically long and narrow, may descend even faster than spheres of equal volume.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-in-real-ocean-and-improving-models">Testing in real ocean and improving models</h2>



Hunt and Harris plan to partner with oceanographers to drop custom particles over deep moorings and compare lab predictions with real‑world drifts. They also aim to explore how temperature gradients, common near polar ice and hydrothermal vents, tweak the balance between drag and diffusion.



Back on land, modelers are already folding the new equation into regional carbon budgets and microplastic fate simulations. Small marine snow flakes, once dismissed as slow movers, are entering the spotlight, reminding scientists that size is only skin deep when salt can seep inside.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2505085122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Tiny "marine snow" particles in the oceans defy the laws of physics

Tiny clusters of drifting debris called "marine snow" shower through...

Synthetic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances - commonly called PFAS - are quietly contaminating soil and water across the country. 



Used in everything from mascara to nonstick pans, these substances are at the center of a growing environmental crisis.



The chemicals don’t break down in nature. Once they’re in the environment, they stick around for good. That’s a serious problem for people, wildlife, and ecosystems. But a team of scientists may have found a surprising solution, and it starts in the dirt.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-soil-bacteria-target-pfas-toxins">Soil bacteria target PFAS toxins</h2>



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.unicatt.it/">Catholic University</a> in Piacenza, working with collaborators from the University of Padua, have discovered nearly 20 species of bacteria capable of breaking down PFAS.



The researchers found these bacteria in soil contaminated by industrial waste in the Veneto region of northern Italy. 



PFAS are notoriously tough to get rid of. Their strength comes from a powerful bond between carbon and fluorine atoms, which makes them <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exposure-to-forever-chemicals-costs-billions-in-the-us/">resistant to heat, oil, and water</a> - and almost impossible to biodegrade.



That’s why they’re often called “forever chemicals.” But this same strength is what makes them so harmful. PFAS can build up in soil, crops, and even <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/millions-of-people-in-the-u-s-rely-on-contaminated-groundwater/">drinking water</a>, with potential links to serious health problems like diabetes and hormone disruption.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pfas-contamination-leads-to-discovery">PFAS contamination leads to discovery</h2>



In Vicenza, high levels of PFAS contamination - upwards of 1,000 ng/L - have been detected in aquifers, soil, crops, and tap water. 



The source is likely a nearby factory. Faced with this environmental threat, researchers from the Catholic University set out to find microbes that might be able to degrade these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-deadly-and-widespread-environmental-pollutants/">pollutants</a>.



The team collected soil samples from polluted sites in Veneto, focusing on Vicenza and Padua provinces. The goal was to isolate bacterial strains that not only survive in PFAS-laden environments but actively break the chemicals down.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbes-meet-modern-tools">Microbes meet modern tools</h2>



To find the right <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-strain-identified-that-can-eat-forever-chemicals/">bacteria</a>, the researchers combined two approaches. First, they used traditional microbiology methods to grow and isolate bacteria from the soil. 



Next, the team used DNA metabarcoding to identify which microbial species were present and analyze their potential for PFAS degradation.



“We obtained these PFAS-eating bacteria through a process called 'enrichment,' which involves growing them in media where they only have PFAS to feed on," explained Professor Edoardo Puglisi, who led the research.



"We already have the complete genomes of these 20 PFAS-eating strains,” the expert continues, “and information on the degradation rates for each one.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-the-capabilities-of-the-bacteria">Testing the capabilities of the bacteria</h2>



Working with the university’s chemistry department, the team measured how well these bacteria degraded PFAS in controlled tests.



"In collaboration with the chemistry group in our department, we have measured the degradation efficiency of PFAS, reaching values in some cases above 30%, which is very high for this class of compounds," Puglisi said.



"Tests are now underway on various PFAS, which will be followed by initial lab experiments to verify their remediation capabilities under more representative conditions.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-biodegradation">The future of biodegradation</h2>



According to Puglisi, the team is studying these strains in more detail and analyzing their genomes. "They are classified in the genera known in the field of bioremediation such as Micrococcus, Rhodanobacter, Pseudoxanthomonas, and Achromobacter."



Puglisi noted that these bacteria are easily cultivated in the laboratory and they usually are not harmful to humans.



"Furthermore, it is possible that genome analysis could lead to the discovery of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gene-regulation-controlling-cells-to-improve-medical-treatments/">genes</a> involved in biodegradation that could be exploited biotechnologically in the future.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-pfas-eating-bacteria">Significance of PFAS-eating bacteria </h2>



Although PFAS pollution isn’t going away anytime soon, these new findings offer a glimmer of hope. Identifying PFAS-eating bacteria marks a key step toward sustainable cleanup of contaminated environments.



The ability of these microbes to use PFAS as their sole carbon source is especially promising, showing real potential for natural degradation of even the most persistent compounds.



It’s still early, but if the results hold up in the field, they could reshape how we tackle toxic waste. And the best part? The solution might already be under our feet.



The team presented their findings at the European SETAC conference in Vienna in May 2025.



Image Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain



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Bacteria that eat 'forever chemicals' discovered in contaminated soil

Synthetic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances - commonly...

Paracetamol tablets are among the world’s most-used medicines, but their production typically depends on dwindling fossil fuels.



A research team led by the <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/">University of Edinburgh</a> has now demonstrated an alternative: re-engineering the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-gut-bacteria-behave-like-vampires-to-target-human-blood/">gut bacterium</a> Escherichia coli. In less than a day, it can convert the building blocks of discarded bottles into the active ingredient of the drug.



The proof-of-concept hints at a future in which common medicines - and many other chemicals - could be brewed sustainably. The source? Mountains of single-use <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hospital-superbugs-devour-medical-plastics-boosting-infection-risks/">plastic</a> that currently clog landfills and oceans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-plastic-goes-unrecycled">Most plastic goes unrecycled</h2>



Most disposable water and soft-drink bottles consist of polyethylene terephthalate, or PET. Each year, the world produces more than 350 million tons of the material, and only a minority is recycled.



Even when PET is collected, existing processes typically “down-cycle” it into lower-value plastics and fibers that will eventually become waste themselves.



The Edinburgh team tackled the problem from a different angle. They began by breaking PET into terephthalic acid (TPA), one of the two small molecules used to manufacture the polymer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bacteria-turn-plastic-into-medicine">Bacteria turn plastic Into medicine</h2>



Using standard synthetic steps, they next tweaked TPA into a compound that E. coli can import. Finally, they rewired the microbe’s metabolism so that, once the compound is inside, the cell performs a series of chemical moves that ends with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/acetaminophen-use-during-pregnancy-linked-to-adhd-risk/">paracetamol</a> (also known as acetaminophen).



Each step is already notable, but the most important one is how the transformed bacteria execute a maneuver called the Lossen rearrangement. 



In the world of laboratory chemistry this reaction usually needs harsh conditions. Inside the cell, in contrast, it proceeds at room temperature, in water, and without generating meaningful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-carbon-dioxide-emissions-hit-a-record-high-in-2023/">carbon dioxide emissions</a>.



Stephen Wallace, an expert in biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh, is the study's senior author.



“This work demonstrates that PET plastic isn’t just waste or a material destined to become more plastic," he said. "It can be transformed by microorganisms into valuable new products, including those with potential for treating disease.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nine-tablets-from-a-liter-bottle"><a></a>Nine tablets from a liter bottle</h2>



In laboratory flasks, the modified E. coli converted up to 90% of the starting PET-derived compound into paracetamol within 24 hours. 



Although the yields are modest on an industrial scale - each one-liter soft-drink bottle would produce roughly nine standard 500 mg tablets. The experiment proves it can be done. It also demonstrates that the process can be dramatically scaled up.



The entire sequence happens in a single “one-pot” fermentation that resembles <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brewing-beer-in-space-the-future-of-fermentation/">beer brewing</a>. Because the process requires no extreme heat or pressure, it produces only a fraction of the carbon footprint of petrochemical production.



According to Wallace and colleagues, similar strategies could be applied to convert plastic waste into over-the-counter medicines, specialty polymers, and agricultural chemicals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biotech-reimagines-plastic-waste">Biotech reimagines plastic waste</h2>



The achievement is part of a growing movement called engineering biology. It blends genetic engineering, metabolic design, and traditional chemistry to create living “microbial factories.”



The University of Edinburgh hosts one of the largest groups working in the field. The paracetamol project benefited from both government funding and help from the pharmaceutical company <a href="https://www.astrazeneca.com/">AstraZeneca</a>.



Ian Hatch is the Head of Consultancy at <a href="https://edinburgh-innovations.ed.ac.uk/">Edinburgh Innovations</a>, the university’s commercialization service.



“We are bringing in exceptional companies like AstraZeneca to work with Stephen and others at the University to translate these cutting-edge discoveries into world-changing innovations,” he said.



“Engineering biology offers immense potential to disrupt our reliance on fossil fuels, build a circular economy, and create sustainable chemicals and materials, and we would invite potential collaborators to get in touch.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-for-plastic-medicine">What’s next for plastic medicine?</h2>



Although the engineered cells churn out paracetamol efficiently in the lab, several hurdles remain before the process can compete with conventional factories.



The first is scale. Industrial bioreactors can hold hundreds of thousands of liters. Scientists must demonstrate that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-bacteria-get-hungry-they-turn-on-each-other/">bacteria</a> behave reliably at that scale.



Another challenge is adding an enzyme-based step to break down mixed PET into clean TPA without costly purification.



Regulatory questions also loom. Medicines made by microbes must meet stringent purity standards. Researchers must conduct a full life-cycle analysis to confirm the method is truly greener and cheaper at large scale.



Still, the researchers are optimistic. Similar microbial fermentation facilities already manufacture the diabetes drug insulin and the antimalarial artemisinin precursor at multi-ton volumes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-finds-new-purpose">Plastic finds new purpose</h2>



People around the world buy more than a million plastic bottles every minute. Many will end up floating in the ocean or buried in dumps, their useful life measured in minutes but their persistence in centuries.



By showing that a common bacterium can upcycle one a common plastic into a life-saving medicine in under a day, the Edinburgh team has made a powerful point. 



Their work provides a striking illustration of what a circular, low-carbon chemical industry might look like.



The research does not, on its own, solve the plastic crisis or secure drug supplies. But it opens a window onto a future where the boundary between “waste” and “resource” is blurred, and where healing the planet could go hand in hand with healing people.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-025-01845-5">Nature Chemistry</a>.



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Scientists invent biotech that turns plastic waste into commonly used painkillers

Paracetamol tablets are among the world’s most-used medicines, but their...

<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>



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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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>



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.



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



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.



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.



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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



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



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.



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%.



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



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.



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.



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.



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



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>.



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



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

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>



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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">Nature Communications</a>.



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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>



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?



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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.



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.



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



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.



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



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



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



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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



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



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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.



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



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



Sources: 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.



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



1. Is acid rain completely gone? 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.



2. How long did solving take? 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.



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



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



5. Could acid rain return? 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.



6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"? 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>



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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.

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



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



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



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. 



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. 



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> features a visual dataset of.methane emissions from wetlands across the globe. Atmospheric methane levels have reached record highs in recent years, and wetlands are a major source of these emissions.&nbsp;



"Methane is an important greenhouse gas that contributes substantially to global warming. On a molecule by molecule basis, methane is much more efficient at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, the main driver of warming," says NASA.



"Though human activities, including agriculture, oil and natural gas production and use, and waste disposal, collectively contribute the majority of methane to the atmosphere, about a third of total methane emissions comes from wetlands."&nbsp;



According to NASA, understanding methane emissions from wetlands and other natural sources is critically important for scientists and policymakers who are working to combat climate change by reducing emissions from human activities.



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



From devastating floods and wildfires to natural disasters like Hurricane Ian, 2022 showed us yet again how a warming climate affects people across the globe.&nbsp;



"As we look back at 20:22 and years past, we see that each year we better understand the challenges we face and how important it is to meet them," says NASA.



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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

Closeup,Of,Fresh,Green,The,Napier,Bush,Grass,As,Animal

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="http://www.ntu.edu.sg/">NTU Singapore</a> reveals that some plants can remove toxic heavy metals from soil.&nbsp;



The researchers analyzed samples of various tropical plant species to test for levels of heavy metals and metalloids. The study showed that there are existing plants with high levels of these contaminants, which means that these species are great candidates for drawing pollutants out of the soil.&nbsp;



Among the plants examined in the study, 12 species had accumulated several types of heavy metals and metalloids. These plants are widely available, including species that are native to Singapore.



“In a small nation like Singapore, land may be repurposed to support new development plans, so it is important that we have a green and sustainable way to remediate land that is contaminated," said Professor Lam Yeng Ming.



"We set out to uncover how to better make use of tropical plants to do phytoremediation and through advanced characterization techniques, we showed how some of these tropical plant species can be an environmentally friendly and literally a 'green' way to remove contaminants in soil."&nbsp;



"Phytoremediation also has benefits of cost effectiveness, simplicity of management, aesthetic advantages, and long-term applicability and sustainability. The strategy prevents erosion and metal leaching by stabilizing or accumulating heavy metals, so that helps reduce the risk of contaminant spread.”



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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



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

Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

[sendtonews key="6SdlLLbt0t-1988946-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NTU...

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

[sendtonews key="gRpsplpwpe-2251464-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/">NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a> (JPL) describes a dust storm on Mars that was nearly twice the size of the United States. As the storm covered the southern hemisphere of the planet, some of NASA’s explorers had to delay their normal activities.



NASA’s Insight lander put itself in a "safe mode" for 11 days to conserve battery power because solar power was disrupted by the dust. The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter postponed flights until conditions improved.



"A fleet of NASA orbiters monitor Martian dust storms like this one and serve as lifelines to Earth by relaying data from the rovers and lander on the ground back to the team. This includes the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MAVEN, and Odyssey," reports JPL.



"Dust storms like this recent one start close to the ground and are spread by wind as they rise – warming the cold Martian atmosphere."



The images in the video were captured by NASA’s Curiosity as the dust rolled in. A fleet of orbiters monitored the dust storm from above, relaying data from Mars’ explorers back to scientists on Earth.



Video &amp; Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS



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



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

NASA monitors giant dust storms on Mars

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