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Heat does more than make us uncomfortable. It quietly chips away at human performance and shortens the life of devices and materials.



The challenge has been measuring that damage cleanly and comparing it across very different systems. A fresh framework now shows how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humid-heat-days-are-a-growing-threat-to-public-health/">temperature</a> rise pulls down reliability and speeds wear.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-heat-harms-systems">How heat harms systems</h2>



The physics here sits inside thermodynamics, the study of how energy moves and changes form. 



When a system runs, a slice of useful energy turns into heat, and that heat can reorganize a material’s microstructure in ways that add up to damage over time.



This work comes from <a href="https://people.utwente.nl/j.a.osara" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Jude A. Osara</a>, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Engineering Technology at the <a href="https://www.utwente.nl/en/">University of Twente</a>. 



His project asks a simple question with big consequences, how much of what fails in real systems comes from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heat-is-making-crop-harvests-wildly-unpredictable/">temperature</a> rise itself.



Heat also raises entropy, a measure of internal disorder, and entropy links to both performance and degradation. 



The key is to separate what heat does from what the main job of the system is doing, whether that is moving a bike crank, storing charge, or sliding a bearing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-heat-damage">Measuring heat damage</h2>



Osara introduces microstructurothermal (<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7515188/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MST</a>) entropy, a term that captures the specific contribution of temperature rise to change inside a system. 



In <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3161/6/3/62" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tests</a> with a lithium-ion cell, the framework found that temperature rise accounted for about 37 percent of total degradation during discharge.



That number matters because it is easy to ignore heat when the main signal feels dominant. 



A battery’s current looks big compared with its <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cement-of-the-future-cooling-cities-and-cutting-emissions/">heat</a>, and an athlete’s power meter looks louder than their skin temperature, yet the thermal side still bites into durability.



The framework also distinguishes transformation, how performance is changing right now, from degradation, the lasting loss of health. 



Keeping those threads apart makes it easier to see when cooling restores capacity and when it only slows the slide.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heat-in-bodies-and-batteries">Heat in bodies and batteries</h2>



“My calculations show that heat is not just a by-product, but an active mechanism that impairs performance and accelerates degradation,” said Dr. Osara. 



In the same analysis, elite cyclists training at 32°C (89.6°F) showed a 27 percent higher cardiovascular load than at 23°C (73.4°F).



Exercise studies back up that picture with measured outcomes. A classic <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11104310/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> of 11 elite road cyclists recorded roughly a 6.5 percent drop in power output during a 30 minute time trial at 32°C compared with 23°C.



The battery world tells a similar story, and it is not just the average <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-heat-is-scrambling-reptile-reproduction/">temperature</a> that matters. 



Even small <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s44172-023-00124-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">thermal gradients</a> speed damage, with one study showing that a 3°C (37.4°F) difference inside a single cell drove a 300 percent increase in degradation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heat-in-mechanical-systems">Heat in mechanical systems</h2>



In mechanical systems like<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/journal-bearing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> journal bearings</a>, friction creates both wear and heat. When cooling is poor, that heat raises local temperatures, changes material properties, and speeds the breakdown of the surfaces in contact.&nbsp;



Tests have shown that once the temperature rise passes certain thresholds, the damage rate grows far more quickly than expected from friction alone.



Greases and lubricants face similar problems. Their microstructures soften or chemically change when exposed to elevated temperatures. 



Even when the load or pressure is constant, heat shifts the balance toward earlier failure, shortening service life. 



By applying the MST framework, these small but steady losses can be tracked and managed with more precision.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-keeping-systems-cool">Keeping systems cool</h2>



The stakes are growing, fast. Globally, electricity use for cooling is projected to more than double by 2050, according to a UN <a href="https://www.unep.org/resources/global-cooling-watch-2023" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>.



For engineers, the takeaway is straightforward. Keep the MST term small by limiting heat generation, improving heat spread, and holding temperature in the device’s sweet spot.



For clinicians and athletes, the same logic applies. Cooler skin and steadier core temperature reduce cardiovascular strain, support output, and lower risk.



For operators and maintainers, the numbers help prioritize actions. If a third of a battery’s degradation rides on temperature rise, smarter tribology choices, better airflow, or active cooling are not add-ons, they are life-extenders.



For students, the framework shows how to make a clean energy balance that includes both the useful work and the thermal side. 



It also shows why reversible, near-isothermal steps can act like “healing” in rechargeable cells, because they add energy while holding dissipation near zero.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3161/6/3/62" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Applied Mechanics</a>.



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Heat quietly destroys both mechanical and human performance from the inside out

Heat does more than make us uncomfortable. It quietly chips away at human performance and shortens the life of devices and materials. The challenge has been measuring that damage cleanly and comparing it across very different systems. A fresh framework now shows how temperature rise pulls down reliability and speeds wear. How heat harms systems The physics here sits inside thermodynamics, the study of how energy moves and changes form. When a system runs, a slice of useful energy turns into heat, and that heat can reorganize...

The Earth-Moon system is thought to have been formed by a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-theory-formation-moon/">collision</a> between two large planetary objects with unique isotopic compositions. But the explanation for why the Earth and Moon don’t have unique isotopic characteristics themselves, like most planets in our Solar System, has eluded scientists for years… until now.

A new study from Richard C. Greenwood and colleagues sought to determine the origins of our Moon, which is thought to have formed after a collision between a proto-Earth and a solid impactor. The results were published by the <a href="https://www.aaas.org/">American Association for the Advancement of Science</a> (AAAS). 

Through analysis of a vast collection of lunar and terrestrial samples, the researchers found support for the theory of a collision with extremely high energy. This impact was so high energy that it resulted in a nearly complete mixing of materials between proto-Earth and its impactor. Furthermore, their findings also suggest that the majority of water on Earth was delivered before the Moon-forming impact, rather than later, as is often proposed.

The researchers analyzed the oxygen isotopic compositions of an extensive collection of lunar and terrestrial samples. Their results showed a 3- to 4-parts per million (ppm) difference between the oxygen isotopic concentrations of the lunar rocks and the terrestrial basalts. However, no significant difference was found between the lunar samples and terrestrial olivine, which is a common mineral in Earth’s subsurface.

These findings are consistent with high-energy impact simulations, the researchers say, which suggest a near-complete mixing. The study’s authors suggest that the 3- to 4-ppm difference they discovered could be explained by a “late veneer,” referring to input of stony meteorite material to Earth in an impact event that occurred after the Moon-forming impact. 

Also of great significance, the authors say their findings further imply that a large percentage of the Earth’s water was present earlier than the major impact event that formed the Moon. They believe that no more than 5-30% of water was contributed to Earth from the late veneer process. Overall, this new research has advanced our knowledge about the formation of the Earth-Moon system, and how one of the most important resources for our survival (water) came to be on this planet. 

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Majority of Earth’s water was here before the moon-forming impact

The Earth-Moon system is thought to have been formed by...

A team of researchers has found that information and computer technologies (ICT) are making a surprisingly large contribution to carbon dioxide emissions. Professor Lotfi Belkhir of <a href="https://www.mcmaster.ca/">McMaster University</a> is urging for the issue to be addressed right away.

The researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of tech devices and the infrastructure associated with them such as data centers. Professor Belkhir published an article in <a href="http://theconversation.com/au">The Conversation</a> to share the study findings and create awareness of this growing problem. 

“We found that the relative contribution of ICT to the total global footprint is expected to grow from about one percent in 2007 to 3.5 percent by 2020 and reach 14 percent by 2040,” wrote Professor Belkhir.

The investigation revealed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/addiction-smartphones-imbalances-brain/">smartphones</a> have a much more significant impact than that of of PCs, laptops, and computer monitors. Between 2010 and 2020, the emissions generated by smartphones will jump from 4 to 11 percent.

“In absolute values, emissions caused by smartphones will jump from 17 to 125 megatons of CO2 equivalent per year (Mt-CO2e/yr) in that time span, or a 730 percent growth,” explained Professor Belkhir.

The rise in harmful emissions from smartphones will primarily come from their production and not their use, according to the study. The infrastructure used to provide data services, however, will also make a substantial contribution to carbon dioxide emissions.

“For every text message, video download, photo exchange, email or chat, there’s a 24/7 power-hungry server in some data center that’s making it happen,” wrote Professor Belkhir.

He pointed out that software companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft and Yahoo are ultimately driving the growth of ICT and related infrastructure.

“At the societal level, we must demand that all data centers run exclusively on renewable energy,” Belkhir concluded in the article.

“At the individual level: Hold on to your smartphone for as long as you can, and, when you do upgrade, make sure you recycle your old one. Sadly, only one percent of smartphones are being recycled today.”

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-cleaner-production/">Journal of Cleaner Production</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Smartphones drive more carbon emissions than other devices

A team of researchers has found that information and computer...

“Congress finds and declares that wild free-roaming <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/domesticating-wild-horses-genome/">horses</a> and burros are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West; that they contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people; and that these horses and burros are fast disappearing from the American scene.” 

– from the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burro Act signed into law by Richard Nixon in 1971

According to a February 2017 <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/">National Geographic</a> piece, there are more than 70,000 wild horses living in the western United States.  The <a href="https://www.blm.gov/">Bureau of Land Management</a> has a mandate that they’re clearly failing to keep the wild horse population at 23,622.  

Horses evolved in North America, crossed land bridges into Asia and Europe, and then 10,000 to 12,000 years ago they went extinct in North America.  Wild horses were introduced to the American landscape from domestic animals from Europe. Mostly the Spanish lost or released horses. Sometimes someone died in a remote area leaving a horse, sometimes a person had more horses than could be handled and some were released.  Slowly, horses showed their knack at living, thriving and expanding their population in the inhospitable, arid American landscape they were dropped into in the 1500’s.

I’ve been on a hike in the Book Cliffs of western Colorado, a cliffy range of mesas named for their similarity of appearance to enormous stacks of books.  Indeed, the book cliffs lie open to the eyes of geologists, as one of the best places to study the sequence stratigraphy; that is layers of time laid down through erosion and deposition.  

The Book Cliffs are a rare instance of a mountain range going east and west rather than north and south in North America.  At about two thousand feet the Book Cliffs make up the tallest continuous escarpment of cliffs/mountains in the world. The area is semi-arid with scraggly juniper, cactus, yucca and the occasional piñon pine providing scarce sustenance.  This is a great place to see wild horses. 

On a short hike through decaying sedimentary cliffs and rough, scrabbly gravel and unsteady dirt, we heard a snort behind us.  Turning we saw a small group of horses moving quietly over the hill and grazing peacefully, keeping a wary eye on me and my girlfriend.  We watched the horses through binoculars; saw a small baby skittish and full of energy jumping around the flanks of adults watchful and strong.  I’ve seen wild horses before and since, mostly in the Book Cliffs, I’ve also seen wild burros in Northern Arizona in Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument.  Seeing horses or burros in the American landscape, it’s hard to escape the feeling that they are part of the fabric of the place. In Twilight of the Mammoths, paleontologist Paul S. Martin confronts directly wild horses in the American landscape, 

“The genus Equus remains highly variable, with many species in the Americas, until near time.  The explosive spread of free-ranging horses into grasslands of both North and South America following their reintroduction by the Spanish suggests a return of the native.”

Horses did evolve in North America; they are, or at least were, a part of the natural rangeland ecology of North America a mere eye blink ago in terms of geological history.  The problem has to do with numbers. An ever growing population of horses means that land is stripped of grass, bushes and other wild forage to be found. A large amount of wild horses perhaps means greater competition for resources like food and water with wild animals like pronghorns, mule deer, bison and bighorn sheep.  The problem is even more greatly exasperated by the presence of cattle and sheep on public lands, which outnumber wild horses. Something has to give and it seems unlikely that ranchers or wildlife advocates will give land to wild horses, so how to keep horses and burros from destroying the land? 

Hunting is how wild animals, mainly deer, are kept at population limits set by government management agencies.  It’s a bit hard to convince hunters they want to eat horse sausage or mount a mustang head on their den wall. Hunting horses seems even less palatable to the general non-hunting population.  Horses are more companion animal in public opinion than they are a wild animal open to the cruel laws of predation. Hunting is of course how prey numbers are kept in check in a healthy natural ecosystem.  The Keystone Predator Hypothesis helps shed light on the whole issue of hunting as management tool and the utility of predation. Predators tend to focus on prey species that are easy to find and abundant. When a prey species abundance drops off, generally another prey species that competes with the first for food and other ‘resources’ becomes more abundant.  The predator tends to refocus predation on the new, now more abundant prey species. In this way, all prey species are pruned back, allowing several species that vie for the same resource to live in the same area. Predators in turn are kept at a certain population level due to the amount of prey species available. 

Without predation or some other population control measure, disaster ensues.  The Kaibab deer population of Arizona is a classic example. 

The Kaibab deer are a unique population of Mule Deer that the government wanted to protect.  In 1906, Theodore Roosevelt set aside the Grand Canyon Game Preserve, partly to protect Kaibab Deer.  In the early days of wildlife management, the federal government apparently made an egregious mistake.  All known predators of the deer in the area where killed mercilessly in an attempted eradication. Mountain lions and wolves were shot.  Hunting by humans was strictly regulated. The deer quickly grew in numbers without predators curtailing their numbers. As the deer population ballooned, grass, shrubs, even tree bark was consumed, soon the deer were emaciated, hungry and dying.  Disease increased in the overpopulated deer. The population of Kaibab Deer that had grown so expansively crashed even faster. Exact data on the deer are hard to find and other factors complicate the picture. Cattle and sheep were removed from the Kaibab Plateau at the same time predators were eradicated.  What we do know is that the population of Kaibab Deer did increase to a much larger number than before and subsequently crashed. Whether it was due to the foolishness of predator control or natural cycles, the starvation, illness and crash in deer population was clearly linked to an unsustainable deer population growth.     

The danger we face with wild horses is the same danger that we faced with the Kaibab Deer. The fear is the horse population will continue to grow unchecked, leaving the western United States barren of natural vegetation, severely damaged and littered with the bloated, rotting corpses of horses.  Of course it’s not just the fate of horses and burros that’s at stake, the problem also affects the deer, bison and other wild animals. The problem of wild horses also affects ranchers dependent on the federal subsidy of public land for their living.

The BLM has a limited budget and there has been an effort to control wild horse and burro numbers.  Wild horses and burros are regularly put up for adoption and this is one of the least controversial measures for population control.  The problem is that according to a nationalgeographic.com article, as of March 1 2016, there were 45,000 horses and burros in governmental holding pens, theoretically waiting to be adopted.  Adoption rates fall far short of population growth of horses and burros. 

According to an article in <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>, the population increase of horses and burros means that by 2030, the government will have to spend $1.1 billion to feed and water the animals in holding pens.  A new horse birth control in the form of a yearly injection in mares has also been attempted. The BLM has injected 4,562 mares since 2005 according to theweek.com but there has yet to be an appreciable decline in horse populations.  Euthanasia for un-adopted wild horses and burros is so unpopular that Ben Masters received death threats for voting for it. Ben Masters himself was also an advocate for adopting horses, personally adopting several. 

There are no USDA approved processing plants for horse meat in the US, the most likely solution being that any hunted or otherwise killed horses to be used for human or animal food would be sent to Mexico for processing.   

It’s hard to deny that with a larger presence of mountain lions, wolves, black and brown bears throughout their traditional range in the west, populations of horses would be different.  All of these animals are capable of killing at least sick, young or injured horses and together possibly maintaining a healthy horse population. As anyone familiar with the ecological history of the west knows, these predators were hit hard by extermination efforts bolstered by the federal and state governments and largely haven’t recovered.

The decline of predators in the American west is inexorably linked with the ascendance of cattle and sheep.  Eradicating predators was always popular with American cattlemen who found wild predators a threat to their livestock.  According to the BLM, they manage livestock grazing on 155 million acres of their land. The Forest Service also manages some land for grazing, including so called wilderness areas but I couldn’t find solid numbers on how much land they allow for grazing.  An analysis by the Center for Biological Diversity carried out in 2015 showed that grazing on public lands costs US taxpayers $1 Billion over the last ten years. Wolves, mountain lions and other predators are still contentious in the few places they survive in the west and part of the problem is political pressure from ranchers subsidized on public land.  

Horses are just one more aspect complicating the western landscape and caught in the crossfire of a fight over who controls the land and the heart of the west.  Horses like other immigrants have carved out a place in the United States but unlike some have a longer history, one only broken briefly. With a wilder west, a west without millions of public cows and more predators, we might be able to find a place for horses.  We might even be able to find a place for wild horses that didn’t involve mass slaughter. 

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Wild horses caught in the crossfire of the western U.S.

“Congress finds and declares that wild free-roaming horses and burros...

Two major developments happening now in the motor vehicle industry involve the rise of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/self-driving-cars-sensors/">self-driving cars</a> and the push towards electric cars. Both technological advancements aim to increase efficiency – electric cars would make vehicles more fuel efficient, while self-driving cars could decrease motor vehicle accidents and aid with everything from shipping products to moving people.

Currently, electric vehicles make up less than one percent of new car sales. This is mainly attributed to slow charging capabilities, high prices, and limited travel ranges. Furthermore, self-driving cars still emit a significant amount of greenhouse gasses, and also have a major sticker price. But a recent study published in the American Chemical <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/toc/esthag/0/0">Society’s Environmental Science &amp; Technology</a> used a mathematical model to determine that self-driving, electric taxis may be able to reduce emissions, energy use, and overall costs.

Researchers Gordon Bauer, Jeffery Greenblatt and Brian Gerke developed a mathematical model in order to test the cost and capabilities of a fleet of shared, automated electric vehicles in New York City. They varied the types of vehicles used and charging infrastructure parameters, identifying which options cost the least amount of money and have the greatest impact on energy and greenhouse gas emission reductions. 

The results showed that roughly 6,500 vehicles with a battery range of 70 miles or more could be sustained on 1,500 medium-power electric vehicle chargers across Manhattan. These electric vehicles would produce about 33,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year. This would be a 57 percent reduction compared to a hybrid vehicle fleet, and a 73 percent reduction over an automated gasoline-powered car fleet. Furthermore, shared vehicles – especially self-driving electric ones – could place the up-front cost and burden on the taxi fleet operator, mitigating the cost of the relatively pricey automated vehicles.

Overall, the study’s results suggest that electric vehicles could reduce operating costs by as much as 18 percent, and energy consumption by up to 55 percent when compared to a fleet of hybrid or gasoline vehicles. However, the researchers do state that this model might be more difficult to apply to less dense regions, saying the more research needs to be done on this subject.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Self-driving electric taxis can cut both emissions and costs

Two major developments happening now in the motor vehicle industry...

The quest for clean energy alternatives may soon include the ability to harvest energy from leaves shifting in the wind. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://liu.se/en/research/laboratory-of-organic-electronics">Laboratory of Organic Electronics </a>at <a href="https://liu.se/en">Linköping University</a> have discovered a way to power a small electric circuit using the fluctuations between sun and shade, similar to a leaf fluttering in the wind. 

Although the technology is in its early stages, the study shows that heat fluctuations from sunlight to shade can be converted into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-solar-panels-appealing/">energy</a>. 

“Plants and their photosynthesis systems are continuously subjected to fluctuations between sunshine and shade,” said Magnus Jonsson, an author of the study. “We have drawn inspiration from this and developed a combination of materials in which changes in heating between sunshine and shade generate electricity.” 

The study was published in the journal Advanced Optical Materials. 

Previously, Magnus Jonsson had worked on a project that developed small nanoantennas made up of gold nanodiscs with the ability to absorb sunlight and generate heat by reacting to near-infrared light. 

In this new study, the nanoantennas powered a tiny optical generator using pyroelectric film. Pyroelectric means that power is generated from changes in heat. 

As the antennae were subjected to fluctuations in sunlight and shade, they generated heat which was then converted to electricity. 

“The nanoantennas can be manufactured across large areas, with billions of the small discs uniformly distributed over the surface,” said Jonsson. “The spacing between discs in our case is approximately 0.3 micrometres. We have used gold and silver, but they can also be manufactured from aluminium or copper.” 

A polarized polymer was also required for energy conversion. 

“We force the polarisation into the material, and it remains polarised for a long time, “ said Mina Shiran Chaharsoughi, the lead author of the study. 

The researchers tested their theory with experiments and computer simulations. In one of the experiments, a twig with leaves in front of a fan powered a small external circuit. 

The study has many exciting applications and result in another dependable source of renewable energy. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Fluttering leaves could be one day generate electricity

The quest for clean energy alternatives may soon include the...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mount-etna-hot-spring/">Mount Etna</a> is an active volcano all year round and one of Sicily’s most famous tourist attractions. Every year the volcano spews enough lava to fill over a 100 story skyscraper. 

Now, new research has found the volcano is sliding towards the sea with the entirety of mount Etna creeping downward at a rate of half an inch per year.

While the current sloping of the volcano is not a cause for immediate alarm, geologists warn that the site should be heavily monitored as this type of movement could lead to landslides. 

A team of researchers from the United Kingdom conducted a study monitoring and collecting data from GPS sensors placed around Mount Etna.

The research team used data from 2001 to 2012 to gauge the rate of Mount Etna’s gravitational slide. 

More than 100 GPS stations were set up on the volcano and used throughout the study.

The results were recently published in the journal Bulletin of Volcanology and show that Mount Etna is sliding a little every year because of its weak basement.  

Volcano basements are the rocks that underlie the volcano, and Mount Etna's basement is comprised of weak sediments. These sediments shift and the whole volcano then moves along with it. 

“This is the first time basement sliding of an entire active volcano has been directly observed,” write the researchers. “'This is important because the geological record shows that such sliding volcanoes are prone to devastating sector collapse on the downslope side, and whole volcano migration should be taken into account when assessing future collapse hazard.”

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Active volcano Mount Etna is sliding into the Mediterranean

Mount Etna is an active volcano all year round and...

Land degradation caused by human activities is pushing the planet towards a sixth mass species extinction, according to a recent report.

It is one of the main causes of species loss and at the current rates of land use, two-fifths of the world’s population is at risk.

Intensifying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-driving-climate-change/">climate change</a> could force the mass migration of millions of people, creating conflict, food shortages, and habitat loss, according to the report.

The three-year assessment report was conducted by over 100 leading experts from 45 different countries and shows the costly economic and environmental toll of land degradation.

The report was produced by the <a href="https://www.ipbes.net/">Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services</a>, and was a collaborative effort that drew on more than 3,000 scientific, government, indigenous and local knowledge sources.

The conclusions of the assessment show that land restoration should be a priority as worsening land degradation threatens the well being of billions of people.

“Avoiding, reducing and reversing this problem, and restoring degraded land, is an urgent priority to protect the biodiversity and ecosystem services vital to all life on Earth and to ensure human well-being,” said Robert Scholes, a co-chair of the assessment.

A rapid, yet largely unsustainable expansion of croplands and grazing areas is the biggest driver of land degradation worldwide.

According to the report, the threat to food security and biodiversity has reached critical levels in some regions.

The report also notes that humanity’s high-consumption lifestyles in developed economies coupled with rising consumption in developing and emerging economies are major motivators behind land degradation.

As the world’s population increases, the costs of land degradation will only get worse.

“In just over three decades from now, an estimated 4 billion people will live in drylands,” Scholes. “By then it is likely that land degradation, together with the closely related problems of climate change, will have forced 50-700 million people to migrate. Decreasing land productivity also makes societies more vulnerable to social instability -- particularly in dryland areas, where years with extremely low rainfall have been associated with an increase of up to 45% in violent conflict.”

The assessment emphasizes the need for land restoration which will become critical in the coming years. There have been many examples of successful land restoration in every ecosystem and well-tested practices and techniques.

The key then becomes implementing these practices on a wide-scale. The assessment also found that the benefits of restoration are ten times higher than the costs, just further proof that land restoration should be a priority. 

These benefits include more employment opportunities, improved quality of life, and better business spending.

“Fully deploying the toolbox of proven ways to stop and reverse land degradation is not only vital to ensure food security, reduce climate change and protect biodiversity," said Luca Montanarella, the fellow assessment co-chair.  “It's also economically prudent and increasingly urgent.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Blanscape/Shutterstock

Global land degradation could displace millions in the future

Land degradation caused by human activities is pushing the planet...

Archaeologists from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> have uncovered evidence of thriving communities in regions of the Amazon that were previously believed to have never been inhabited. Hundreds of villages that were developed in the rainforest away from major rivers were home to up to a million people who spoke different languages.

There are vast areas of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-road-biodiversity-hotspot/">Amazon</a> that have not been investigated due to the assumption that ancient people preferred to live close to waterways.

“There is a common misconception that the Amazon is an untouched landscape, home to scattered, nomadic communities. This is not the case,” said study co-author Dr. Jonas Gregorio de Souza. “We have found that some populations away from the major rivers are much larger than previously thought, and these people had an impact on the environment which we can still find today.”

“The Amazon is crucial to regulating the Earth's climate, and knowing more about its history will help everyone make informed decisions about how it should be cared for in the future.”

The archaeologists found the remains of fortified villages in a region which is now the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. They also documented the discovery of earthworks called geoglyphs, which are man-made ditches with mysterious square, circular, or hexagonal shapes. The earthworks may have been used as part of ceremonial rituals.

The analysis of charcoal remains and excavated pottery revealed that an 1,800- kilometer stretch of the southern Amazon was continuously occupied from 1250 until 1500. The experts believe they will ultimately find evidence of up to 1,500 fortified villages, yet only a third of this number has been found so far.


“We are so excited to have found such a wealth of evidence,” said study co-author Professor José Iriarte. “Most of the Amazon hasn't been excavated yet, but studies such as ours mean we are gradually piecing together more and more information about the history of the largest rainforest on the planet.”

“Our research shows we need to re-evaluate the history of the Amazon. It certainly wasn't an area populated only near the banks of large rivers, and the people who lived there did change the landscape. The area we surveyed had a population of at least tens of thousands.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a>

Millions lived in parts of the Amazon thought to be uninhabited

Archaeologists from the University of Exeter have uncovered evidence of...

In 1755, an earthquake strong enough to knock down chimneys and steeples hit the city of Boston, Massachusetts. The Cape Ann earthquake was the most damaging earthquake to ever occur in New England, and is estimated to be classified at modified Mercalli intensities of “strong” to “very strong” – based off contemporary descriptions of damage from Boston and surrounding areas. Now, researchers report in <a href="https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/srl">Seismological Research Letters</a> that the signs of this earthquake can be seen in a sediment core taken from Sluice Pond in eastern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/court-massachusetts-failed-to-adopt-greenhouse-gas-emissions-rule/">Massachusetts</a>.

Researcher Katrin Monecke of <a href="https://www.wellesley.edu/">Wellesley College</a> and her colleagues identified a layer of light brown organic-rich mud within the sediment core, which is estimated to have been deposited between 1740 and 1810 due to an underwater landslide. They believe this landslide was caused by the 1755 Cape Ann Earthquake.

Although the epicenter of the earthquake was likely located offshore in the Atlantic Ocean, the tremors could be felt along the eastern seaboard from Nova Scotia to South Carolina. New England is located within a tectonic plate, which means that it is not nearly as active an earthquake zone as a place like California, which is on an active tectonic plate margin. “There are zones of weakness mid-plate in New England and you do build up tectonic stress here, you just don’t build it up at the same rate that would occur at a plate boundary,” explains Monecke.

Since researchers in the less active areas don’t have many faults to study, they can look for signs of seismically-induced landslides, or the deformation of soft soils, in order to analyze the history and prehistoric record of earthquakes in these regions. For this particular sediment core taken from Sluice Pond, the researchers hope that it will give seismologists a way to assess the sedimentary record of earthquakes for other lakes in the region.

“It is important to see what an earthquake signature looks like in these sediments, so that we can start looking at deeper, older records in the region and then figure out whether 1755-type earthquakes take place for example, every 1000 years, or every 2000 years,” says Monecke.

The research team analyzed the sediment size and composition, as well as pollen and plant material and even industrial contaminants in order to identify changes in sediment layers over time in the core. Their attention was drawn to a light brown layer deposited at the time of the Cape Ann earthquake, since it had a coarser mix of sediments and slightly different plant microfossils. 

“These were our main indicators that something had happened in the lake. We saw these near shore sediments and fragments of near-shore vegetation that appear to have been washed into the deep basin,” says Monecke.

The researchers plan to sample even older layers of New England lakes in hopes of building their record of past earthquakes. They are currently assessing Walden Pond, the famous site of Henry David Thoreau’s memoir Walden; or, Life in the Woods.

“It got slightly less ground shaking [than Sluice Pond] in 1755, but it might have been affected by a 1638 earthquake in southern New Hampshire,” Monecke says. “We already have sediment cores from that lake, and now we are unraveling its sedimentary history and trying to get an age model there as well.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The most damaging earthquake to ever hit Boston

In 1755, an earthquake strong enough to knock down chimneys...

Research examining the environmental impacts of logging are crucial for implementing regulations and conservation measures in order to prevent population loss and habitat degradation. 

The effects of the logging industry on large species such as jaguars can be particularly devastating.

The loss of habitat and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/land-partnerships-protect-biodiversity/">biodiversity</a> is becoming a serious concern among conservationists, which is why some countries have implemented reduced impact logging operations as a means to help protect certain species. 

A new study reviewing these well-managed logging concessions in Peru and Guatemala found that jaguars do well if policies are put in place to strictly regulate logging areas. 

The study was conducted by researchers from <a href="http://www.sandiegozooglobal.org/">San Diego Zoo Global,</a> <a href="https://bronxzoo.com/">The Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Society,</a> and the <a href="https://www.serfor.gob.pe/">Servicio Nacional Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre</a> in Lima, Peru. 

The results, published in the online journal Biological Conservation, are hopeful and suggest that logging operations and conservation are not mutually exclusive.

“Our findings indicate that certified logging operations can play an important role in maintaining vital habitat for jaguars and other large wildlife species,” said Mathias W. Tobler, the lead author of the study.

For the study, the researchers set up large-scale camera trap surveys that would record and monitor the number of jaguars in certain logging concession areas in Guatemala and Peru. 

The cameras captured 23 jaguars Guatemala's Maya Biosphere Reserve and 43 jaguars in Peru's Madre de Dios region. Jaguars have unique spot patterns, so the researchers were able to accurately calculate the individuals in an area without fear of counting the same jaguar twice. 

The number of individual jaguars in the different areas were then used to create spatial capture-recapture models that calculated the total jaguar densities, or the estimated number of jaguars in the protected regions. 

In Guatemala, the researchers estimated that there 1.5 jaguars per 100 square kilometers and in Peru the density was 4.5 per 100 square kilometers. 

The team also found that strictly controlled logging roads, previously thought a hindrance to certain species, was helpful for the jaguars to move through the area. 

All in the all the results show that well managed logging operations with a goal of protection and conservation are successful in maintaining biodiversity. 

“Controlling access into an area and hunting of prey are paramount considerations for the objectives of preserving biodiversity and ecological function, both of which are selling points for certified lumber products,” said John Polisar, a co-author of the study. “The presence of jaguars in a logging concession is testimony that environmental guidelines are being followed.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Logging and conservation efforts can successfully coexist

Research examining the environmental impacts of logging are crucial for...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/">University of Leeds</a> has revealed that nearly 40 percent of childhood asthma cases in Bradford are caused by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fetal-exposure-air-pollution/">air pollution</a> each year. Traffic-related air pollution, in particular, is responsible for at least 12 percent of asthma cases.

The team used a newly-developed model to investigate the impact of the gases that make up air pollution, or nitrogen oxides, on the development of asthma in children. 

The model combines data on four distinct scenarios of traffic, emissions, atmospheric dispersion, and health assessments to track the pollution all the way from its source to its impact in children.

While the experts estimated that traffic-related pollution contributed to 12 percent of asthma-related illness in children, this estimate had to be adjusted.

Study co-author Professor Mark Nieuwenhuijsen is the Director of the Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative at <a href="https://www.isglobal.org/en">ISGlobal</a>.

“We knew our model was underestimating the traffic related fraction of air pollution,” said Professor Nieuwenhuijsen. “When we adjusted our results using actual measurements of air pollutants we saw that up to 24% of the annual cases could be attributable to traffic related air pollution.”


Study lead author Dr. Haneen Khreis said that traffic pollution is a major concern to the community of Bradford.  

“Overall rates of childhood asthma cases in Bradford are higher than the national average as were emergency hospital admissions for asthmatic children under 16 years of age,” said Dr. Khreis.

“Our team's previous research has shown that children exposed to high levels of traffic-related air pollution have a higher risk of developing asthma. Quantifying the number of childhood asthma cases that are directly attributable to traffic-related air pollution has not been done in the past and as we show now, a significant portion of cases is largely preventable.”

Dr. Khreis emphasized that, while proposed initiatives such as providing routes with cleaner air for pedestrians are important, traffic pollution mitigation strategies should not be restricted to localized areas.


“New policies aimed at reducing the effects of traffic-related air pollution need to target each link in the full chain of events - from traffic volume and type, to exhaust and non-exhaust emissions, to dispersion to exposure.”

“There is very little research that explores the impact of different exposure assessments,” said Professor Nieuwenhuijsen.

“Cases of childhood asthma have been steadily increasing since the 1950s. Future progress with childhood asthma requires a focus beyond controlling and treating the disease toward asthma prevention starting with reducing traffic related air pollution.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environment-international/">Environment International</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

UK study: 40 percent of child asthma cases due to air pollution

A new study from the University of Leeds has revealed...

The Paris Agreement is a global collaboration that seeks to reduce carbon emissions and stop the world’s temperature from increasing past two degrees Celsius.

While many nations are already working to implement policies that reduce carbon emissions and transition from fossil fuels to renewables, the exact temperature and emissions requirements to meet the Paris Agreement are not widely understood.

Researchers from the <a href="http://www.nies.go.jp/index-e.html">National Institute for Environmental Studies</a> in Japan and the <a href="https://ncar.ucar.edu/">U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research</a> examined several new emissions and temperature scenarios to find out what exactly was needed to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change.

The new study found that meeting the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/country-paris-agreement/">Paris Agreement</a> does not necessarily mean cutting all greenhouse gas emissions and also that even under a zero-emission scenario, temperatures could still climb higher than preferred.

Their findings highlight the uncertainty and inconsistencies that come with the Paris Agreement’s plans.

“What we found is that the two goals do not always go hand in hand,” said Katsumasa Tanaka, a lead author of the study. “If we meet temperature targets without first overshooting them, we don't have to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero. But if we do reduce emissions to zero, we still might not meet the temperature targets if we don't reduce emissions quickly enough.”

The results were published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

For the study, the researchers used an integrated assessment computer model to create and analyze ten different emissions scenarios.

The model factored in both the environmental and economic impact of temperature and emissions reductions.

“We investigated the consistency between the Paris targets in two ways,” said Brian O'Neill, a fellow lead researcher. “First, we asked, what happens if you just meet the temperature target in a least-cost way? What would emissions look like? Then we said, let's just meet the emissions goal and see what kind of temperatures you get.”

The scenarios showed that if emissions were reduced sooner, the Earth’s temperature wouldn’t exceed two degrees Celsius.

All in all, the results showed that the biggest driver of temperature changes in the latter half of the century is when emissions are reduced.  

“The timing of when emissions are reduced really matters,” said O'Neill. “We could meet the goal set out in the Paris Agreement of reducing emissions to zero in the second half of the century and still wildly miss the temperature targets in the same agreement if we wait to take action.”

The researchers hope their work will help provide a better foundation for implementing the most effective and consistent policies under the Paris Accord.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Different methods of achieving the Paris Agreement climate goals

The Paris Agreement is a global collaboration that seeks 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=lHHxOej4QfE
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Researchers found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and traffic pollution.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Traffic fumes may trigger Alzheimer's

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What caused the planet's longest ice age

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

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



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



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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</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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.

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



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.

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 



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.

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



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.

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



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.

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



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.

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



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.

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



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.

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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.

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



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

Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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