High in Alaska’s Brooks Range, streams that once ran so clear you could drink from them are now the color of rusty tea. The water looks hazy, smells metallic, and can stain rocks orange for miles.&nbsp;



Fish are struggling, insect life is smothered, and the change has arrived with startling speed. Scientists say the culprit isn’t industry. It’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thawing-permafrost-could-tip-earths-climate-balance/">thawing permafrost</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-frozen-ground-wakes-up">When frozen ground wakes up</h2>



For millennia, Arctic permafrost - permanently frozen soil - locked minerals in place. As the region warms, that icy seal is failing. Water and oxygen seep into freshly thawed ground and set off a chain reaction in sulfide-rich rocks (pyrite is a prime example).&nbsp;



The chemistry is textbook: sulfides oxidize, sulfuric acid forms, and the acid leaches metals like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/iron-was-lifes-first-essential-metal-and-shaped-early-evolution/">iron</a>, aluminum, and cadmium from surrounding rock. Those metals then flush into rivers and streams.



“This is what acid mine drainage looks like,” said Tim Lyons, a biogeochemist at the University of California, Riverside. “But here, there’s no mine. The permafrost is thawing and changing the chemistry of the landscape.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-astounding-changes-in-water-chemistry">Astounding changes in water chemistry</h2>



A new study zeroes in on the Salmon River, a key waterway in the Brooks Range, documenting just how far the contamination has progressed.&nbsp;



But the authors stress the pattern isn’t isolated. Similar transformations are underway across dozens of Arctic watersheds that share the same mix of geology and thaw.



“I have worked and traveled in the Brooks Range since 1976, and the recent changes in landforms and water chemistry are truly astounding,” said David Cooper, a <a href="https://www.colostate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colorado State University</a> research scientist and co-author of the study.



The alarm first sounded in 2019. Ecologist Paddy Sullivan of the <a href="https://www.alaska.edu/alaska/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Alaska</a> was flying into the backcountry to study northward-shifting forests when his bush pilot mentioned the Salmon hadn’t cleared after snowmelt - it looked, he said, “like sewage.”&nbsp;



Sullivan’s field observations led to a collaboration with Lyons, <a href="https://www.alaskapacific.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alaska Pacific University</a>’s Roman Dial, and others to trace the cause and measure the ecological fallout.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-toxic-metals-in-alaska-s-rivers">Toxic metals in Alaska's rivers</h2>



The team’s analysis confirmed a geochemical cascade. Permafrost thaw exposes sulfide-bearing rocks, oxidation generates acidity, and the resulting acid mobilizes a suite of metals.&nbsp;



In small doses many metals are harmless or even essential. But at higher concentrations they become toxic to aquatic life - and the Salmon River’s waters now exceed the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Environmental Protection Agency</a> thresholds for several metals detrimental to fish and invertebrates.



Iron is the most visible signal. As iron oxidizes, it forms fine, orange precipitates that cloud the water and coat the streambed. That haze blocks sunlight that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctic-algae-that-once-cooled-earth-are-now-disappearing/">algae</a> and aquatic plants need, and the sludge blankets the gravel and cobbles where insect larvae live and fish spawn. 



Cadmium is more insidious: it can accumulate in fish organs, potentially affecting predators from Dolly Varden <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trout-living-in-polluted-rivers-evolved-to-tolerate-high-metal-levels-in-the-waters/">trout</a> and grayling to birds and bears.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ripple-effects-in-the-food-chain">Ripple effects in the food chain</h2>



For now, the researchers say metal levels in edible fish tissue are not considered hazardous to humans. But indirect risks loom large.&nbsp;



Chum salmon - central to the diets and culture of many Indigenous communities - lay their eggs in clean, oxygenated gravel. When those spaces fill with fine sediment and metal precipitates, the oxygen drops and eggs can suffocate. 



Changes in insect communities ripple up the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oceans-twilight-zone-stabilizes-the-marine-food-chain/">food chain</a>, weakening the foundation that supports juvenile fish and the species that eat them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-irreversible-shift-in-alaska-s-rivers">Irreversible shift in Alaska's rivers</h2>



Unlike mine sites - where engineers can install liners, drains, or neutralizing systems - these rivers wind through remote, roadless country, and the sources of contamination are everywhere thaw has reached the right rock. There is no single pipe to plug, no settling pond to build.



“Wherever you have the right kind of rock and thawing permafrost, this process can start,” Lyons said. And once it does, it tends to keep going. The only true “off switch” would be for the permafrost to refreeze - an unlikely prospect in a warming climate.



“There’s no fixing this once it starts,” Lyons said. “It’s another irreversible shift driven by a warming planet.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fingerprints-of-global-warming">Fingerprints of global warming</h2>



The experts hope their findings will help communities, land managers, and fisheries prepare - by expanding water quality monitoring, identifying vulnerable spawning grounds, planning alternative harvests if runs falter, and adapting management practices as conditions change.



The broader message is sobering. The Brooks Range is about as far from cities and smokestacks as you can get. Yet its rivers are wearing the unmistakable fingerprints of global warming.



“There are few places left on Earth as untouched as these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alaskas-rivers-are-rusting-and-the-changes-are-visible-from-space/">rivers</a>,” Lyons said. “But even here, far from cities and highways, the fingerprint of global warming is unmistakable. No place is spared.”



Rivers once known for their wild clarity are telling a new story - one where ancient ice, long trusted to keep the land’s chemistry in check, is finally letting go.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2425644122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



Image Credit: Taylor Rhoades



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Alaska's rivers are turning orange, and the changes are irreversible

High in Alaska’s Brooks Range, streams that once ran so clear you could drink from them are now the color of rusty tea. The water looks hazy, smells metallic, and can stain rocks orange for miles.&nbsp; Fish are struggling, insect life is smothered, and the change has arrived with startling speed. Scientists say the culprit isn’t industry. It’s thawing permafrost. When frozen ground wakes up For millennia, Arctic permafrost - permanently frozen soil - locked minerals in place. As the region warms, that icy seal is failing....

New research indicates that tropical cyclones pose serious threats to newborns in poorer countries. Scientists studied outcomes in low- and middle-income countries over nearly two decades and discovered that weaker storms also bring grim outcomes for the youngest among us.



The investigation was led by Zachary Wagner of the <a href="https://dornsife.usc.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences</a>.



The team focused on multiple regions of the world that frequently experience these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/storms-like-helene-release-toxic-chemicals-from-industrial-facilities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weather</a> disturbances, and drew on health data from thousands of mothers and infants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-weaker-storms-still-disrupt-services">Weaker storms still disrupt services</h2>



Even lower-intensity cyclones can trigger torrential downpours and massive flooding, which disrupt essential services in a snap. 



<a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1803972" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hurricane Maria</a> in 2017 led to an estimated 4,645 additional deaths in Puerto Rico, so it’s no surprise that any tropical system can inflict major health <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-climate-change-is-impacting-infant-growth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">setbacks</a>.



When roads are ruined or hospitals lose power, new mothers and their babies struggle to reach critical help. These disasters can also affect sanitation systems, leading to infection risks in communities that already have limited resources.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-infant-deaths-rose-despite-storm-strength">Infant deaths rose despite storm strength</h2>



“The fact that health care use and undernutrition were not affected by tropical cyclone <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/infant-speech-is-driven-by-heart-rate-activity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exposure</a> suggests that the mortality effects are driven by other factors that we could not directly study,” said Wagner. 



Infant mortality rose about 11% in the areas that were analyzed, even when storms stayed below hurricane strength. 



The investigators also saw no clear link between fewer <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/your-antenatal-care/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">antenatal care</a> visits or stunting and mortality in this context. These findings imply that lesser-known influences, such as disease surges or environmental contamination, may be responsible for these deaths.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-infants-face-highest-risk-in-first-year">Infants face highest risk in first year</h2>



The researchers found that the increased risk of death was most pronounced during a baby’s first year of life. While exposure during pregnancy did raise concerns, the data showed a sharper spike in mortality for those infants who lived through a tropical storm shortly after birth.



This pattern suggests that the critical months after delivery, when babies rely most heavily on caregivers and local <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/infant-brains-are-more-organized-and-adaptable-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">healthcare</a>, are when disasters hit the hardest. Disruptions to clean water, electricity, and emergency services may be especially lethal for infants during this window.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-hazards-for-infants-beyond-storms">Hidden hazards for infants beyond storms</h2>



Even when a storm passes quickly, the lingering effects can quietly endanger infant health. Floodwater can carry bacteria and chemicals into homes and drinking supplies, exposing infants to dangerous pathogens long after the skies clear.



Additionally, families may lose income or food access due to damaged crops and supply routes. These ripple effects (though harder to see) can lead to increased stress, poor sanitation, and reduced care, all of which can raise the risk of early death for vulnerable newborns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-weaker-storms-are-still-harmful">Weaker storms are still harmful</h2>



Most media coverage focuses on <a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshws.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Category 4 and 5 cyclones</a>, but these account for only a small slice of storm exposure in poorer countries. The study revealed that even tropical storms, which fall below hurricane strength, had nearly the same impact on infant deaths as stronger systems.



This means communities may not receive aid or attention, simply because the storm didn’t reach a certain wind speed. But for families without power, clean water, or medical help, the effects can be just as deadly, especially for newborns.



The team looked at seven countries: Bangladesh, India, Cambodia, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Madagascar. Some places showed a bigger jump in infant deaths, while others appeared more resilient.



It’s unclear whether geography or preparedness made a difference. Factors like building quality, coastal infrastructure, or underlying health problems vary widely and may shape the impact of passing storms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-infant-lives">Protecting infant lives</h2>



“But that doesn’t mean the impact of larger storms is absent. As the planet warms, we risk more tragedies across the globe if measures aren’t taken to protect children in the poorest countries,” said Zetianyu Wang, a Ph.D. student at RAND and lead author of the study.



Rising sea surface <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/ngeo779" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">temperatures</a> could lead to stronger cyclones, increasing risk where resources are scarce.



Some experts <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10461789/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">suggest</a> early warning systems and sturdy shelters can help residents ride out extreme weather. But this new evidence indicates that even weaker storms might require a serious boost in disaster response for babies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-research-on-storm-related-infant-death">Research on storm-related infant death</h2>



Scientists plan to explore how these storms might be causing infant deaths, without clear ties to poor nutrition or limited prenatal care. 



Possible factors include undetected infections, toxic exposures from floodwater, and the mental strain on families in the chaos following a cyclone.



Broader solutions may involve community-level health checks, reinforced clinics, and improved sanitation strategies. If crucial services stay operational, newborns might have a better shot at survival when storms arrive.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adt9640" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Even weak storms are deadly for infants in developing nations

New research indicates that tropical cyclones pose serious threats to...

Ozone pollution may become harder to manage as climate change accelerates. A new study suggests that global warming could reduce the effectiveness of current strategies to control ground-level ozone - a harmful pollutant and major contributor to urban smog. 



This shift could make it more difficult to improve air quality and protect public health in future.



The scientists behind this research are from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (<a href="https://www.mit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIT</a>). They used a combination of climate and atmospheric chemistry models to explore how rising temperatures could alter the behavior of pollutants.



Their findings show that in regions like eastern North America and Western Europe, greater reductions in emissions may be required to achieve the same air quality results. 



In contrast, parts of northeast Asia may see stronger impacts from emission cuts in the future.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ozone-levels-and-smog-the-basics">Ozone levels and smog - the basics</h2>



Smog is that hazy, brownish gunk you sometimes see hanging over cities, especially on hot, sunny days. It’s a nasty mix of air pollutants, and one of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/decline-in-ozone-depleting-chemicals-is-an-encouraging-trend/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">main ingredients is ozone</a> - but not the kind high up in the atmosphere that protects us from the sun. 



This ground-level ozone forms when sunlight hits pollutants from cars, factories, and other sources, triggering a chemical reaction. 



The result is a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/traffic-related-air-pollution-might-increase-alzheimers-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">layer of pollution</a> that makes the air hard to breathe, especially for people with asthma or other lung problems.



Even though ozone up in the sky is helpful, the ozone down near the ground is a troublemaker. 



It doesn’t come out of tailpipes or smokestacks directly - instead, it forms when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (things that come from gasoline, paint, and even some cleaning products) mix in the heat and sunlight. 



So when people say we need to cut smog, they’re really talking about cutting down the stuff that creates ozone down here. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stroke-risk-is-elevated-by-air-pollution-and-traffic-noise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clean air laws</a> and better car engines help, but smog still shows up, especially in big cities with lots of traffic and sun.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ground-level-ozone-tough-to-control">Ground-level ozone tough to control</h2>



Unlike the ozone layer high in the atmosphere, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ozone-pollution-is-stunting-tropical-forest-growth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ground-level ozone</a> isn’t helpful - it’s harmful. It’s a lung irritant and contributes to heart disease and asthma. It’s also linked to thousands of early deaths every year.



But controlling it isn’t straightforward. That’s because ozone is a secondary pollutant. It doesn’t come directly from cars or factories. 



Instead, it forms in the atmosphere when sunlight reacts with other pollutants, mainly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reducing-nitrogen-oxide-pollution-could-boost-crop-yields/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nitrogen oxides</a> and volatile organic compounds.



“That is why you tend to have higher ozone days when it is warm and sunny,” explained Emmie Le Roy, a graduate student in the MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (<a href="https://eaps.mit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EAPS</a>), and lead author of a research paper on this study.



Typically, regulators try to lower ground-level ozone by cutting nitrogen oxide emissions. But this pollutant reacts in complicated ways. In some environments, reducing nitrogen oxide can even cause ozone levels to go up.



“Past research has focused on the role of emissions in forming ozone, but the influence of meteorology is a really important part of Emmie’s work,” said senior author Noelle Selin, a professor in the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS) and EAPS.



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



To understand what might happen decades from now, the team ran two different future climate scenarios - one with more warming, one with less - and compared those to past conditions from 2000 to 2015. 



For each scenario, they simulated 80 years of data, broken into five, 16-year periods.



The team focused on three regions: Eastern North America, Western Europe, and Northeast China. These areas were chosen because they have <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cutting-emissions-could-save-250000-lives-a-year-in-europe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">high emissions</a> and good monitoring data.



Their model showed that as the Earth warms, nitrogen oxide emissions from soil - which increase with temperature - could reduce the effectiveness of human-led emission cuts in places like North America and Europe.



“This shows how important it is to improve our representation of the biosphere in these models to better understand how climate change may impact air quality,” stated Le Roy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-northeast-asia-s-ozone-tradeoff">Northeast Asia’s ozone tradeoff</h2>



The story is different in northeast Asia. There, industrial sources release more ozone per unit of nitrogen oxide. So, reducing those emissions in the future could have a bigger payoff.



“But I wouldn’t say that is a good thing because it means that, overall, there are higher levels of ozone,” Le Roy added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-beyond-averages">Looking beyond averages</h2>



Many past studies used average weather data to make their predictions. This study took a different approach. It modeled year-to-year weather changes - including extremes - to better understand what might happen.



“Average climate isn’t the only thing that matters. One high ozone day, which might be a statistical anomaly, could mean we don’t meet our air quality target and have negative <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/health-impacts-of-plastic-pollution-are-a-top-concern/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human health impacts</a> that we should care about,” explained Le Roy.



The results suggest that future clean air plans should consider how changing weather patterns interact with pollution. We may need to cut emissions more sharply just to stay even.



“Future air quality planning should consider how climate change affects the chemistry of air pollution. We may need steeper cuts in nitrogen oxide emissions to achieve the same air quality goals,” said Le Roy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expanding-the-models">Expanding the models</h2>



The researchers hope to expand their approach to include other factors that change from year to year, such as wildfires and biomass burning.



“We’ve shown that it is important for air quality scientists to consider the full range of climate variability, even if it is hard to do in your models, because it really does affect the answer that you get,” Selin concluded.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.5c01347" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental Science &amp; Technology</a>.



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Reducing smog by taming ozone levels in a changing climate is proving quite difficult

Ozone pollution may become harder to manage as climate change...

Cancer rates in women are creeping up in the Middle East and North Africa. At the same time, the region is experiencing some of the fastest-rising temperatures in the world. 



New research suggests the two trends may be connected. Breast, ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers are not just becoming more common - they are becoming more deadly.



The study was conducted by researchers from <a href="https://www.aucegypt.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the American University in Cairo</a>. The team analyzed how rising ambient temperatures from 1998 to 2019 have coincided with higher rates of cancer in 17 countries across the region.



“As temperatures rise, cancer mortality among women also rises - particularly for ovarian and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breast-cancer-incidence-linked-to-high-particulate-air-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">breast cancers</a>,” said Dr Wafa Abuelkheir Mataria of the American University in Cairo.



“Although the increases per degree of temperature rise are modest, their cumulative public health impact is substantial.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-region-under-pressure">A region under pressure</h2>



Environmental health is deteriorating as climate change accelerates. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/warmer-temperatures-directly-linked-to-severe-vision-impairment-in-older-adults/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warmer temperatures</a>, air pollution, and food insecurity increase vulnerability to a wide range of diseases. 



Healthcare systems in many of these countries are also strained by climate-related disasters and economic instability. In this context, access to screening and treatment becomes more limited - especially for women.



The researchers looked at Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates. These countries are already experiencing intense heat. 



Data on the prevalence and mortality rates for the four cancers was analyzed alongside average annual temperature changes over two decades.



“Women are physiologically more vulnerable to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clinical-terminology-fails-to-represent-climate-related-health-impacts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate-related health risks</a>, particularly during pregnancy,” said co-author Dr Sungsoo Chun of the American University in Cairo. 



“This is compounded by inequalities that limit access to healthcare. Marginalized women face a multiplied risk because they are more exposed to environmental hazards and less able to access early screening and treatment services.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cancer-trends-and-rising-temperatures">Cancer trends and rising temperatures</h2>



For every 1°C rise in temperature, ovarian cancer prevalence rose the most - and breast cancer the least. The increase ranged from 173 to 280 cases per 100,000 people.



Cancer-related deaths followed a similar trend, rising by 171 to 332 deaths per 100,000 per degree Celsius. Ovarian cancer again showed the highest jump, while cervical cancer showed the smallest.



However, these increases were not seen across the board. Only six countries - Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Syria - showed a measurable increase in both prevalence and mortality. These countries tend to have <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-summer-of-2023-was-the-hottest-in-2000-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hotter summers</a>, but other unknown factors may also be at play.



In Qatar, for example, breast cancer rates rose by 560 cases per 100,000 people for each 1°C of warming. In Bahrain, the increase was smaller - 330 per 100,000. The difference suggests that temperature is not the only variable influencing risk.



“Temperature rise likely acts through multiple pathways,” said Chun. “It increases exposure to known carcinogens, disrupts healthcare delivery, and may even influence biological processes at the cellular level. Together, these mechanisms could elevate cancer risk over time.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-factors-driving-higher-cancer-rates">Factors driving higher cancer rates</h2>



It’s possible that more people are being diagnosed due to better screening programs. But improved screening should lead to earlier detection and lower mortality - not higher.



The fact that both diagnoses and death rates increased points to more significant exposure to harmful environmental factors.



“This study cannot establish direct causality,” noted Mataria. “While we controlled for GDP per capita, other unmeasured factors could contribute." 



"Nonetheless, the consistent associations observed across multiple countries and cancer types provide compelling grounds for further investigation.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-is-becoming-a-health-crisis">Climate change is becoming a health crisis</h2>



The research makes one thing clear: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-worsens-cardiovascular-health-risks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a> is not just an environmental issue. It's a health issue - and it’s affecting women in vulnerable regions in ways we’re only beginning to understand.



“Strengthening cancer screening programs, building climate-resilient health systems, and reducing exposure to environmental carcinogens are key steps,” said Chun. “Without addressing these underlying vulnerabilities, the cancer burden linked to climate change will continue to grow.”



This study serves as a call to action for public health leaders in climate-vulnerable regions. As temperatures continue to rise, protecting women’s health will require more than just medical help - it will also require environmental solutions.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1529706/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Public Health</a>.



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Rising temperatures linked to higher cancer rates among women

Cancer rates in women are creeping up in the Middle...

Early on winter mornings in 2021, commuters waiting at a modest suburban intersection unwittingly became part of a hawk's aerial ambush.



Parked just beyond the brake lights sat Vladimir Dinets, a behavioral ecologist at the <a href="https://www.utk.edu/">Universit</a><a href="https://www.utk.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">y</a><a href="https://www.utk.edu/"> of Tennessee</a>, who had noticed an unusual blur skimming car roofs.



Over 18 separate dawn stakeouts, he pieced together a remarkable strategy. A young Cooper’s hawk had learned to read the rhythms of pedestrian crosswalk signals and the queues of idling vehicles, turning rush-hour gridlock into the perfect hunting blind.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-hawk-learned-traffic-signals">The hawk learned traffic signals </h2>



The crossroads in question joins a busy thoroughfare, dubbed "Main Street" to protect residents’ privacy, with a narrower "Side Street." Most red-light cycles last only 30 seconds, lining up no more than four vehicles.



But when a pedestrian presses the crossing button, an audible “beep-beep” sounds for 45 seconds. The red phase then triples to 90 seconds, stretching the queue past what the study called House #8 toward a small, dense-crowned tree outside House #11. That extra half-minute is exactly what the hawk needed.



Each evening, residents of what was dubbed House #2 dined outdoors, sprinkling the lawn with crumbs. By sunrise, the yard teemed with house <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sparrows-have-fewer-friends-as-they-age-just-like-most-people/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sparrows</a>, mourning doves and the occasional starling. All of which were ideal prey.



From his car, Dinets saw the young raptor slip into the tree at House #11 whenever the audio crossing cue chimed. That sound correctly forecast an impending long red light on fewer than four percent of mornings. Once the traffic blocked its quarry’s sightline, the hawk launched.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hawk-s-attack-route">Hawk's attack route</h2>



The bird’s route never varied. It hugged the sidewalk south of the so-called "Side Street," flapping less than a meter above the pavement for about 65 meters. Then the hawk banked sharply beneath another streetside tree, shot through a gap between cars, and pounced on the breakfasting flock in front of House #2.



Dinets recorded six such strikes in 12 hours of observation; at least two ended with the hawk carrying off a sparrow or plucking a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rare-dove-is-not-related-to-any-other-birds-we-know-today/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dove</a> on the ground.



Crucially, the sound cue itself had fallen silent by the time each attack commenced. Statistical odds of the bird merely coinciding with the rare signal were about 1 in 18,600, strongly suggesting it anticipated the longer red phase after hearing the beeps.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hawk-uses-cues-from-city-traffic">Hawk uses cues from city traffic </h2>



For the strategy to work, the hawk needed a mental map of blind corners and parked cars, plus an understanding that long queues appear only when the pedestrian alarm sounds.



Dinets says that combination of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-have-remarkable-spatial-memory-and-sense-of-direction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spatial memory</a>, cause-and-effect reasoning, and split-second timing goes beyond simple conditioning. He says it represents one of the most sophisticated uses of human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-traffic-cameras-are-preventing-thousands-of-crashes-each-year/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">traffic</a> patterns ever documented in a wild animal.



Accipiter hawks are already famous for stealth, using hedges and fences as natural blinds before explosive charges at prey. Urban goshawks in Hamburg perch on TV aerials, hop through backyards, and even hunt under streetlights after dark. 



Sparrowhawks in Ukraine trail streetcars to mask their approach. Yet coaxing meaning from an audible pedestrian signal appears to be new territory.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seasonal-city-tactics">Seasonal city tactics</h2>



Cooper’s hawks rarely breed in densely built areas of New Jersey, but they visit reliably each cold season. 



Evidence suggests that the young hawk had arrived only weeks earlier and quickly deciphered the local traffic language. The following winter, an adult - likely the same hawk - re-enacted the tactic twice.



By summer 2023 the sound box at the light malfunctioned and the family at House #2 stopped dining outside; no hawk has been seen since.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smart-survival-in-cities">Smart survival in cities</h2>



City life is perilous for a mid-sized raptor like the Cooper's hawk that survives on small birds: reflections in glass, speeding cars, and a maze of wires pose constant threats.



But urban terrain also offers dense prey populations year-round. Studies show some raptors hunt more successfully in towns than in forests, provided they innovate.



The hawk Dinets followed joins a growing list of animals - including crows that use cars to crack nuts and foxes that exploit trash schedules - showing cognitive flexibility in human-altered landscapes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-from-a-single-intersection"><a></a>Lessons from a single intersection</h2>



Because the observations center on one bird at one junction, they cannot be easily replicated. Still, they broaden researchers’ perspective on how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/un-report-disturbing-details-about-the-state-of-earths-wildlife/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildlife</a> exploits anthropogenic cues.



The discovery highlights the importance of considering not only the physical obstacles cities impose, but also the new information streams - sounds, lights, queues - that animals might tap.



When commuters sit through an extra-long red light on Side Street, they may grumble about lost seconds. Unbeknownst to them, those seconds once provided cover for a hawk’s silent sprint.



The reseach reminds us that intelligence is not solely a human trait. It wings silently above our windshields, reading the same signals we do - and using them to survive.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ethology/articles/10.3389/fetho.2025.1539103/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Ethology</a>.



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Young hawk uses city traffic to sneak up on its prey

Early on winter mornings in 2021, commuters waiting at a...

As California faces intensifying droughts and tighter water regulations, a new study shows that digital tools can make a significant difference in encouraging households to conserve water.



The research, led by Professor Mehdi Nemati from the <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/">University of California, Riverside</a>, reveals that a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/smartphones-are-teaching-us-how-to-supercharge-our-memory/">smartphone</a> app called Dropcountr can reduce average household water use by six percent. The savings are even higher among the most water-intensive users.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smarter-use-of-smart-meters">Smarter use of smart meters</h2>



Originally, smart water meters were installed by many utilities to simplify billing through remote readings. But Dropcountr, the app at the heart of the study, takes this a step further. It transforms meter data into real-time feedback that’s easy for homeowners to understand.



The app shows users how much water they consume, how their usage compares to similar households, and how their consumption trends over time.



Nemati called it a “nudge” - a small, timely prompt that shifts behavior without rules or penalties. In the context of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/agave-plants-natures-answer-to-water-conservation/">water conservation</a>, that might mean prompting a user to fix a leak, take shorter showers, or wait until the dishwasher is full before running it.



“California water agencies are under pressure to hit individualized water-use targets and conservation goals under the ‘<a href="https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/conservation/regs/water_efficiency_legislation.html">Making Conservation a California Way of Life</a>’ regulation,” Nemati said. “Our study shows that this digital feedback tool can be a powerful, low-cost way to help households manage their use and reduce consumption.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-real-time-water-use">Real-time water use</h2>



The research focused on the City of Folsom in Northern California, where Dropcountr was introduced to residents in late 2014. Around 3,600 households signed up to use the app, allowing researchers to track more than 32 million records of daily water use from 2013 to 2019. 



By comparing users to a control group, the team found that participants reduced their water use by an average of 6.2%.



Importantly, the app was particularly effective with heavy users. The top 20% of users managed to cut their water use by up to 12%. “This is a crucial outcome when every drop counts,” Nemati said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nudges-that-save-water">Nudges that save water</h2>



Dropcountr doesn’t just show water use - it also delivers alerts when consumption nears more expensive rate tiers and flags potential leaks. These leak notifications were especially impactful.



When a continuous-use pattern (like water running for 72 hours straight) was detected, users were notified. Water use dropped 50% after a leak alert, then 30%, with a 9% reduction still seen six days later.



“The sharp drop suggests customers are paying attention and acting quickly,” Nemati said. “One major advantage is that they can detect leaks right away - sometimes before they cause damage or result in costly bills. That’s difficult with traditional billing systems, where usage is only seen after 30 or 60 days.”



The app also taps into social <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psychological-poverty-greatly-impacts-decision-making/">psychology</a> by showing users how their water use stacks up against their more efficient neighbors. This appeal to social norms helps users set and maintain realistic conservation goals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyond-quick-fixes">Beyond quick fixes</h2>



One of the most promising findings in the study was that these changes weren’t just short-lived. 



“We looked at water use 50 months out and still found sustained reductions,” Nemati said. “People weren’t just reacting once and forgetting. They stayed engaged.”



This long-term engagement stands in contrast to older methods still used by some water agencies. Despite having access to smart meter data, many utilities rely on mailed notices that may be too late or too technical to prompt meaningful change.



“People get <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/many-americans-cannot-afford-basic-water-services/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">water bills</a>, but the information may not be salient. Most bills report usage in cubic feet or units, which aren't easy to interpret,” noted Nemati. “What platforms like Dropcountr do well is make the data meaningful."



"People want to use water wisely. They just need timely, clear, and actionable feedback. These platforms give them that - and they work.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-proofing-water-use">Future-proofing water use</h2>



Although Dropcountr works best with smart meters - and many California homes still rely on manual readings - advanced metering infrastructure continues to spread.



As California prepares for stricter <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-now-the-driving-force-behind-droughts/">drought</a> and efficiency standards, Nemati urges water agencies to make better use of the data they already collect.



“We have the data,” he said. “Now we just need to use it in smarter ways. This study shows how a relatively inexpensive solution can help homeowners conserve and ease pressure on our water systems.”



As climate change continues to strain resources, digital tools like Dropcountr could play a vital role in building a water-smart California, one household at a time.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0928765525000247">Resource and Energy Economics</a>.



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Smartphone app helps households cut water use

As California faces intensifying droughts and tighter water regulations, a...

Plastic pollution often brings to mind landfills, oceans, and overflowing garbage dumps. Few people think about their home appliances. Yet, inside many modern kitchens, ordinary plastic containers undergo a process that could harm our environment in unseen ways.



A new study from the <a href="https://www.uq.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Queensland</a> now reveals a surprising source of plastic pollution: household dishwashers.



This finding opens a new chapter in the conversation about how domestic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/millions-of-deaths-in-india-linked-to-air-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">behavior</a> contributes to global pollution. The research brings attention to the connection between plastic use, cleaning habits, and wastewater contamination. 



For a long time, dishwashers were overlooked in environmental discussions. However, the reality they reveal is not so spotless.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-particles-from-dishwashers">Plastic particles from dishwashers</h2>



Led by Dr. Elvis Okoffo from the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, the study examines how plastic containers behave under typical dishwashing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/understanding-how-air-pollution-forms-may-help-us-prevent-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conditions</a>. 



“We demonstrated that plastic containers and utensils washed in dishwashers release plastic particles,” Dr. Okoffo noted.



This isn't just speculation. The researchers tested full dishwasher loads of common household plastic items and tracked what entered the wastewater after one cycle.



The results show that mechanical dishwashing - while convenient - can have unexpected side effects. Plastics degrade under exposure to high heat, water pressure, and cleaning chemicals.



These conditions cause both visible and invisible fragments of plastic to break off, eventually flowing down the drain. The kitchen becomes a surprising entry point for plastic pollutants into the environment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-from-dishwashers-in-wastewater">Plastic from dishwashers in wastewater</h2>



Washing plastic items may appear harmless, but the long-term outcome could be significant. “Even seemingly harmless everyday actions can have cumulative environmental <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-impacts-brain-development-in-children/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">consequences</a>,” Dr. Okoffo explained. 



“The introduction of plastics into the environment carries a potential risk of adverse impacts on environmental and human health.”



Dishwashers can reach temperatures of up to 70°C. Under this heat, plastic reacts chemically and physically. Repeated exposure weakens the structural integrity of plastic items. Combined with the friction of water jets and detergents, this breakdown releases a startling number of particles.



The study revealed that one dishwasher cycle can release around 920,000 plastic particles. This includes both microplastics, which are smaller than 5 millimeters, and nanoplastics, which are even smaller and often escape detection. 



If every household with a dishwasher contributes to this cycle, the numbers become astronomical - about 33 million particles per home every year.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sources-of-plastic-pollution">Sources of plastic pollution</h2>



While the particle count is high, the actual weight of released <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-patients-have-a-unique-vulnerability-to-air-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plastic</a> remains small. “Despite the high number of particles released, the total mass released from plastic containers is low and is minor compared to other known sources of plastic pollution,” Dr. Okoffo said. 



The study estimates that about 6 milligrams of plastic per person are released yearly. That amount equals roughly a quarter of a single grain of rice. But this does not make the problem any less important. Nanoplastics are tiny enough to pass through water filtration systems. 



Once they reach the environment, nanoplastics are difficult to remove and may accumulate in marine life and drinking water sources. Their small size allows them to travel far, possibly entering food chains and affecting both ecosystems and human health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-solutions-in-appliance-design">Potential solutions in appliance design</h2>



Dr. Okoffo believes the responsibility does not lie with consumers alone. Appliance manufacturers and plastic producers must think about design solutions. 



“Plastic manufacturers could also develop plastics that are more resistant to degradation during dishwashing,” he suggested.



Appliances can also evolve. By fitting dishwashers with built-in particle traps or advanced filters, engineers could prevent many of these fragments from entering the water system. 



Capturing the pollutant at its origin avoids the expensive and difficult task of cleaning it up later. This proactive approach could spare wastewater facilities and marine systems from further harm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-call-for-conscious-cleaning">A call for conscious cleaning</h2>



With 58% of Australian households regularly using dishwashers, the study holds weight beyond the lab. The results apply to millions of homes worldwide. Changing how we clean plastic could shift our overall environmental footprint.



"Removing this pollutant before it can enter the environment is better than implementing costly measures after the pollutant has already been released,” said Dr. Okoffo. 



His words encourage prevention over reaction - a principle that often gets overlooked in environmental policy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-dishwashing-choices-can-help">Small dishwashing choices can help</h2>



Plastic waste doesn't only come from discarded bags or bottles. The tools we use daily - food containers, utensils, and kitchen gadgets - contribute in less obvious ways. Each dishwashing cycle that includes plastic is part of a wider issue. Though the waste is microscopic, the impact is measurable.



“Small changes, when multiplied across millions of households, can help reduce the global burden of plastic pollution,” Dr. Okoffo concluded. 



A shift in household practices, product materials, and appliance design could set the stage for lasting environmental improvements.



The study doesn’t demand radical lifestyle changes. Instead, it asks us to be mindful. In the quiet hum of a dishwasher lies a chance to rethink our role in the plastic lifecycle. Small steps, taken by many, still count.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsestwater.4c00768" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACS ES&amp;T Water</a>.



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Dishwashers release nearly one million plastic particles per cycle, a huge source of microplastic pollution

Plastic pollution often brings to mind landfills, oceans, and overflowing...

Every buzzing phone call, every late-night lamp glow, every mile an electric car glides down the highway has one thing in common: they're all powered by copper.



The rosy metal hides in cables, motors, chargers, even inside the walls that keep the lights on. As more people are born and more households plug in, electricity use ratchets upward, and copper demand climbs right alongside it.



That rising appetite poses a dilemma. Global supplies can cover roughly a quarter-century of today’s needs, yet digging ore out of the ground, refining it, and moving it to market is anything but swift. 



In a world racing to slash <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/income-inequality-and-carbon-emissions-have-a-complicated-relationship/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon pollution</a> while also lifting billions into better living conditions, the speed limit on copper production suddenly matters.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-copper-powers-modern-life">Copper powers modern life</h2>



After the introduction of smartphones, wind turbines, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-type-of-battery-can-breathe-in-harmful-carbon-dioxide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">high-capacity batteries</a>, copper’s role has grown from important to indispensable. 



A recent study led by <a href="https://www.umich.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Michigan</a> earth and environmental scientist Adam Simon, together with colleagues at <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cornell University</a> and the <a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Queensland</a>, takes a hard look at how much of the metal will be required over the next generation.



Their modeling shows that simply continuing “business as usual” population growth and rising standards of living would consume about 1,100 million metric tons of copper by 2050. 



For context, global mines turned out roughly 23 million metric tons in 2024 - barely two percent of what the world will burn through over the next twenty-five years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-much-copper-is-enough">How much copper is enough</h2>



The number climbs higher when the researchers layer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/is-methanol-the-next-green-power-player-clean-energy-source/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">green-energy</a> targets on top of everyday growth. Transitioning every passenger vehicle on the planet to electric power using copper-based materials, along with the necessary grid upgrades, pushes demand to 1,248 million metric tons. 



Relying mostly on wind and solar power bumps the requirement to 2,304 million metric tons. Building a grid that stores energy in large-scale battery packs sends the tally soaring to 3 billion metric tons.



Meanwhile, emerging economies have their own copper bills to pay. India alone will need about 227 million metric tons to expand <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-geomagnetic-storm-reveals-earths-technological-vulnerabilities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">power lines</a>, hospitals, and sanitation systems. 



The forty-plus nations of Africa could require around 1 billion metric tons to build comparable infrastructure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-development-vs-decarbonization">Development vs. decarbonization</h2>



Simon emphasized that the growing global need for copper, and the amount required to power the transition of all nations to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clean-energy-biodiversity-wildlife-habitats-delicate-balancing-act/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">clean energy</a>, is creating a fundamental tension. 



As he sees it, the demand driven by basic economic development - what he calls “global human development” - should take precedence over aggressive electrification goals. 



He put the tradeoff in stark terms: if it comes down to expanding healthcare access in Africa or increasing the number of electric vehicles on the road, the choice should be clear - prioritize healthcare.



He also pointed to a striking disparity in copper use between wealthy and developing nations. 



Over the course of the 20th century, the United States progressed from having no electricity or plumbing to becoming a copper-intensive society, with more than 400 pounds of copper per person embedded in homes and infrastructure. 



In contrast, Simon estimates that in countries like India, the figure is closer to just 40 pounds per person.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-copper-mining-and-clean-power">Copper, mining, and clean power</h2>



Meeting even baseline demand will not be easy. The study calculates that sixty-plus large mines, each yielding 500,000 metric tons a year, must come online before 2050 just to keep economic growth on track. 



Financing that many projects hinges on price. According to the team, copper would have to trade above $20,000 per metric ton - more than double 2024 levels - to nudge investors toward green-lighting new pits.



Copper use is not carved in stone. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-future-is-electric-epa-sets-strictest-ever-vehicle-emission-rules/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hybrid cars</a>, which pair small batteries with gasoline engines, need far less of the metal than fully <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dirty-power-the-hidden-climate-cost-of-electric-vehicles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">electric vehicles</a>. 



Power grids that mix nuclear, wind, solar, and a pinch of natural-gas backup can slice the copper bill dramatically compared with battery-heavy systems. 



"First of all, users can fact-check the study, but also they can change the study parameters and evaluate how much copper is required if we have an electric grid that is 20% nuclear, 40% <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/top-10-global-methane-emissions-hotspots-spotted-by-satellites/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">methane</a>, 20% wind, and 20% hydroelectric, for example," Simon said. "They can make those changes and see what the copper demand will be."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-recycling">Role of recycling</h2>



Reprocessing old wiring and plumbing will help, but only up to a point. The study notes that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/from-trash-to-treasure-e-waste-is-a-literal-gold-mine/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recycling has been growing</a> at about 0.53 percent a year. 



If that pace holds through 2050, secondary copper will supply roughly 13.5 million metric tons - just over a third of what “business as usual” growth alone would swallow in a single year.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-do-we-go-from-here">Where do we go from here?</h2>



The numbers paint a clear picture: electrify everything too quickly, and copper bottlenecks threaten both climate goals and the push to bring reliable power, clean water, and health care to those who still lack them. 



Pace the transition, boost recycling, diversify energy sources, and open new mines, and the world may thread the needle. Either way, the humble red metal remains at the center of tomorrow’s power play.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/segweb/segdiscovery/article/doi/10.5382/SEGnews.2025-141.fea-01/654182/Copper-Mining-Development-and-Electrification" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SEG Discovery</a>.



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Geologists doubt Earth has the amount of copper needed to develop the entire world

Every buzzing phone call, every late-night lamp glow, every mile...

Lake Tahoe sits high in the Sierra Nevada, straddling the border of California and Nevada. For more than half a century, researchers have tracked its temperature, chemistry and clarity.



In 2006, scientists at the <a href="https://tahoe.ucdavis.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center</a> added a new line of surveillance. The team installed precise sensors that measure how far <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-use-sunlight-to-capture-carbon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sunlight</a> of different colors, including energetic UV rays, can travel through the Lake Tahoe's water column.



Eighteen years of those measurements, analyzed with colleagues at <a href="https://miamioh.edu/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miami University</a> and <a href="https://www.ulaval.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Laval University,</a> now reveal startling swings in underwater UV exposure that mirror the region’s increasingly extreme climate jolts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-sunlight-beneath-lake-tahoe">Measuring sunlight beneath Lake Tahoe</h2>



Scientists visited the lake every two weeks and lowered a multichannel radiometer that records UV-B (305 nm), UV-A (320 nm and 380 nm) and visible light used by plants for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-foundation-of-life-is-at-risk-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photosynthesis</a> (PAR, 400–700 nm).



Researchers calculated the depth at which only one percent of the surface light remains - a yardstick for how deeply each wavelength penetrates. 



Between 2006 and 2023, that one-percent depth for 320 nm UV light sometimes reached more than 95 meters in drought summers, yet barely 10 meters in the wettest springs.



The experts found up to a 100-fold difference in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctic-ozone-hole-exposes-wildlife-to-harmful-uv-radiation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UV radiation</a> between a wet and a dry year.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-drought-removes-the-sunscreen"><a></a>When drought removes the sunscreen</h2>



Lake Tahoe’s water is famously clear because it holds very little dissolved organic matter and few suspended particles. Those substances behave like a natural sunscreen: they absorb or scatter incoming UV.



During years of exceptional <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-now-the-driving-force-behind-droughts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">drought</a>, streamflow slackens and the lake receives scant deliveries of colored dissolved organic matter or fine mineral grains. As a result, more UV light slices through the water.



Shohei Watanabe, an associate project scientist with the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, is the lead author of the study. “It’s a bit like reducing the lake’s sunscreen, making it susceptible to severe sunburn,” he said.



In contrast, during winters and springs dominated by powerful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/consecutive-atmospheric-rivers-cause-far-more-damage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atmospheric river</a> storms, torrents of runoff flush soil and organic stains into the lake. That cloudier mix limits UV penetration, drawing the effective sunscreen closer to the surface.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sunlight-shapes-lake-life">Sunlight shapes lake life</h2>



UV rays are the most energetic part of sunlight. At modest doses they help sterilize surface waters, break down dissolved carbon compounds, and keep certain invasive fish at bay. 



In excess, however, UV rays damage DNA, inhibit photosynthesis, and alter the behavior of tiny crustaceans that feed fish.



The Tahoe study shows that the ratio of UV to the visible light plants need (PAR) also changes sharply with the climate rhythm, shifting ecological balances throughout the food web.



Because clear alpine and polar lakes share Lake Tahoe’s optical character, the team warns that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lakes-are-warming-toward-the-point-of-no-return/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">clear-water lakes</a> are likely to experience increasingly large fluctuations in underwater UV and spectral irradiance. These shifts are expected to intensify as precipitation extremes become more frequent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-monitoring-underwater-radiation">Monitoring underwater radiation </h2>



The researchers found that UV transparency tracks regional hydrology more sensitively than traditional clarity measures such as the Secchi disk.



In Lake Tahoe, the depth at which a white disk disappears to the eye changed far less between wet and dry years than the UV measurements did. That makes underwater light a potential early-warning signal for managers watching for climate-driven disturbances. 



Thus, monitoring underwater radiation can serve as a sentinel. It alerts authorities to water quality, fisheries, and recreation stresses long before they appear at the surface.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-trends-and-local-impacts">Global trends and local impacts</h2>



Maintaining an unbroken observational line was crucial. “To understand what’s really happening in nature, the long-term dataset is quite important,” Watanabe said. “One or two years of data couldn’t reveal this kind of huge fluctuation related to climatic perturbations.”



The record also shows how global trends translate into local impacts. A future of alternating megadroughts and deluges could cause Tahoe and other clear lakes to swing between extremes. 



Some years may bring hyper-sterilizing UV pulses, while others may see UV-muted, nutrient-rich waters that fuel algal blooms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-the-clarity-of-lakes">Protecting the clarity of lakes</h2>



The findings stress curbing erosion and runoff of fine sediments and colored organics to protect Lake Tahoe’s clarity. These measures can help restore Lake Tahoe’s natural UV and sunlight sunscreen, even during wet years.



At the same time, understanding that drought may expose deeper layers to damaging radiation could influence habitat protection for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plankton-at-risk-global-warming-threatens-the-oceans-lifeline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plankton</a>, juvenile fish, and amphibians.



The study blends painstaking fieldwork with a simple message: climate change does not just warm lakes; it changes the color and character of the light that reaches their depths. 



In Lake Tahoe’s shifting shades of ultraviolet, scientists can read both the scars of recent droughts and the fingerprints of storms still to come.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/lol2.70021" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Limnology and Oceanography Letters</a>.



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Climate extremes alter how sunlight travels through clear lakes

Lake Tahoe sits high in the Sierra Nevada, straddling the...

Coastal beaches can look calm, but they are brimming with life and activity. Many of these sandy environments are at risk as they become trapped between rising seas and bustling human developments.



Scientists warn that these shorelines are losing their natural breathing room, and this leads to problems for people and wildlife. The new findings highlight how a lack of space along <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saltwater-intrusion-threatens-coastal-groundwater-supplies-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coasts</a> threatens everything from habitat preservation to freshwater availability.



Narrow beaches mean less space for dunes to form, limiting the ecosystem services they provide. This reality was described by coastal ecologist Eva Lansu from the <a href="https://www.rug.nl/?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Groningen</a>, who examined how close buildings tend to be to the sea worldwide.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coastal-squeeze-leaves-no-space-for-dunes">Coastal squeeze leaves no space for dunes</h2>



On average, the first roads or buildings appear about 0.25 miles from the high tide line, which leaves <a href="https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/squeezed-sands-human-footprints-in-coastal-lands" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">little space</a> for dunes to shift inland. Over time, waves and storms can wear down these sandy stretches, and there is nowhere for them to go.



“This <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coastal-cities-will-spend-over-3-trillion-dollars-damages-from-sea-level-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coastal</a> squeeze is not only a problem for biodiversity, it also affects our defense against flooding and our drinking water supply,” said Lansu. 



The growing strain on coastal ecosystems has sparked urgent questions about how to protect these zones without hindering economic interests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-coastal-biodiversity-matters">Why coastal biodiversity matters</h2>



Healthy dunes act as <a href="https://www.elsevier.com/books/the-ecology-of-sandy-shores/mclachlan/978-0-12-809467-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">natural barriers</a> that absorb storm impact, filter groundwater, and stabilize shorelines. They also support countless tiny organisms and plants that keep coastal systems in balance.



Beach plants, insects, and birds rely on these zones for food and shelter. These interactions benefit humans too, since coastal vegetation can help slow erosion, enhance tourism, and provide a natural line of defense.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coastal-squeeze-in-a-growing-population">Coastal squeeze in a growing population</h2>



Global population trends make the coastal squeeze worse. About <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature12859" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">one in three</a> people live within 30 miles of a coast, with many moving closer for jobs, housing, and recreation.



As more people settle near the ocean, land use decisions often prioritize short-term development over long-term sustainability. This demand increases pressure on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-level-warnings-what-coastal-cities-must-prepare-for/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">natural</a> areas and limits the space needed for dunes to thrive.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-squeezed-beaches-harm-plants">How squeezed beaches harm plants</h2>



One <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228923255_Restoration_of_Dune_Mobility_in_The_Netherlands" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> found that a biodiverse dune area in the Netherlands requires about 2.36 miles of width, yet actual dunes there often measure only around 0.62 miles. This shortfall puts plant diversity at just over half of its potential.



Many areas face pressure from roads, holiday resorts, and seawalls. These structures keep creeping closer, reducing the range for plants and animals that are sensitive to movement of sand.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-water-resources">Protecting water resources</h2>



People often forget that dunes are critical for drinking <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/salt-marshes-are-enormously-valuable-for-coastal-protection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">water</a> supply. Groundwater flows through these sandy soils, where impurities can be filtered before reaching wells or reservoirs.



Frequent storms and rising tides can contaminate freshwater sources with saltwater. When dunes are compressed by nearby developments, they lose some of their capacity to protect these underground resources.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-innovative-coastal-management">Innovative coastal management </h2>



Efforts in the Netherlands show that adding new sand to the shoreline can create space for <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179121000992" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">embryonic dunes</a> to form, boosting biodiversity and resilience. The <a href="https://www.ecoshape.org/en/pilots/the-delfland-sand-engine-4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sand Motor project</a> near the village of Monster, carried out in 2011, helped illustrate how innovative coastal management can work.



Some <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260423757_A_New_Alternative_to_Saving_Our_Beaches_from_Sea-Level_Rise_The_Sand_Engine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">experts</a> see these expansions as a better solution than erecting large barriers. They argue that a thriving coastal ecosystem is more adaptive to future changes than fixed walls or dams.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eco-friendly-solutions-are-more-enduring">Eco-friendly solutions are more enduring </h2>



Other coastal regions have begun to explore greener strategies that respect natural sediment shifts and plant growth. These approaches balance economic activities like tourism with the long-term health of beaches.



Groups that manage these landscapes often involve local communities to maintain vegetation and reduce erosion. This cooperation can lead to solutions that are less expensive, less disruptive, and ultimately more enduring.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preventing-the-coastal-squeeze">Preventing the coastal squeeze</h2>



Researchers highlight the need for long-term spatial planning that protects coastal zones from being walled in. Allowing dunes and wetlands to move naturally is seen as an investment in future sustainability.



Overbuilt shores could face more severe flooding and water shortages in the decades ahead. Early action can prevent irreversible damage and safeguard the natural areas that benefit everyone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-balancing-nature-and-economy">Balancing nature and economy</h2>



Regular monitoring of sandy shorelines helps decision-makers see how quickly changes occur. Scientists also encourage stronger policies that limit development near the water and protect these fragile habitats.



Success stories from around the world show that restoration efforts can bring back lost biodiversity. When done carefully, it becomes possible to keep both nature and local economies thriving.



Coastal lands do far more than enhance a postcard view. They stand at the crossroads between human progress and natural resilience, showing us that a balanced approach can keep shorelines alive and well.



The study is published in <a href="https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/squeezed-sands-human-footprints-in-coastal-lands" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Groningen</a>.



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Coastal growth squeezes beaches, threatening flood protection

Coastal beaches can look calm, but they are brimming with...

From grounding airliners to fertilizing distant oceans, volcanic eruptions are known for dramatic effects. Yet one influence has remained elusive: the way ash lofted into the upper atmosphere changes the delicate ice clouds that blanket the planet’s high altitudes.



A new investigation led by <a href="https://www.llnl.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory</a> (LLNL) closes that gap. It reveals that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/prehistoric-homo-sapiens-stone-tools-preserved-volcanic-ash-grotta-di-castelcivita/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">volcanic ash</a> grains from powerful eruptions do more than just drift. They actively reshape the microphysical structure of cirrus clouds, altering how Earth absorbs and releases heat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-volcanic-ash-and-cloud-formation">Volcanic ash and cloud formation </h2>



The research team analyzed ten years of observations captured by <a href="https://eospso.nasa.gov/missions/cloudsat" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA’s CloudSat</a> satellite radar and its companion <a href="https://asdc.larc.nasa.gov/project/CALIPSO" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CALIPSO lidar</a>. These instruments measure ice crystal size and count, and map the height of ash-filled plumes inside <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clouds-also-fuel-arctic-warming-not-just-carbon-emissions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">clouds.</a> 



The experts compared months before and after three well-documented mid-latitude eruptions - Kasatochi in Alaska (2008), Sarychev in Russia’s Kuril Islands (2009), and Calbuco in Chile (2015). This comparison allowed the scientists to tease out the fingerprint of volcanic particles on cirrus formation.



“Our research helps close a significant knowledge gap about whether and how volcanic eruptions influence cloud formation,” said lead author Lin Lin, a scientist at LLNL. Other aerosols like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sahara-desert-dust-storms-carry-harmful-bacteria-and-fungi-around-the-globe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dust</a> or pollution rise slowly or stay low, making their effects harder to isolate. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cloudy-chaos-was-expected">Cloudy chaos was expected</h2>



Before looking at the data, the team expected to see cloudy scenes packed with many small ice particles, assuming that the extra ash grains would offer more surfaces on which ice could form.



“At the beginning of the study, we did expect clouds affected by volcanic eruptions to look different from natural clouds, but not in the way we ultimately found,” Lin said.



She and her colleagues were surprised to discover that ash-rich plumes produced the opposite pattern: the satellite record showed cirrus composed of fewer but markedly larger crystals. Clouds also became more frequent in the altitude band where the ash circulated.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-volcanic-ash-changes-ice">Volcanic ash changes ice</h2>



Why would adding particles decrease the number of ice shards? The answer lies in how ice nucleates.



In a pristine, extremely cold parcel of air, liquid droplets can freeze spontaneously once temperatures drop below about –38 °C, a process called homogeneous nucleation. Volcanic ash changes the script by providing gritty mineral surfaces. 



These surfaces encourage water molecules to align into an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unexpected-beauty-revealed-in-ice-formation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ice</a> lattice at warmer temperatures and lower humidity through heterogeneous nucleation.



Because that freezing starts earlier, just a handful of ash grains can swoop up most of the available water vapor, starving the air of moisture before additional crystals can form. The result is a small population of oversized, slowly settling ice particles.



“The results completely overturned our original expectations,” Lin explained. “We anticipated that volcanic aerosols would lead to an increase in the number of ice crystals in clouds. But to our surprise, the data showed the opposite.”



She added that adapting the analysis to match the unexpected outcome - rather than clinging to the initial theory - was a challenge and a joy. “Letting go of our initial idea and developing a new explanation based on unexpected findings was both the hardest and most rewarding part of the process.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-volcanic-ash-alters-earth-s-climate">Volcanic ash alters Earth's climate</h2>



Cirrus clouds are thin, wispy blankets that let in most incoming sunlight yet trap infrared radiation heading back to space, exerting a net warming influence. Clouds with fewer, bigger crystals tend to be more transparent to infrared heat, potentially cooling the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fading-clouds-are-accelerating-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate</a>.



Volcanic ash may thin cirrus clouds, offsetting some short-term warming from sunlight-reflecting sulphate aerosols released during eruptions. Determining which influence dominates will require climate models to track ash as a distinct type of ice-nucleating particle - something many current models do not yet do.



The findings matter beyond volcanic episodes. Ash grains share chemical similarities with desert dust, a common aerosol in the upper troposphere. If dust creates sparse-crystal cirrus, it may subtly shift the greenhouse effect over dusty areas like the Sahara outflow.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cloud-data-helps-flight-safety">Cloud data helps flight safety</h2>



Understanding how ash reshapes cirrus also has practical payoffs. Aviation maps focus on ash mass, but cloud changes can hinder satellite detection and long-range plume tracking.



For climate researchers, the study supplies a rare set of satellite-verified numbers to test how future models handle heterogeneous ice nucleation in ash-rich layers.



The LLNL team is already turning to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-ocean-warming-four-times-faster-than-global-average/">Arctic</a>, where mineral dust and soot mingle above the pack ice. If northern cirrus respond similarly, changes in heat trapping could accelerate or slow polar warming.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-waiting-for-the-next-eruption"><a></a>Waiting for the next eruption</h2>



Large stratospheric eruptions are infrequent, but each one offers a fresh laboratory in the sky. With improved sensors now flying and more sophisticated retrieval techniques, the next event will allow scientists to verify whether the ash-cirrus link holds in different meteorological settings.



Until then, the decade-long record examined here provides the clearest demonstration that volcanic ash “slices” into the atmosphere in ways that reverberate through cloud physics and, ultimately, Earth’s climate.



The study shows eruptions spread giant ice crystals, linking geology, weather, and Earth’s energy balance in a surprising way.



As Lin puts it, the work reminds us that unexpected discoveries often “overturn our original expectations” - and that science advances when researchers are willing to follow the evidence, even when it clouds their initial view.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ads0572" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Fire and ice: Volcanic ash plays a surprising role in cloud formation

From grounding airliners to fertilizing distant oceans, volcanic eruptions are...

Climate change is often seen through numbers: temperature charts, sea-level rise, or CO₂ levels. But behind these graphs are children - especially in places like Kenya - living the real consequences of a warming world.



While floods and droughts destroy crops and homes, a deeper, quieter harm spreads. Young adolescents, aged 10 to 14, are facing sexual exploitation, gender-based violence, school dropout, and early pregnancy. The crisis is not just <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-extremes-in-2024-what-have-we-learned/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental</a>. It is deeply social, deeply human.



A recent study reveals the urgent need to address this issue. Conducted across six diverse and climate-affected regions in Kenya - Mathare, Kisumu, Isiolo, Naivasha, Kilifi, and the Kalobeyei Refugee Settlement - the study offers an intimate, multi-layered look into how resource insecurities are pushing youth, especially girls, into harm’s way.



“Climate change isn’t just an environmental issue, it’s an urgent public health emergency for young adolescents,” said lead author Dr. Carmen Logie of the <a href="https://www.utoronto.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Toronto</a>. Her team collaborated with Kenyan organizations and worked directly with adolescents and community elders to gather these insights.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-poverty-and-climate-harm-children">Poverty and climate harm children</h2>



The effects of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/2024-confirmed-as-earths-hottest-year-in-recorded-history/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate</a> change are not felt equally. In Kenya, droughts and heavy rains worsen existing poverty and create daily struggles for food, water, and safe sanitation. These insecurities shape how young people live, learn, and survive. 



For adolescents already in a critical developmental stage, the stakes are higher. The study explains how missing food, water, or menstrual products isn’t just inconvenient - it can be life-altering.



Using focus groups, walk-along interviews, and participatory mapping, the researchers documented how adolescents navigate these challenges. The team discovered that resource shortages, fueled by climate extremes, lead to missed school days, risky sexual exchanges, or dropping out entirely.



“Girls told us about the shame of not having clean clothes or menstrual supplies, and how it led them to stay home from school or enter exploitative relationships just to meet basic needs,” said study co-author Aryssa Hasham.



The testimonies point to a disturbing climate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-is-accelerating-beyond-control-as-co2-levels-rise/">trend</a>: when basic dignity is denied, a child faces dangerous choices.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hunger-puts-children-in-risky-situations">Hunger puts children in risky situations</h2>



Hunger is not just a physical pain - it drives choices. Many children in the study shared stories of skipping meals and being left to find food on their own.



For boys, this often meant running away from home and ending up on the streets. For girls, it often meant entering relationships with older men in exchange for a meal or money.



“There are the children who drop out of school and go loitering. They will tell you things like: ‘We have no money for school uniform, no money for school fees, no money for food, so what do you want me to do?’” said an elder woman in Isiolo.



The gendered patterns are stark. While boys escape, girls negotiate. Some accounts spoke of girls as young as 12 entering relationships just to get 20 shillings for food. 



“The girls will skip school and go to a man’s house - a man old enough to be their father or grandfather,” explained an elder from Mathare. "Just 20 shillings ($0.15 USD) to buy chips and that’s enough to keep her going to satisfy her hunger.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-endangers-child-safety">Climate change endangers child safety</h2>



Water insecurity was another major concern. During droughts, families had to travel long distances to collect water. During floods, dirty runoff contaminated every available source. Girls, in particular, faced unique challenges. Bathing, cleaning, or fetching water became dangerous acts.



“They can’t shower because they don’t have water, and so they sell themselves so they get water,” said one young girl in Mathare. These weren’t rare situations. Participants from every site described how girls were attacked at water points or lured into exploitation by vendors or older boys.



“When it comes to rape of the girl child, cases are much higher, especially in the rainy season,” said a male elder from Mathare. “She must find shelter and wait. When the rain stops, it can be late at night… she finds heinous guy groups who will abduct her, take her to some shack and rape her there.”



Water insecurity also had indirect effects. Without water to wash uniforms or bathe, girls would skip school. 



Others, embarrassed or afraid, avoided public spaces altogether. Infrastructure damage during floods made schools physically unreachable. Together, these issues led to academic failure and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-records-shatter-2024-set-to-be-hottest-year-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">social</a> isolation.



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



If water was a source of risk, sanitation was no safer. The study documents broken, unsafe, or overcrowded toilet and shower facilities. Girls described being watched or filmed while bathing. Others feared being harassed near public toilets, especially at night.



“You’ll just be minding your business taking your shower, and then a boy passes by peeping in on you,” said one girl during a participatory workshop. “Later on, that boy will come telling you things like, ‘Hey! You know I saw you naked in the bathroom today.’”



Some girls avoided using toilets at all, which harmed their health. Others saved these visits for nighttime at school, when they felt slightly safer. The lack of clean, secure facilities also meant many missed school during menstruation. And the absence of menstrual products made things worse.



“A girl will feel she has crossed over into adulthood after the time of her first period,” said a Mathare elder. “She may not have the means to buy pads, so she will look for them. This may be through a boy she knows or through an older man.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-pressure-and-child-pregnancy">Climate pressure and child pregnancy</h2>



These intersecting risks are pushing young girls into early pregnancies and exposing them to sexually transmitted infections. Adolescents described how seemingly small acts - like accepting sweets or soda - led to pregnancy.



During the COVID-19 pandemic, these issues worsened. Children spent more time at home, out of school, and more exposed to exploitative <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/we-are-in-a-race-against-time-to-save-our-food-supply-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environments</a>.



“There’s been a lot of things that have surprised us. A child as young as eight, let alone 10 years, could get pregnant,” said a male elder from Isiolo. “The worst was during Covid.”



In some cases, families encouraged child marriage as a way out. One girl said, “Some girls choose to get married so as to deal with such situations as food shortage and hunger.” Others were lured with something as small as a mandazi or a soda. Poverty turned basic desires into major threats.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-all-these-problems-connect">How all these problems connect</h2>



To clarify these connections, the researchers created a conceptual model. It shows how climate events like flooding or drought trigger resource insecurities, which then lead to specific SRH harms. 



The pathways include missed school, transactional sex, sexual violence, and ultimately, early pregnancy or STIs.



The team grouped these threats by type: food, water, and sanitation. Each path shows how environmental stress can ripple through personal, social, and institutional systems. This model is both evidence-backed and rooted in real narratives from adolescents and elders.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-action-can-protect-children">Climate action can protect children</h2>



The authors make a clear case: young adolescents must not be ignored in climate response strategies. Their unique needs, especially those of girls, require urgent and tailored programs.



“We must act quickly to develop climate-informed, adolescent-centred, and gender-transformative programs,” said Dr. Julia Kagunda of Elim Trust. These solutions must go beyond short-term aid. They must rebuild systems - schools, clinics, toilets, support services - with resilience and equity in mind.



Programs must tackle root causes: poverty, gender inequality, and lack of safe infrastructure. Menstrual hygiene interventions, school feeding programs, and safe water access are just the start. The study’s findings also suggest involving boys in violence prevention and education.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-crisis-that-needs-urgent-attention">A crisis that needs urgent attention</h2>



Kenya’s young adolescents are living through a silent emergency. Their needs are specific, urgent, and currently overlooked. The climate crisis is already here - and for these children, it is not abstract. It is hunger, it is shame, it is danger.



What they need is not pity. They need clean water, safe toilets, food security, and dignity. They need education and protection. The study makes clear that these needs won’t wait. Climate justice must include them.



The full report from <a href="https://gh.bmj.com/content/10/5/e016637" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BMJ Global Health</a> offers a roadmap for how governments, NGOs, and communities can respond. It is not just about weather - it is about the future of Kenya’s children. And the time to act is now.



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Climate disasters are fueling a child exploitation crisis

Climate change is often seen through numbers: temperature charts, sea-level...

Neskowin,Beach,Oregon,2000,Year,Old,Fossilized,Spruce,Trees,Known

Imagine two huge puzzle pieces of the Earth's outer shell slowly pushing against each other under the ocean. One piece is sliding underneath the other - this is called a subduction zone, and the Cascadia Subduction Zone is one of the most dangerous regions on Earth.



When subduction zones get stuck and then suddenly slip, it can cause a huge earthquake. These kinds of earthquakes happen along special cracks called megathrust faults.



Scientists know that in this specific region of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/violent-earthquake-threat-in-the-pacific-northwest-revealed-in-tree-rings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">West Coast fault</a> in the U.S., massive earthquakes happened in the past, and they could happen again at any time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dangers-of-the-cascadia-subduction-zone">Dangers of the Cascadia Subduction Zone</h2>



Coastal communities from northern California to British Columbia live atop the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which spans about 600 miles offshore, where the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/axial-seamount-large-underwater-volcano-off-us-coast-will-likely-erupt-in-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Juan de Fuca plate</a> creeps eastward beneath North America.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thousands-of-seafloor-holes-pockmarks-evenly-spaced-and-distributed-defy-explanation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Though the movement is slow</a> - barely the width of a fingernail each year - the stress it stores can unleash earthquakes strong enough to rattle skylines and send 100-foot tsunamis racing toward shore. 



Geologists calculate that a full-length Cascadia rupture would release more energy in minutes than all human activity consumes in a year.



Geologic records show these giant events arrive roughly every 500 years, give or take a couple of hundred. The last one struck on January 26, 1700, long before skyscrapers and pipelines lined the coast. 



Tree rings, coastal marsh sediments, and stories passed down by Indigenous communities all record the sudden drop of land and arrival of waves that night.



Modern scientists want to know whether the next rupture will run the length of the fault or stop at unseen boundaries, because that difference separates an alarming disaster from a catastrophic one.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-listening-to-the-earth-in-high-def">Listening to the Earth in high-def</h2>



In summer 2021, a 41-day expedition aboard the research vessel <a href="https://lamont.columbia.edu/research-divisions/marine-large-programs/office-marine-operations/langseth" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marcus G. Langseth</a> sailed nearly the entire length of Cascadia, towing an array of powerful acoustic instruments. 



The equipment emitted low-frequency sound that penetrated dense rock, and returning echoes painted detailed images of structures more than six miles below the seabed.



“The models currently in use by public agencies were based on a limited set of old, low-quality 1980s-era data,” said Suzanne Carbotte, a marine geophysicist at Columbia University’s <a href="https://lamont.columbia.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory</a>, who led the research. 



“The megathrust has a much more complex geometry than previously assumed. The study provides a new framework for earthquake and tsunami hazard assessment.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-four-cascadia-subduction-zone-segments">Four Cascadia Subduction Zone segments</h2>



The new images reveal that the megathrust is not a single unbroken scar. Instead, at least four distinct segments lie side by side, divided by buried faults that slice toward the coastline. 



Each segment shows its own slope, thickness of sediment, and patterns of cracks that either speed or slow a rupture. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/West-Coast-Fault_Cascadia-Subduction-Zone_geology-map_credit-UVictoria_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/West-Coast-Fault_Cascadia-Subduction-Zone_geology-map_credit-UVictoria_1s.webp" alt="Survey coverage and tectonic framework of the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Credit: University of Victoria BC" class="wp-image-1971089"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Survey coverage and tectonic framework of the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Click image to enlarge. Credit: University of Victoria BC</figcaption></figure>



These crosswise barriers can dampen shaking by blocking a break or, in the worst case, fail and let the fault unzip in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-triggered-landslide-and-tsunami-vibrated-earth-for-9-days/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">one enormous event</a>.



“We can’t say that this definitely means only single segments will rupture, or that definitely the whole thing will go at once,” said Harold Tobin, a geophysicist at the <a href="https://www.washington.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Washington</a> and co-author of the study. “But this does upgrade evidence that there are segmented ruptures.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vancouver-washington-wild-card">The Vancouver–Washington wild card</h2>



One segment demands special attention. Stretching from southern Vancouver Island to roughly the mouth of the Columbia River, it shows a remarkably smooth contact where the oceanic plate slides beneath North America. 



Smoothness leaves fewer natural speed bumps, so stress can travel farther before stalling. 



Computer models suggest that a complete break of this stretch could push shaking intensity one unit higher on the Modified Mercalli scale across Puget Sound.



In this zone, the interface also dips shallowly, which means the section capable of rupturing may extend beneath the Olympic Peninsula and closer to cities such as Seattle and Tacoma. That geometry could translate offshore motion directly into stronger shaking on land.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-from-japan">Lessons from Japan</h2>



When a similar fault off Japan failed on March 11, 2011, coastal defenses built for smaller quakes proved no match for the tsunami that overwhelmed Fukushima Daiichi. 



Although Cascadia has its own personality, the Japanese tragedy showed how an underappreciated segment can surprise engineers and emergency planners. 



That quake also highlighted how intertwined <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-sea-levels-threaten-groundwater-global-cities-underground-infrastructure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infrastructure failures</a> - power loss, flooded roads, and chemical spills - can magnify the human toll long after the shaking stops.



With the new Cascadia maps in hand, agencies can refine computer simulations that test bridges, hospitals, and energy corridors against plausible shaking patterns and wave heights.



Those results filter into revised building codes and the Pacific Northwest’s growing earthquake early-warning network.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earthquakes-and-tsunamis">Earthquakes and tsunamis</h2>



While the cruise captured the roughness and rock types of the seafloor, translating those details into wave forecasts will take more number-crunching. 



“As for tsunami hazard, that is still a work in progress,” said Kelin Wang, a research scientist at the <a href="https://natural-resources.canada.ca/minerals-mining/geological-survey-canada" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geological Survey of Canada</a> who was not involved in the study.



Wang’s team is already feeding the new depth profiles into models that calculate whether the seabed will lurch upward or downward during different rupture shapes. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/west-coast-fault_Cascadia-Subudction-Zone_Neskowin-ghost-forest_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/west-coast-fault_Neskowin-ghost-forest_1s.webp" alt="The Neskowin Ghost Forest on the Oregon coast. Around the year 1700, the Cascadia subduction zone unleashed a powerful magnitude 9 earthquake that caused the coastline to suddenly sink. As the ground dropped, seawater flooded in and drowned a thriving Sitka spruce forest almost instantly. The ocean buried the tree stumps in sand and mud, preserving them for centuries beneath the beach. Click image to enlarge." class="wp-image-1971091"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Neskowin Ghost Forest on the Oregon coast. Around the year 1700, the Cascadia subduction zone unleashed a powerful magnitude 9 earthquake that caused the coastline to suddenly sink. As the ground dropped, seawater flooded in and drowned a thriving Sitka spruce forest almost instantly. The ocean buried the tree stumps in sand and mud, preserving them for centuries beneath the beach. Click image to enlarge.</figcaption></figure>



A separate group will turn that motion into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/20-years-later-remembering-the-worlds-deadliest-tsunami/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tsunami projections</a>, and emergency managers will use the results to update escape routes posted on telephone poles from Brookings to Port Alberni. 



Many coastal residents practice annual evacuation drills timed with sirens every March.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cascadia-subduction-zone-preparations">Cascadia Subduction Zone preparations</h2>



No scientist can predict the day of the next Cascadia earthquake, but probabilities guide practical decisions. 



Updated hazard maps will inform where to install vertical evacuation towers, how to retrofit schools, and which stretches of highway deserve seismic upgrades first.



Residents can take simple steps today: strap water heaters, secure heavy furniture, keep an emergency kit, and learn the difference between a smartphone alert and a tsunami siren. 



By treating resilience as a routine chore rather than a distant fear, communities stand a better chance of bouncing back when the locked plates finally give way.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adl3198" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Most dangerous part of this U.S. earthquake fault identified as "one of Earth's biggest hazards"

Imagine two huge puzzle pieces of the Earth's outer shell...

<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.

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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.



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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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"

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

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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

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

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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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" 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.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...

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



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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

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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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