Researchers from Japan and Thailand have found that microplastics are invading all three parts of coral anatomy - the exterior mucus, tissue, and skeleton. This alarming discovery may offer new clues about the "missing plastic problem."



A whopping 70% of the plastic litter that has entered the oceans has vanished without a trace. The researchers propose that corals may be the unsuspecting culprits, absorbing microplastics from the oceans, acting as a "plastic sink."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enormous-issue-of-plastic-pollution">Enormous issue of plastic pollution</h2>



We can’t deny, plastics have made our lives easier. But <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-are-infiltrating-the-human-body-even-the-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">at what cost</a>? The repercussions of our reliance on plastics are becoming evident, damaging ecosystems in ways that are still being unearthed. 



Picture this - an estimated total of 4.8 to 12.7 million tons of plastics make their way into marine environments each year.



Study lead author Suppakarn Jandang is a professor at <a href="https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyushu University</a>’s Research Institute for Applied Mechanics (<a href="https://www.riam.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/index-e.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RIAM</a>) in Japan.



“In Southeast Asia, plastic pollution has become a significant issue. Collectively, nearly 10 million tons of plastic waste are dumped annually, equivalent to 1/3 of the world’s total,” said Professor Jandang.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extracting-microplastics-from-corals">Extracting microplastics from corals</h2>



To battle plastic pollution, RIAM partnered with Thailand's <a href="https://www.chula.ac.th/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chulalongkorn University</a> in 2022, initiating the Center for Ocean Plastic Studies. 



Led by Professor Atsuhiko Isobe from RIAM, the research team set out to explore the impact of microplastics on local coral reefs. The experts focused on the coast of Si Chang Island in the Gulf of Thailand, known for its reef flats and anthropological study potential.



Each coral has three anatomical parts: surface mucus on the outside, tissue on the inside, and a skeleton made of calcium carbonate deposits. The researchers developed a simple yet effective way to extract and identify microplastics from corals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-identifying-microplastics-in-corals">Identifying microplastics in corals</h2>



The team collected 27 coral samples, discovering 174 microplastic particles which were mostly the width of a human hair.



Among these particles, 38% were found in the surface mucus, 25% in the tissue, and a shocking 37% in the coral skeleton. 



The most common microplastics were nylon, polyacetylene, and PET. The findings suggest that corals might be playing a role in the missing plastic problem. 



“Since coral skeletons remain intact after they die, these deposited microplastics can potentially be preserved for hundreds of years. Similar to mosquitos in amber,” explained Professor Jandang.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-threat-to-marine-life">Threat to marine life</h2>



The infiltration of microplastics into coral anatomy represents a grave threat to marine biodiversity. As primary ecosystems in tropical waters, coral reefs support a vast array of organisms. 



However, when microplastics invade these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coral-seeding-increases-resistance-to-extreme-heatwaves/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">corals</a>, the repercussions ripple through the food chain. Fish that depend on coral for shelter and sustenance may inadvertently consume these plastics, leading to bioaccumulation. 



This process not only adversely affects marine health but also poses a threat to human populations reliant on seafood. The delicate balance of these ecosystems is at risk, highlighting the urgency for targeted interventions aimed at mitigating plastic pollution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-action-is-needed">Global action is needed</h2>



Recognizing the profound implications of their findings, the research team advocates for stronger global initiatives to combat the proliferation of microplastics. 



Efforts to reduce plastic production and enhance waste management systems are imperative. On this front, international cooperation is essential for enacting regulations and fostering sustainable practices. 



Innovations in biodegradable materials and increased recycling rates could curtail further environmental degradation.



By emphasizing education and awareness campaigns, the scientific community can rally public support for policies aimed at <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-process-converts-microplastics-into-valuable-graphene-wonder-material/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preserving our oceans</a>. Continued research will be pivotal in devising sustainable solutions to safeguard marine biodiversity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-our-oceans">Future of our oceans</h2>



While the results are eye-opening, the team agrees that more global studies on an array of coral species are needed for a comprehensive understanding. 



“We also do not know the health effects of microplastics on coral and the larger reef community. There is still much to be done to accurately evaluate the impact of microplastics on our ecosystem,” said Professor Isobe.



The story of plastic's invasion in the oceans is still unfolding, and the role of corals in this narrative is just beginning to be understood.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969724063666?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science of The Total Environment</a>.



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Microplastics found in the tissue and skeletons of corals

Researchers from Japan and Thailand have found that microplastics are invading all three parts of coral anatomy - the exterior mucus, tissue, and skeleton. This alarming discovery may offer new clues about the "missing plastic problem." A whopping 70% of the plastic litter that has entered the oceans has vanished without a trace. The researchers propose that corals may be the unsuspecting culprits, absorbing microplastics from the oceans, acting as a "plastic sink." Enormous issue of plastic pollution We can’t deny, plastics have made our lives easier....

Research from the <a href="http://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/university-of-potsdam.html">University of Potsdam</a> has confirmed that humans began altering Earth’s ecosystems hundreds of years before the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psychological-impact-industrial-revolution/">Industrial Revolution</a>. An international team of scientists has found that a drastic transformation in the rainforest of Central Africa was driven by human activity more than 2,600 years ago.

When researchers analyzed lake sediments in southern Cameroon 20 years ago, they discovered that older sediment layers contained tree pollen that would have been found in a dense forest environment. Newer sediments contained evidence that the primitive forest had rapidly transitioned into tropical grasslands, an event that became known as the “rainforest crisis.”

The impacts on the forest, which abruptly recovered 600 years later, were thought to be a result of dramatic changes in precipitation that altered the climate. For the current study, scientists set out to examine other factors that may have led to the rainforest crisis.

Using evidence preserved in the lake sediments, the team assembled models of vegetation and climate change independently of one another. The results of the study showed a major change in vegetation, yet no significant changes in precipitation were found at the time of the event.

“The rainforest crisis is proven, but it cannot be explained by a climate change,” said lead author Yet Garcin. “In fact, in over 460 archaeological finds in the region, we have found indications that humans triggered these changes in the ecosystem.” 

While archaeological remains dating back 3,000 years are rarely found in Central Africa, evidence of human activity spiked around the time of the rainforest crisis 2,600 years ago. The rapid expansion of humans is likely related to the movement of Bantu-speaking people into the region, and coincides with the earliest production of iron and oil palm use in the area.

“The combination of regional archaeological data and our results from the sediments of Lake Barombi shows convincingly that humans strongly impacted the tropical forests of Central Africa thousands of years ago, and left detectable anthropogenic footprints in geological archives,” said study contributor Dirk Sachse.

“We are therefore convinced that it was not climate change that caused the rainforest crisis 2,600 years ago, but it was the growing populations that settled in the region and needed to clear the forest for exploiting arable land,” said Garcin. 

The research also demonstrates that nature has powerful regenerative abilities. Around the time human pressure decreased in Central Africa around 2,000 years ago, the forest ecosystems rebounded.

The study is published in the <a href="http://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</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: B. Brademann / GFZ

Human activity reshaped African forest ecosystems

Research from the University of Potsdam has confirmed that humans...

Researchers at the <a href="http://www.utoledo.edu/">University of Toledo</a> have tracked the migratory routes of tiny songbirds and found that the presence of these birds in their non-breeding sites is a strong predictor of population stability. This indicates that the birds are exposed to more difficult conditions and threats across the regions where they spend their winters.

The golden-winged warbler is a rare songbird that is about the size of a ping pong ball and weighs less than three pennies. The tiny birds have breeding sites in the Appalachian Mountains and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antidepressants-fish-great-lakes/">Great Lakes</a>. In the wintertime, the birds migrate south to the tropical climates of Central and South America.

The research team monitored the birds over the course of five years using tags to calculate their light-based location across thousands of miles. Data obtained from the geolocators revealed that different populations did not mix between their nesting grounds and their non-breeding tropical sites. 

The information showed a strong migratory connectivity, and confirmed that populations of golden-winged warblers stick together all year.

“These golden-winged warblers that breed throughout the Great Lakes region and Appalachian Mountains are going to different areas in the winter,” said study co-author Dr. Henry Streby. 

“That's pivotal because those tropical areas experienced different rates of forest loss during the last 60 years. When we look at forest-loss rates, it correlates closely with golden-winged warbler population changes on breeding grounds thousands of miles away."

The experts discovered that declining populations of warblers spent their winters in northern South America, while stable populations resided in Central America during the non-breeding season.

“They're separate, and it's remarkable,” said PhD student researcher Gunnar Kramer. “Most species we track like this don't show strong connections between breeding sites and wintering sites.”

The researchers explained that conservationists must shift their focus toward preventing further deforestation in Venezuela to protect the habitat of the golden-winged warbler, a species that is now being considered for federal protection.

“If the winter habitat keeps disappearing, the warblers that winter in northern South America won't survive and come back to the Appalachian Mountains no matter how much breeding habitat is available to them,” said Streby.

The study is published in the <a href="http://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</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: Gunnar Kramer

Tropical deforestation threatening rare songbird populations

Researchers at the University of Toledo have tracked the migratory...

For the first time ever, researchers have witnessed life rebounding in the world's driest desert. If this desert soil provides a habitat suitable enough for organisms to survive in, the scientists believe there is a great potential for life on Mars.

An international team led by <a href="https://wsu.edu/">Washington State University</a> planetary scientist Dirk Schulze-Makuch investigated the driest region of the Atacama Desert in South America, where it does not rain for decades at a time.

The hyper-arid environment of the Atacama Desert is the most similar place on Earth to the surface of Mars. Scientists have long speculated whether microbes found in the Atacama soil reside here permanently or if they are simply blown in by the weather.

When the team arrived at the desert in 2015, it actually rained. After this rare event, the researchers detected an explosion of biological activity in the desert soil.

The scientists analyzed soil samples and found several native species of microbial life. When the researchers returned over a year later, they discovered that these specialized bacteria have adapted to survive by going dormant for decades without water and then reactivating when it finally rains.


“In the past, researchers have found dying organisms near the surface and remnants of DNA but this is really the first time that anyone has been able to identify a persistent form of life living in the soil of the Atacama Desert,” said Schulze-Makuch. 

“We believe these microbial communities can lay dormant for hundreds or even thousands of years in conditions very similar to what you would find on a planet like Mars and then come back to life when it rains.”

Schulze-Makuch will return the Atacama Desert to investigate how the native microbial inhabitants have evolved. The team also hopes to look for life in the Don Juan Pond, a shallow in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-monster-discovered-antarctica/">Antarctica</a> that is so salty that it rarely ever freezes.

“There are only a few places left on Earth to go looking for new lifeforms that survive in the kind of environments you would find on Mars,” said Schulze-Makuch. “Our goal is to understand how they are able to do it so we will know what to look for on the Martian surface.”

The study is published in the <a href="http://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</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: Dirk Schulze-Makuch

Life in Earth’s driest desert could mean life exists on Mars

For the first time ever, researchers have witnessed life rebounding...

Groundwater is an essential component of the ecosystems that surround us, as well as a major contributor to our own water supply. However, when it comes to studying hydrological processes, the transitional zone beneath soils and above groundwater is commonly overlooked. The underground layer of bedrock that often exists under soil in mountainous environments has now been found to hold significant amounts of water. Researchers believe that it plays a role as an important reservoir for trees, particularly in times of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-megadroughts/">drought</a>.

A recent study from The <a href="https://www.utexas.edu/">University of Texas at Austin</a> and <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu/">University of California, Berkeley</a>, found that the water contained within the fractures and pores of the rock may play a vital role in the water cycle, at both a local and global level.

“There are significant hydrologic dynamics in weathered bedrock environments, but they are not traditionally investigated because they are hard to access,” says Daniella Rempe, an assistant professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at the UT Austin Jackson School of Geosciences and lead author of the paper. “The study was designed to investigate this region directly.”

Through analysis of a field site in Northern California, the researchers found that up to 27 percent of annual rainfall was stored as “rock moisture,” the water within the pores and cracks of the bedrock. This rock moisture varies depending on the region and topography, but the study’s authors believe that it could explain how trees in the areas studied experienced very little stress from the significant 2010-2015 drought, which killed over 100 million trees in California.

“How trees can survive extended periods of severe drought has been a mystery,” explains Richard Yuretich, director of the National Science Foundation's Critical Zone Observatories program, which funded the study. “This study has revealed a significant reservoir of trapped water that has gone unnoticed in the past. Research of this kind can help greatly in managing natural resources during times of environmental stress.”

Using a neutron probe to measure levels of hydrogen — and thus water levels — in nine wells drilled into bedrock along a steep forested hillslope, the researchers found that this rock layer built up a supply of 4 to 21 inches of rock moisture during the winter wet season. Even in a significant drought year, the maximum amount of rock moisture in each well stayed about the same. This finding shows that it doesn’t matter whether there is a lot of rain or a drought during the winter dry season, as the total rainfall amount does not influence rock moisture levels.

Their results also showed that average rock moisture at all of the wells exceeded the average soil moisture measurements for all locations studied. “Soils are important, but when it comes to determining if a place is going to experience water stress, it could be the underlying rock that matters most,” says Rempe. “This is the first time this has been demonstrated in a multi-year field study.”

These findings hold implications beyond water availability in the locations studied. The authors believe that the potential for rock moisture to travel back to the atmosphere via evaporation from tree leaves, or flow down into groundwater means that it could have a significant impact on the environment and climate.

“At present, most, if not all, of global climate and hydrological models neglect moisture stored in rocks,” says Zong-Liang Yang, a professor in the <a href="http://www.jsg.utexas.edu/dgs/">Jackson School’s Department of Geological Sciences</a>, who was not involved in the research. “This study fills a critical gap in our understanding.”

[caption id="attachment_1114928" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Rock-Moisture.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1114928 size-medium" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Rock-Moisture-300x300.jpg" alt="University of Texas at Austin Jackson School of Geosciences." width="300" height="300" /></a> Image Credit: University of Texas at Austin Jackson School of Geosciences.[/caption]

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Forests survive droughts through hidden sources of rock moisture

Groundwater is an essential component of the ecosystems that surround...

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.univie.ac.at/en/">University of Vienna</a> are describing the challenges faced by King penguins as the climate changes across the Antarctic region. While this species has survived dramatic climate shifts in the past, the scientists warn that this is the first time that they also face the impacts of human activities. 

“The main issue is that there is only a handful of islands in the Southern Ocean and not all of them are suitable to sustain large breeding colonies,” explained first author Robin Cristofari.

When King penguins search for a site to reproduce and raise chicks for a year, they have some very specific requirements. The penguins need an island with a smooth beach and mild winter temperatures so that no sea ice forms. Most importantly, they need an abundant food source nearby to feed their chicks regularly.

For thousands of years, King penguins have been able to depend on a region where <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-monster-discovered-antarctica/">Antarctic</a> waters collide and large concentrations of krill and other fish can be found, known as the Antarctic Polar Front. However, this natural boundary is beginning to drift away from the islands where most King penguins currently live as a result of climate change.

Parents must now swim farther to find food for their chicks. The researchers predict that, for most colonies, the length of the foraging trips will soon exceed the amount of time the offspring can survive without food. This will lead to massive population crashes if the King penguins do not relocate their colonies.

The research team used data from the King penguin’s genome to model worldwide population changes that have occurred over the last 50,000 years. The scientists discovered that past climate change and the subsequent shifts in marine currents and in the location of the Antarctic Polar Front have always been associated with critical episodes for the King penguin. 

The researchers pointed out that King penguins have already survived this exact same crisis several times in the last 50,000 years. 

“Extremely low values in indices of genetic differentiation told us that all colonies are connected by a continuous exchange of individuals,” said co-author Emiliano Trucchi. “In other words, King penguins seem to be able to move around quite a lot to find the safest breeding locations when things turn grim.”

But now, for the first time in history, the King penguins are dealing with the influence of global warming caused by human activities, and the strongest impacts can be seen in polar regions.

“There are still some islands further south where King penguins may retreat, but the competition for breeding sites and for food will be harsh, especially with the other penguin species like the Chinstrap, Gentoo or Adélie penguins, even without the fisheries,” explained co-author Celine Le Bohec. 

“It is difficult to predict the outcome, but there will surely be losses on the way. If we want to save anything, proactive and efficient conservation efforts but, above all, coordinated global action against global warming should start now.”

The study is published in <a href="http://www.nature.com/nclimate/">Nature Climate Change</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Copyright: Celine LeBohec

King penguins face tough decisions due to global warming

Researchers from the University of Vienna are describing the challenges...

A new study has revealed that wind and solar power could supply 80 percent of the electricity demand in the United States.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/renewable-energy-creating-jobs/">Wind and solar</a> job opportunities are projected to skyrocket in the coming years as the world works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change. 

The question then for researchers is how to sustainably meet power demand with green, renewable, and clean energy sources without risk of power outages due to the inconsistent nature of solar, wind, and hydro power. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://uci.edu/">University of California, Irvine</a> found that solar and wind power could meet demand for 80 percent of the country’s electricity, and that 100 percent of the demand could be met but using viable storage solutions. 

The study, published in the journal Energy and Environmental Science, notes that solar and wind power are not completely dependable and several weeks worth of electricity would have to be stored up to reliably meet 100 percent of demand. 

“The sun sets, and the wind doesn't always blow,” said Steven Davis, a co-author of the study. “If we want a reliable power system based on these resources, how do we deal with their daily and seasonal changes?”

In order to assess the reliability of solar and wind power as a possible alternative to carbon-based fuels, the researchers collected and analyzed weather data spanning from 1980 to 2015. 

“We looked at the variability of solar and wind energy over both time and space and compared that to U.S. electricity demand,” said Davis. “What we found is that we could reliably get around 80 percent of our electricity from these sources by building either a continental-scale transmission network or facilities that could store 12 hours' worth of the nation's electricity demand.” 

In order to meet 100 percent of the country’s power needs, researchers say that some forms of low carbon power sources would be required to store and transmit enough energy to keep up with demand. 

The cost of building the kind of framework could amount to hundreds of billions of dollars. According to the researchers, it would take a substantial sum to meet the country’s power needs with solar and wind, but it's not impossible. 

The results are promising because it shows that renewable energy sources like solar and wind can sustainably meet power demand above and beyond what was previously believed to be possible. 

“The fact that we could get 80 percent of our power from wind and solar alone is really encouraging,” said Davis. “Five years ago, many people doubted that these resources could account for more than 20 or 30 percent.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Wind and solar power could supply 80 percent of US electricity

A new study has revealed that wind and solar power...

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.wcs.org/">Wildlife Conservation Society</a> are expressing an urgent need to protect the world's remaining untouched forests, which are critical in helping to curb climate change. These regions also play a major role in protecting wildlife, indigenous cultures, watersheds, and human health.

The study authors say that the findings of this analysis highlight the immediate need for international policies to protect forest areas that have not already been degraded by human activities. 

According to the researchers, legislation is needed to secure and protect the land rights of indigenous people, establish new protected areas, regulate industry and hunting, and target restoration efforts.

Without the implementation of such strategies, many environmental targets will fall short including some of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

“As vital carbon sinks and habitats for millions of people and imperiled wildlife, it is well known that forest protection is essential for any environmental solution--yet not all forests are equal,” said study co-author James Watson. 

“Forest conservation must be prioritized based on their relative values--and Earth's remaining intact forests are the crown jewels, ones that global climate and biodiversity policies must now emphasize.”

The research team examined the potentially catastrophic impacts that human and industrial activities have on forests. Once a forest has been introduced to these activities, they become more susceptible to fire, erosion, disease, and the effects of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-winter-sports/">climate change</a>.

“Even if all global targets to halt deforestation were met, humanity might be left with only degraded, damaged forests, in need of costly and sometimes unfeasible restoration, open to a cascade of further threats and perhaps lacking the resilience needed to weather the stresses of climate change,” said co-author Dr. Tom Evans. 

“This is a huge gamble to take, for conservation, for climate change, and for some of the most vulnerable human communities on the planet. Our research shows that a remedy is indeed possible, but we need to act whilst there are still intact forests to save.”


The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/natecolevol/">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Earth’s remaining untouched forests are invaluable to humans

Researchers at the Wildlife Conservation Society are expressing an urgent...

Researchers at the <a href="http://www5.usp.br/english/?lang=en">University of Sao Paulo</a> have found that less green space in urban areas allows disease-bearing mosquitoes to thrive. These particular insects are more adapted to urban areas and benefit from declining populations of other species.

The researchers analyzed 37,972 specimens collected in parks across Sao Paulo and found that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/swatting-mosquitoes-avoid-scent/">mosquitoes</a> belonged to 73 species and 14 genera. The study revealed that the overall number of species is dropping, and that mosquitoes which transmit diseases are benefitting as other species disappear.

“The vector species have adapted to urban environments. As green areas are reduced, wild species gradually disappear, and urban-adapted species dominate the territory,” explained study co-author Antonio Ralph Medeiros-Sousa. “They are precisely the species that transmit the most pathogens.”

The scientists found that seven out of the eight most common species in the area were disease-bearing mosquitoes. The experts also discovered that only five species made up 68 percent of all the mosquitoes observed.

“There's a correlation between the size of green spaces and species diversity,” said Medeiros-Sousa. “Smaller green areas tend to have a subset of the species found in larger green areas, and the range of species in smaller areas tends to comprise mainly vectors.”


The researchers emphasize that the presence of higher concentrations of vector mosquitoes does not necessarily mean that there is a higher risk of disease transmission, but it does imply a greater likelihood that humans will come into contact with disease-bearing mosquitoes.

Study co-author Mauro Marrelli explained:  “It doesn't mean there will be more disease. The other factor that determines the incidence of disease is the presence of pathogens, such as dengue, Zika or yellow fever virus. The study shows that there's an imbalance, with less species diversity in smaller and less conserved areas.”

According to the study authors, the research exposes the need for further studies focused on how habitat loss in urban areas affects vector insects and the risk of disease transmission.

The study is published <a href="http://www.nature.com/srep/">Scientific Reports</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Disease-bearing mosquitoes thrive in cities with less greenery

Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo have found that...

Researchers at the <a href="http://www.ucla.edu/">University of California Los Angeles</a> have found that children who are raised in neighborhoods with more greenery have improved cognitive function. The experts found significant anatomical changes that suggest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-signal-indicates-listening/">brain</a> development is improved by exposure to nature.

The investigation was focused on 253 school children in Barcelona. The team used satellite data to measure the children's residential exposure to greenspace from the time of birth up until the time of the research.

The experts used high resolution 3D magnetic resonance images to study the brain anatomy of participants, and computerized tests were given to evaluate working memory and attentiveness.

“This is the first study that evaluates the association between long-term exposure to greenspace and brain structure,” said lead author Dr. Payam Dadvand. “Our findings suggest that exposure to greenspace early in life could result in beneficial structural changes in the brain.”

The study revealed that long-term exposure to a greener neighborhood was associated with higher white and gray matter volume in regions of the brain that overlap areas involved with better cognitive function. 

Higher white and gray matter volume was also linked to better working memory and attentiveness among the students. A previous study had demonstrated that children who attended schools with more green space had improved working memory and attentiveness as well. 

The Biophilia hypothesis suggests that there is an evolutionary bond between humans and nature. Because of this, greenspaces are recommended for psychological restoration in children. 

Nature also provides children with opportunities for exercises which are thought to positively influence brain development such as discovery, creativity, and risk taking.

“The study adds to growing evidence suggesting that early life exposure to green space and other environmental factors can exert measurable and lasting effects on our health through the life course,” said co-author Michael Jerrett.“These results also might provide clues on how such structural changes could underlie the observed beneficial effects of greenspace exposure on cognitive and behavioral development,” said co-author Dr. Jesus Pujol.

The study is published in <a href="https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/">Environmental Health Perspectives</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Growing up in a greener neighborhood helps brain development

Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles have found...

For about a month, I’ve been working on the fossil of an ancient <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sharks-shaped-airplanes-zeppelins/">shark</a>.  The shark is in the genus Ptychodus, a name roughly meaning ‘fold teeth’ in Greek.  The name comes from the animal’s strange teeth, designed for crushing shells rather than tearing flesh like classic shark teeth.  

The individual I’ve been patiently removing a rock layer from has revealed a strange and twisted face.  Two eye sockets are splayed on either side of plates of rounded, blunt teeth.  The teeth seem to have once been arranged in neat rectangles, though some of the tooth plates seem twisted and a few teeth are scattered around the head.  The whole shark fossil has been flattened and appears as little more than a dark etching in a light stone.  The body inhabits several broken pieces of rock lying next to each other on a table.  A long column of vertebrae stretch back in the same basic arrangement as in a live shark, except for a couple that have dropped out of place, dipping in the middle of the back.  Two fins reveal delicate, hand like cartilage skeleton structures on either side of the body. At the tail there is a section of delicate illuminating skin, but it’s cut short by pieces of rock on either side that simply weren’t collected at the quarry where the Ptychodus was found.

Such is the testimony of the Earth’s past.  Broken rock and distorted fossilized skeleton pieced together with sediment, chemistry, physics, genetics, biology and geology to reveal what we know, what we can know about the planet’s past.  

Although my particular shark was found in Texas, the genus Ptychodus was originally discovered in Kansas.  Some may think of corn fields, or Dorothy and Toto, and decide that Kansas is an unlikely place to discover a shark.  But Kansas as we know it now is not even roughly the same place as Kansas of the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway.  The Western Interior Seaway split what is now the United States roughly in half.  The entire states of Colorado and Wyoming were actually underwater at one time.  The middle of Utah and Kansas were on the opposite sides of the sea and most of the south, including all of Texas, was under water.  

In the small museum in Hill City South Dakota, attached to Black Hills Institute of Geological Research, I once worked hangs the skeleton of an enormous turtle.  The turtle is suspended from the ceiling, appearing to swim through the air above your head, peering down curiously, tilted head slightly down.  The turtle is a sea turtle and very much resembles living leatherback sea turtle skeletons.  The difference between the turtle in South Dakota of the genus Archelon and modern Leatherbacks is mostly size and distribution.  Imagine that the world’s largest known sea turtle was discovered in South Dakota, a very landlocked state.  The largest Archelon specimen is about 13 feet long and 16 feet wide.  Adult leatherback sea turtles measure about 6-7 feet long and weigh approximately 500-1500 lbs. 

Archelon, swam in the same enormous inland sea as Ptychodus.  The sea stretched from the Gulf of Mexico all through Canada into the Arctic ocean, the sea was 2,500 feet deep at its deepest and home to a menagerie of weird and wild creatures.  The Western Interior Seaway was also home to Xiphactinus, another fish I worked on, the genus larger (at 18 feet long) than any known bony fish.  Mostly Xiphactinus looks like a normal fish but with jutting, pencil like teeth that could make the impressionable think twice about swimming in the ocean.  

Truly strange animals such as the long snake-necked plesiosaurs, looking like sea dragons from mythology swam through the middle of our continent once.  Pterosaurs, like the famous pterodactyl and swimming birds both fished the Western Interior Seaway.  

The Western Interior Seaway was subtropical as far north as Wyoming.  Partially the climate was warmer because the North American continent has moved over time but evidence is strong that the whole world was warmer.  Antarctica wasn’t the entirely ice covered freezer we know but once a place dinosaurs could roam.  

The Western Interior Seaway lasted for about 60 million years, longer than the human species, but all things must come to an end and the last we saw of the seaway was 70 million years ago.  Climate change likely dried up the interior seaway and held its waters frozen in the poles.  The history of the earth is one of cycles, not entirely linear, so one may wonder if seaways once ancient may be part of the future as well.  How are you building tomorrow’s ocean?   

--

By<a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com"> Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Inland seas and the Western Interior Seaway

For about a month, I’ve been working on the fossil...

Many ski resort openings were delayed across the western part of the country from Colorado to California this year, as warmer winters and lower snowfall are becoming a common occurrence. Ski resorts are hit hard with losses in a low-snow season, and the United States economy suffers as well.

According to a study from the nonprofit organization <a href="https://protectourwinters.org/">Protect Our Winters</a> (POW), the winter sports economy experiences a loss of up to $1 billion and more than 17,350 jobs in a winter with minimal snowfall.

On the other hand, POW reports that a good snow season in the United States contributes an additional $692.9 million to the economy and more than 11,750 jobs.

Rebecca Hill is a Colorado-based natural resources economist who contributed to the POW study. Hill pointed out that the service industries surrounding ski resorts are also greatly impacted when skiers do not show up.

The analysis revealed that snowboarders, skiers, and snowmobilers boosted the economy by around $20.3 billion in the 2015-2016 winter season through spending at ski resorts, hotels, restaurants, bars, and grocery stores. 

Skier visits in the United States averaged 55.4 million between 2001 and 2016. According to the researchers, 3.8 million more tourists showed up to ski in the highest snow years, while skier visits dropped by 5.5 million below average during the five lowest snow years.

There seems to be a steady progression in warming trends, and 2016 and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/2017-second-hottest-year-2/">2017</a> have been declared by NASA to be the hottest years on record. Since 1901, winter temperatures in the United States have risen at almost twice the rate of summer temperatures, and colder regions are transitioning faster than warmer ones.

The 2018 Economic Report from Protect Our Winters can be found <a href="https://protectourwinters.org/2018-economic-report/">here</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Climate change is costing the winter sports economy big money

Many ski resort openings were delayed across the western part...

To understand and predict the full impacts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-lightning-strikes/">climate change</a>, researchers often look to the past when drastic variations in climate completely changed the landscape. 

According to new research, dried up fossil lake beds in the desert in the western United States reveal how both warm and cool climates triggered precipitation and lake formation.

Ancient lakes in Utah and northwestern Nevada existed during two periods with very different climates. The first was the ice age maxima which occurred 14 to 30 thousand years ago when temperatures were 4 to 6 degrees colder than average. 

The second period, the Pliocene epoch, took place around 300 million years ago and had much warmer temperatures. 

The team of <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a> researchers set out to found out how could lakes exist under such opposite extremes and what this could mean for a warmer future due to human-driven climate change.

“Why are there lake systems under both colder and warmer climates, but not today?" asked Daniel Ibarra, the study’s lead author. 

To examine this dichotomy, the researchers collected data on ancient lake beds and how temperature and precipitation extremes could allow for lakes to thrive under both dry and cool climates. 

Lake models were made with both the colder and warmer environments during the two clashing periods. 

The researchers discovered that increased precipitation and decreased evaporation formed large lakes in Nevada and Utah.

During the middle of Pliocene epoch, an increase in precipitation also formed lakes in the western United States, and the conditions during that time are comparable to the climates during a modern El Nino period.

The results of the study show that warmer and colder climates over a long period of time can create increased precipitation, which is ideal for the formation and sustainability of lakes. 

The fact that modern El Nino conditions are similar to the middle of the Pliocene epoch is helpful for future climate prediction studies. 

“This work illustrates the importance of understanding how the El Niño Southern Oscillation drives precipitation patterns in arid regions, which is important for future water resources planning for the western United States,” said Ibarra. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Photo credit: Anne Egger

Extinct lakes provide clues about future climate conditions

To understand and predict the full impacts of climate change,...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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



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

Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

NASA monitors giant dust storms on Mars

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="http://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. This strait provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean.



Qeshm is separated from the Iranian coast by the Clarence Strait, also known as Khuran.&nbsp;The Hara Forest Protected Area is a network of shallow waterways and forest located between the island and the mainland. This protected region is home to sea turtles, snakes, and more than 150 species of migrating birds.



Qeshm is famous for its wide range of&nbsp;ecotourist&nbsp;attractions, such as the&nbsp;Hara marine forests. According to environmentalists, about 1.5 percent of the world birds and 25 percent of Iran's native <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/female-hummingbirds-avoid-sexual-harassment-by-looking-like-males/">birds</a> annually migrate to the forests, which are the first national geo park in Iran.



Tourists are also drawn to the island to see an age-old Portuguese&nbsp;fort, historic mosques, the&nbsp;Seyyed Mozaffar&nbsp;and&nbsp;Bibi Maryam&nbsp;shrines, and the "Valley of Stars."



The average temperature on the island is 81 degress and the region is often hot and humid. From June to August, the island is described as being oppressively hot. The ideal time to visit is during the winter season. 



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.

Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique.&nbsp;



"Inhambane Bay is a deep inlet into which the small Mutamba River flows," says ESA. "On one side of the bay lies the historical city of Inhambane, capital of the Inhambane Province, while the sister city of Maxixe, the economic capital of Inhambane, sits across from it. The province is the second largest grower of cashews, after Nampula, and it also produces coconut and citrus fruits."



The beaches of Barra and Tofo are popular with tourists. There are also coral reefs along the long coastline of Inhambane, making it an ideal destination for scuba diving and snorkeling.



"Mozambique’s extensive coastline heightens the country’s vulnerability to tropical cyclones that develop in the Indian Ocean as well as storm surge flooding," says ESA.



"More than half of the population lives in low lying coastal areas, putting communities at risk. Inhambane Bay was dangerously close to where Cyclone Idai made landfall in 2019 causing widespread destruction to the country."



Video/ Image 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.

Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency </a>&nbsp;features the Kangerlussuaq Glacier, one of the largest tidewater outlet glaciers in Greenland. The glacier is located on the east coast of the Greenland ice sheet.



As human-induced climate change continues to drive up temperatures, global ice loss is accelerating at an alarming rate. ESA reports that, over the past decade alone, 3.5 trillion tons of ice have melted from the Greenland ice sheet. This is enough to cover the UK with meltwater 15 meters deep.



Based on satellite imagery, researchers determined that Kangerlussuaq entered a new phase of rapid retreat and acceleration in 2017. In their study, published in <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2019.00123/full">Frontiers in Earth Science</a>,&nbsp; the experts report that the glacier's ice front is now at its most retreated position since the early 20th century.



"Given Kangerlussuaq’s previous impacts on both the magnitude and pattern of ice sheet wide mass loss, we predict that its new phase of retreat, acceleration and thinning will markedly enhance the south-east region’s contribution to increasing discharge from the ice sheet," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;&nbsp;



"More broadly, accurate forecasting of the ice sheet’s contribution to sea level rise will require a deeper understanding of, and responses to, these non-linear ice dynamic processes."



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.

Kangerlussuaq Glacier 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 the complex relationship between ocean and climate. ESA's Climate Change Initiative will help us understand how oceans influence the climate and how climate change is impacting the oceans.&nbsp;



"Earth’s oceans are huge heat stores, soaking up 93% of the excess heat from human activity over the past 70 years. Ocean currents redistribute heat around the planet, from the Equator to the poles. Where this ocean heat goes influences weather patterns and regional climate," explains ESA.



"As well as absorbing heat, oceans are a natural carbon sink, absorbing a quarter of carbon dioxide emissions from human activity. This has led to the acidification of ocean water, threating marine life."



The amount of heat and carbon dioxide soaked up by the ocean depends on specific variables, including phytoplankton, temperatures, waves, salinity, and ice cover. Satellites can be used to measure these variables from space.



"From their unique vantage point, satellites provide key information for understanding the complexities of our planet and monitoring environmental issues," says 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.

Ocean heat influences regional climate

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes the importance of monitoring the shape of the sea surface, which is constantly changing. These observations have many applications, such as ship routing, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-modem-ocean-is-a-tough-place-for-whales-to-survive/">ocean</a> current forecasting, and debris tracking.



"A project supported by the Discovery element of ESA’s Basic Activities recently investigated a new technique to measure sea surface topography very precisely," reports ESA.



"The technique involves looking at satellite navigation (GNSS) signals that have been reflected off of the sea surface at very low angles. At these so-called grazing angles, waves and surface roughness have very little impact on the reflection process; the sea surface acts as a very smooth mirror."



Estel Cardellach is the principal investigator at the Institute for Space Studies of Catalonia, who first submitted the idea for the project.



“In a mirror-like reflection the phase of the signal can be tracked – it is continuous," said Cardellach. "Different surface heights result in different phase measurements. It gives a very precise measurement of the surface altitude at a few centimetres’ precision.”



The researchers developed a GNSS receiver and set up an experiment in the Balaeric Islands to collect signals from the receiver that were reflected off the sea surface. Ultimately, these signals will provide improved measurements of the shape of the sea surface.



Image/ Video Credit: ESA



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

Monitoring the dynamic shape of the sea surface

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center</a> describes how scientists are using autonomous sound sensors to monitor deforestation in the Amazon. By recording soundscapes, the experts can determine which animals are present through their distinct sounds.&nbsp;



Using this method, sounds can be used as scientific measurements to analyze the effects of deforestation. The researchers will gain a better understanding of how the acoustics of a forest can be used to measure its health.&nbsp;



"From space, parts of the Amazon rainforest that have previously been logged or burned may look lush and green, like a place buzzing with activity and full of sounds. But inside the rainforest, the animal life may tell a different story, of a harsh environment and a quieter soundscape," says NASA.



Video Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center&nbsp;



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

Monitoring deforestation in the Amazon through sounds

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