Krill may be small, but their role in carbon storage is monumental. Beneath Antarctica's icy waters, these tiny crustaceans are emerging as unexpected heroes in the fight against atmospheric carbon.



While the significance of blue carbon habitats like mangroves, seagrasses, and saltmarshes is well-known, recent research highlights the vital contribution of Antarctic krill and their impressive carbon storage capacity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-unsung-heroes-of-carbon-capture">The unsung heroes of carbon capture</h2>



When we think of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mountains-both-carbon-sinks-and-carbon-sources/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon sinks</a> - the vital natural systems that absorb and store carbon from the atmosphere - we might not consider the role of small crustaceans.



The new findings reveal that Antarctic krill store amounts of carbon that are comparable to critical blue carbon habitats like mangroves, seagrasses, and saltmarshes.



Despite <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/antarctic-krill_store-huge-amounts-carbon_credit-Imperial-College_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">their minute size</a>, these krill contribute significantly to carbon cycling, thanks to their enormous combined populations.



"A key player in the biological carbon pump is the Antarctic krill,&nbsp;Euphausia superba, whose faecal pellets, moults and carcasses can completely dominate Southern Ocean carbon fluxes to the ocean’s interior in the Austral growth season," wrote the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-krill-in-carbon-cycling">The role of krill in carbon cycling</h2>



Krill are often viewed as merely being food for larger animals. Whales, seals, and penguins relish these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-deep-sea-crustacean-species-discovered-in-the-bahamas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crustaceans</a>, and humans also fish them for bait, aquaculture, and dietary supplements. 



However, the value of krill extends far beyond the food chain.



“For the past decade we have been piecing together the role krill have in carbon cycling, finally resulting in this amazing finding that krill, and their poo, store similar amounts of carbon as some coastal marine plants," explained Dr. Emma Cavan, one of the lead authors from <a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Imperial College London</a>.



Protection for these vital creatures is an urgent matter. 



"I hope this means we can now work towards conserving krill and their valuable Southern Ocean ecosystem with the same gumption as we are seagrasses and mangroves," Cavan continued.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carbon-storage-in-ocean-systems">Carbon storage in ocean systems</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-impacting-marine-life-more-than-we-realized/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marine life</a> plays a pivotal role in locking carbon away from the atmosphere in ocean systems. The term "blue carbon" was coined over a decade ago to describe the crucial role <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/native-aquatic-plants-could-help-clean-coastal-waters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coastal marine plants</a> play in this process. 



Yet, the ocean has other storage methods far from the coast through animals like krill. These creatures feed on phytoplankton - microscopic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/good-news-plants-are-absorbing-more-human-produced-co2-than-expected/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants that absorb carbon</a> during photosynthesis.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/antarctic-krill_store-huge-amounts-carbon_illustration_credit-Imperial-College_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/antarctic-krill_store-huge-amounts-carbon_illustration_credit-Imperial-College_1s.webp" alt="Illustration of Antarctic krill in the Southern Ocean ecosystem. Credit: Glynn Gorick/Imperial College" class="wp-image-1945051"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Illustration of Antarctic krill in the Southern Ocean ecosystem. Credit: Glynn Gorick/Imperial College</figcaption></figure>



When krill excrete or shed their exoskeletons, the carbon they've consumed sinks to the ocean depths, where it remains for a long time. 



This process could lock away at least 20 million tons of carbon annually, which is the equivalent of up to $46 billion worth of carbon storage.



“Antarctic krill are well known for being at the center of the unique Southern Ocean ecosystem and supporting an important fishery. But this study paints another picture of krill -- on their key role in storing carbon," noted study co-author Professor Angus Atkinson from <a href="https://pml.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Plymouth Marine Laboratory</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-power-of-krill-swarms">The power of krill swarms</h2>



The massive populations of krill make them effective carbon storers. Swarms can contain up to 30 trillion individuals, producing a deluge of carbon-rich waste products.



“One of the amazing things about krill is that they form massive swarms, which can be over a kilometer in length," said Dr. Anna Belcher, a co-author from the <a href="https://www.ceh.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UK Centre for Ecology &amp; Hydrology</a>. 



"This drives a huge 'rain' of krill poo after feeding, making krill globally important for locking carbon away from the atmosphere."



The study also reveals that the depth needed to secure carbon storage effectively is surprisingly shallow, with an average of 381 meters.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-krill-for-carbon-storage">Protecting krill for carbon storage </h2>



Antarctic krill are under increasing threat from rapid polar climate change, which is drastically altering their habitat. These krill are also targeted by an expanding fishery that further depletes their populations.



The combined pressures make the carbon storage capacity of krill an urgent and vital area for protection. 



Preserving this crucial carbon sink is essential for maintaining the delicate balance of the Southern Ocean ecosystem, and for meeting global climate goals.



The research highlights the need to integrate carbon considerations into broader conservation policies.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-52135-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Tiny Antarctic krill store enormous amounts of carbon

Krill may be small, but their role in carbon storage is monumental. Beneath Antarctica's icy waters, these tiny crustaceans are emerging as unexpected heroes in the fight against atmospheric carbon. While the significance of blue carbon habitats like mangroves, seagrasses, and saltmarshes is well-known, recent research highlights the vital contribution of Antarctic krill and their impressive carbon storage capacity. The unsung heroes of carbon capture When we think of carbon sinks - the vital natural systems that absorb and store carbon from the atmosphere - we might...

As Earth.com <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alter-lifestyle-fight-climate-change/">reported last week</a>, a recent <a href="https://today.yougov.com/">YouGov</a> survey revealed that many individuals agree that climate change is real problem but are unwilling to make even small changes in their day to day life to decrease their own personal carbon footprint. It might seem like a daunting challenge to try and minimize one’s own environmental impact, or perhaps it’s just something we are too lazy to put into action. But there are a few small ways you can reduce your environmental footprint and employ a zero waste mindset in your daily life.

But first, what is zero waste? 

Zero Waste is a trending movement where the goal is to reduce how much waste you bring home and create yourself. The zero waste movement doesn’t eradicate all waste from your life, but it provides ways to drastically reduce plastics and packaging materials. The most dedicated zero wasters often display the amount of trash they accumulate in a year fitting in a small mason jar. 

If most people are unwilling to make even a small change in their day to day to help the environment, going zero waste may seem like a scale up Mount Everest. But don’t give up just yet. Here are few essential tips that may help change your mindset.

1. Know What Exactly You Are Getting Yourself Into

Are you going green, trying to be minimalist, hoping for a zero waste lifestyle, or just want to reduce your personal environmental footprint? Understanding exactly what zero waste means and how to incorporate it into your life is probably the best way to get started. Do some research and find out what will work for you. 

2. Get Inspired

Watching a few video tutorials online, scrolling through Pinterest, and reading some great <a href="https://zerowastehome.com">minimalist blogs</a> might inspire you to get onboard. You’ll be able to see all sides of the spectrum, from those who have <a href="https://www.goingzerowaste.com">great beginner tips</a> to those who are making their own conditioner. 

3. Get Thrifty

One of the easiest ways to incorporate less waste in your life is to try thrift shops. By thrifting for clothes, essential home goods, and even furniture, you are immediately reducing the typical amount of packaging and waste, and keeping those items out of the landfill.

4. Start Small

Bringing your own canvas and reusable bags to the grocery store may sound great in theory, but often they stay crumpled up in your kitchen cabinets because you always forget them. Try moving them to your car and keep them there. 

Also try bringing your own to-go mug to Starbucks or your favorite coffee shop. Many cafes often offer discounts for bringing your own cup, so it’s a double bonus. 

You could even think about getting a french press for your morning coffee routine, as they don’t require any coffee filters and don’t take any longer than your average drip brews.

5. Bulk Up

Many of the foods and household items you use every day are available to purchase in bulk, and for a discounted price. You can even buy or make your own bulk food bags so you don’t have to use the plastic disposable bags available. Bulk is also a great way to get spices and baking supplies that you don’t often run out of, and being able to pick your own amounts is part of the draw. 

The more advanced zero wasters can find ways to bulk up on liquids and oils, but just shopping at a bulk food store and grabbing a few things is a great way to get started. 

6. Shop Local

Avoid the big chain grocery store and try your local farmer’s market. Not only will you be supporting local, often the produce is fresher and cheaper than anything you could get at your basic grocery store. 

7. Compost (if possible)

Not everyone has the luxury of being able to compost. It can be easier in smaller towns and rural areas, so for urban apartment dwellers, composting may be an impossibility. Check out your city's waste removal procedures, be familiar with recycling, and see if they offer composting bins. Minneapolis, Minnesota surprisingly has composting readily available for its residents, so it never hurts to check. 

8. Jar out!

Mason jars are more than just trendy hipster cocktail glasses or canning accessories. The mason jar also serves as a zero waster or minimalist's best friend. They can hold your bulk goods like spices and baking ingredients. You can use a mason jar for your favorite iced coffee or smoothie. You can find handy grab and go recipes with mason jars like overnight oats and take and shake layered salads. They are easy to wash, easy to label, and easy to reuse. 

9. Small changes make a big impact

As much as some zero wasters would have us all making our own deodorant, composting, and not buying any new clothes for a year, the practicality and convenience of which are not always possible for everyone. By making even small changes, such as eating less meat, reducing waste and fuel consumption, and incorporating some healthier habits in our lives, we can minimize our environmental footprint. 

At the end of the day, you have to do what will work for you and your schedule. These are just a few tips to get you started on your own zero waste path. Planet Earth will thank you for it.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Easy ways to adopt a Zero Waste mindset

As Earth.com reported last week, a recent YouGov survey revealed...

Cool roofs are an emerging technology that feature a number of attractive qualities. They consist of highly solar reflective materials and are lighter in color and help regulate roof temperature during heat waves.

Average dark, shingled roofs have been recorded as being 50 degrees hotter than outside temperatures, which can mean sky-high cooling costs and energy bills to keep your house comfortable. But cool roofs only increase a few degrees compared to outside temperatures, which are a major part of their appeal.

Cool roofs can also save up to 15% of energy costs and mitigate the urban <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reducing-heat-islands-climate-change/">heat island</a> effect, where urban areas end up two to five degrees hotter in temperature because dark roofing and dark pavements soak up so much heat and cover such a wide area. 

But a new study from the<a href="http://www.aqmd.gov/"> South Coast Air Quality Management District</a> and the <a href="https://www.usc.edu/">University of Southern California</a> reveals that while they can be beneficial in countering energy costs, they may also adversely harm air quality and increase ozone levels. 

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, details how scientists used air quality computer models and meteorology models to track how cool roofs reflect harmful UV rays and increase air pollution levels. 

However, the researchers involved are in no way calling for a ban of cool roofing materials or technology. 

"While the future, widespread use of certain kinds of cool roofing materials could slightly increase air pollution levels, we in no way want to discourage this technology. This study shows what needs to be done to help cool our cities and avoid increasing ozone levels as an unintended consequence," said the South Coast Air Quality Management District's Executive Officer, Wayne Nastri. 

While the study did show a slight predicted increase in pollution levels with an increased used of cool roofing materials, cool pavements could have a much more adverse impact as they increase in popularity.

The findings prove the need for increased regulation and strategical development to find ways to continue to improve cool roofing materials and hinder their potentially harmful side effects. 

---

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Cool roofs help manage heat but may increase air pollution

Cool roofs are an emerging technology that feature a number...

Social media is helping communities manage fires. When people catch a glimpse of fire or see smoke in the air, they often rush to social media to report it. Atmospheric scientists from <a href="https://www.colostate.edu/">Colorado State University</a> decided to take advantage of this fact and use Facebook as a resource to help develop new ways to monitor and improve air quality. 

The study, led by research scientist Bonne Ford, found a strong association between the numbers of Facebook posts about visible smoke and the estimates of smoke exposure projected by commonly used methods. Satellite observations, chemical transport models, and surface particulate matter measurements are all tools used to locate areas which are susceptible to harmful smoke. 

"We have monitoring systems, but monitors can be sparse in different places," Ford said. "In our group, we've been trying to combine a whole bunch of methods, models and observations to look at smoke exposure. And we thought, 'it would be really great if people could just tell us when they are exposed to smoke. Well, what about social media?'"

The study showed that Facebook actually provided more accurate locations of smoke than satellite data, which takes pictures of smoke from above Earth. Pierce said that even though satellites can view smoke from above, the data is not always accurate. "Sometimes, the satellites can't tell what altitude the smoke is at," he explained.

The team enlisted the help of research scientist Moira Burke at Facebook for the study. They focused on Facebook users who posted between June and October about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-moisture-predict-wildfires/">wildfire</a> smoke and air quality. The scientists were able to collect data about when and where users posted about smoke without disclosing their identities.

The researchers created daily maps that represented the numbers of Facebook posts and compared them with data maps of standard smoke monitoring systems. They found a strong correlation between the data collected from Facebook and surface monitors, which sense smoke and other particles such as PM2.5 in the air. PM2.5 is of particular concern to scientists due the fact that inhaling it can cause serious health problems.

The scientists hope their research will lead to the development of new methods to assess smoke exposure. They will continue to evaluate whether Facebook data may help improve the efficiency of existing smoke monitoring methods. The study is published in <a href="https://www.atmospheric-chemistry-and-physics.net/">Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Social media is helping communities manage fires

Social media is helping communities manage fires. When people catch...

Earth Overshoot Day marks the point in the year when we have used all of the Earth’s allotted renewable resources for that year. If Earth Overshoot Day happens early, then for the months after we are in “ecological debt.” 

The news came on August 2nd that in just less than 8 months, humans had already reached Earth Overshoot. While this isn’t the first time we’ve maxed out on what our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-guide-saving-planet/">planet</a> has to offer, it does mark the earliest point in any year that we have used up our renewable resources.

The Global Footprint Network said in a statement, “We have used more from nature than our planet can renew in the whole year. This means that in seven months, we emitted more carbon than the oceans and forests can absorb in a year, we caught more fish, felled more trees, harvested more, and consumed more water than the Earth was able to produce in the same period.” 

Environmentalists say that we can all help counter this effect by reducing food waste, eating less meat, and trying to burn less fuel. If we don’t, we risk planetary “bankruptcy.” 

Nicolas Hulot, France’s Minister of Ecological Transition, made a speech on Overshoot Day that explained exactly what was meant by overshoot and debt and why we should be concerned. Hulot explained that if we want to continue to use vital natural resources, then we need to consume them a rate that will allow the Earth to naturally “regenerate” those resources.

We are in debt currently because we have consumed more than the Earth can “regenerate” in this current year. And the debt is adding up. 

But experts say that even small changes in our own personal day to day routines could have a big impact on Overshoot and slowing it down.

If you’re curious about your own personal footprint and impact and want to know if you have an overshoot day yourself, <a href="http://www.footprintnetwork.org/">The Global Footprint Network</a> has an app that lets you calculate your own environmental footprint and resource consumption. 

----

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Humans have already burned through Earth’s resources for 2017

Earth Overshoot Day marks the point in the year when...

Mount Sinabung in Indonesia erupts after months of activity. Following several months of volcanic activity, Mount Sinabung in Sumatra, Indonesia erupted on Wednesday, August 3rd, spewing ash almost three miles into the air. It was the volcano's biggest eruption in the past few months. 

Mount Sinabung has been sporadically active since 2010 when it came back to life after being dormant for quite some time. 

There have been no casualties from the Wednesday eruption but <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/bogoslof-volcano-ash-plumes/">hot ash</a> flooded down the mountain as far as nearly 3 miles and into the Labortus River. Students from a nearby elementary school were evacuated and citizens were warned about possible flash floods due to the ash creating a natural dam in the river. 

A spokesperson for the <a href="http://www.ndma.gov.in/">National Disaster Mitigation Agency</a>, Sutupo Purwo Nugroho, has issued a call for face masks and clean water and said that the ash fall directly affected thousands of people across ten different villages. 

Nugroho said a danger zone within 5 miles of the peak needs to avoided by all people in the nearby communities. 

While this eruption was certainly its biggest, officials say Mount Sinabung also experienced nineteen smaller eruptions with lava flows all by mid afternoon on Wednesday. 

Villagers were photographed looking on as huge pyroclastic flows were seen in the background. While no casualties have been reported this year, seven people were killed during an eruption in May 2016.

---

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Mount Sinabung in Indonesia erupts after months of activity

Mount Sinabung in Indonesia erupts after months of activity. Following...

Tropical forests are generally believed to have been untapped natural resources before modern industry and agriculture, yet new research has proven otherwise. The first global study of human impact on tropical forests has established that humans started altering tropical forests tens of thousands of years ago.

Researchers from the <a href="http://www.shh.mpg.de/en">Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History</a> and other universities focused their study on three aspects of human influence on tropical forests. These categories include hunting and gathering, small-scale agricultural activities, and large-scale urban development.

Hunter-gatherers performed controlled burns on tropical forests in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humid-heat-south-asia-deadly/">Southeastern Asia</a> at least 45,000 years ago, which is when modern humans first occupied this region. They cleared the woods to create more forest edge environments to attract the plants and animals that they preferred. 

Many scientists believe that such activities led to the extinction of forest megafauna in the Late Pleistocene, around 125,000-12,000 years ago. Large marsupials, forest mastodons, and the giant ground sloth disappeared in this era. The effects of these extinctions on forest density, plant species distribution, plant reproductive mechanisms, and life-cycles of forest stand can still be seen today.

Around 10,000 years ago, early farming of tropical forests led to the domestication of forest plants and animals such as chickens, peppers, sweet potatoes, and mangoes. Farming strategies based on local plants and animals did not result in lasting damage to the tropical forests. 

However, significant soil erosion and forest-burning began as external farming strategies were introduced such as cattle and seed for grazing. The clearing of forests for palm oil plantations also resulted in major ecological changes. 

"These practices, which induce rampant clearance, reduce biodiversity, provoke soil erosion, and render landscapes more susceptible to the outbreak of wildfires, represent some of the greatest dangers facing tropical forests," said co-author Dr. Chris Hunt.

Despite the idea that tropical forests were “green deserts” which were unsuitable for early populations to develop, new technologies have shown that large urban settlements were created in these forest habitats during ancient times. 

"Indeed, extensive settlement networks in the tropical forests of Amazonia, Southeast Asia, and Mesoamerica clearly persisted many times longer than more recent industrial and urban settlements of the modern world have so far been present in these environments," explained lead author Dr. Patrick Roberts.

Some Mayan groups thrived by planting complementary food crops in the forest instead of clearing it. Other groups that cleared out the forests for large crops had less success. The combination of the stress on the environment and climate change led to drastic declines in populations.

The authors of the study, published today in <a href="https://www.nature.com/nplants/">Nature Plants</a>, conclude that an archaeological understanding of the history of tropical forests and their past modification by humans is critical in developing conservation strategies. The researchers recommend an approach that utilizes the knowledge and experience of the native populations that live in tropical forests. 

"Indigenous and traditional peoples - whose ancestors' systems of production and knowledge are slowly being decoded by archaeologists - should be seen as part of the solution and not one of the problems of sustainable tropical forest development," said Roberts.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Humans have been impacting tropical forests for over 45,000 years

Tropical forests are generally believed to have been untapped natural...

When the first flowers appeared on Earth over 140 million years ago, they were all from a single ancestor. In an attempt to uncover more information about the origin and diversification of the flower, a team of scientists were able to assemble an image of what this ancestral flower looked like. 

A meticulous study of 792 species helped the researchers develop an evolutionary tree that connected all living flower species. Their research produced the largest data set of floral traits ever collected, and the experts managed to reconstruct the ancestral flower. 

The primitive flower looked like a water lily with wide petals and protruding pollen spikes.  Hervé Sauquet is an evolutionary biologist from Paris-Sud University and lead author of the study. He explained that it is difficult to draw a comparison between ancient flowers and today's <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/grow-fluorescent-flowers/">flowers</a>.

"All flowering plants have evolved and changed since that ancestor, that's how evolution works," said Sauquet. "So there is no single species or group of species that would have existed some long time ago and still exists today unchanged."

The experts determined that the ancient flower was bisexual and radially symmetrical  with both stamens and carpels, or male and female parts. They had multiple whorls of petal-like organs in sets of threes.

"These results call into question much of what has been thought and taught previously about floral evolution," said study co-author Juerg Schoenenberger. "It has long been assumed that the ancestral flower had all organs arranged in a spiral."

Fossil flowers from the time of the ancestral flower do not exist, which made it difficult for the researchers to estimate the exact features. Another amount of uncertainty lies in the fact that flowering plants, or angiosperms, can be traced back to a common ancestor 310 million years ago. 

"But we don't know yet what that ancestor looked like, nor what happened in between these two ancestors, a period of time some of us like to refer to as a dark tunnel,” said Sauquet.

Flowers, which are the reproductive structures of angiosperms, were not traced back that far.

“The origin of the angiosperm flower remains among the most difficult and most important unresolved topics in evolutionary biology,” said the authors.

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: Hervé Sauquet and Jürg Schönenberger

The first flower on Earth may have looked like this

When the first flowers appeared on Earth over 140 million...

Human-induced and natural earthquakes: not so different after all. There has been a spike in earthquakes in the U.S. recently, particularly in the central part of the country in states like Oklahoma and Kansas. These earthquakes are mostly human-induced and can be traced to wastewater fluid injection in deep wells and often are triggered by oil and gas operations that use those methods. However, studies have shown that fracking itself is not simply the direct cause of the earthquakes. 

The increase in earthquakes now compared to the years before 2000 paints a staggering picture. In Oklahoma the yearly average for earthquakes at a 2.7 magnitude or greater was about two, now that number is in the thousands. In 2015, 4,000 earthquakes were reported, though the numbers dropped to 2,500 in 2016. 

A study from the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a> in association with colleagues from <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a> looked at the difference in impact in earthquakes that are “man made” as opposed to earthquakes born from natural causes. 

Yihe Huang, lead author and an assistant professor at the University of Michigan Department of Earth and Sciences, found that there were no measurable differences in ground motions between naturally occurring earthquakes and induced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strike-slip-faults-form-earthquakes/">earthquakes</a>. 

"Our study shows that induced earthquakes and natural earthquakes in the central U.S. are inherently similar, and we can predict the damaging effects of induced earthquakes using the same framework as natural earthquakes," Yihe Huang said. 

This is promising news as it means that earthquakes with non-natural causes can be studied and the resulting damage predicted with the same instruments and methods that seismologist use for all earthquakes. 

In fact, the results of the discovery could mean that ground motion prediction equations, GMPEs, that predict damage from naturally occurring earthquakes can also predict damage from induced earthquakes. 

---

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@eartah.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Human-induced and natural earthquakes: not so different after all

Human-induced and natural earthquakes: not so different after all. There...

Humid heat in South Asia to become deadly this century. With <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-two-degrees-warming/">climate change</a> becoming an increasing reality, certain parts of the world may soon experience conditions that are simply unlivable. In 2015, Pakistan, India, and other parts of South Asia endured the fifth highest recorded heatwave in history and over 3,000 people were killed. 

Scientists predict that by the end of the 21st century, South Asia, which houses one fifth of the world’s population, will see humidity and high temperatures that will could be fatal. 

A study led by Eun-Soon Im from the <a href="http://www.ust.hk/">Hong Kong University of Science and Technology</a> set out to measure “wet-bulb temperature,” which he defined as “the lowest temperature that air can be cool to be evaporating water.” 

By looking at the wet-bulb temperature and human’s capability of cooling off in response to rising heat and humidity, the research team aimed to predict how changing conditions will affect human life. 

The study revolved around two climate scenarios, one that used climate change projections as is, and one that factored in mitigation efforts that were goals pledged by the UN Conference on Climate Change in 2015. 

The research showed that wet-bulb temperatures are expected to rise to 35 degrees celsius, also known as the survivability threshold, over most of the South Asia and even go over in some parts.

The findings using the mitigation scenario predicted that wet-bulb temperatures would still be dangerously high, but luckily not past the survivability threshold. 

These findings prove the vital necessity of creating new strategies to combat climate change and hopefully prevent deadly temperature spikes like the ones predicted to hit South Asia at the end of the 21st Century. 

----

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Humid heat in South Asia to become deadly this century

Humid heat in South Asia to become deadly this century....

New inexpensive treatment can quickly remove BPA from water. Bisphenol A, also known as BPA, is a dangerous chemical used in the production of some plastics and epoxy resins. In a breakthrough study, a research team at <a href="http://www.cmu.edu/">Carnegie Mellon University</a> has developed an inexpensive and effective way to remove BPA from water. 

BPA is so widespread that both people and wildlife are commonly exposed to it. Chemist Terrence J. Collins led a team of colleagues in an effort to determine just how much BPA is present in everyday products and water sources. The team also calculated the danger of the chemical. 

The study, published in <a href="http://pubs.rsc.org/en/journals/journal/gc">Green Chemistry</a>, creates a strong argument for the immediate elimination of BPA from water. BPA imitates estrogen and can have a dangerous impact on the body's endocrine system. Previous studies in both animal and human cells have shown that BPA negatively affects brain and nervous system development, growth and metabolism, and reproductivity.

Although BPA-free products such as water bottles and baby bottles began to emerge in 2010, many BPA substitutes are toxic in ways similar to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/billions-tons-plastic-thrown/">BPA</a>.

"BPA replacements have often not been adequately tested despite the fact that testing is easy to do," said Collins.

Over 15 billion pounds of BPA are still produced every year, so tackling the management and cleanup of BPA is no simple task. 

"There is no escape from BPA -- for any living creature," said Collins. "The massive global use of BPA burdens an already overstrained water treatment infrastructure and most BPA water releases simply never reach a water treatment facility. Our approach has high potential to be a much better remediation strategy for BPA-contaminated waste streams."

The researchers created a system which involves a group of catalysts called TAML activators. These small molecules, which imitate oxidizing enzymes, can very effectively break down harmful chemicals in water when mixed with hydrogen peroxide.

The team used the TAML treatment on water containing high levels of BPA at neutral pH, which is the pH typically used for wastewater treatment. 99 percent of the BPA was eliminated from the water in just 30 minutes. 


The study found TAML treatment at this pH caused BPA to assemble into larger units called oligomers, which the researchers determined are not harmful like BPA.Furthermore, it was found that the TAML-treated water did not contain properties that mimicked estrogen. 

When the researchers used the TAML treatment at a pH 11, more than 99.9 percent of BPA was removed within 15 minutes. A pH 8.5 treatment completely eradicated the BPA molecules to the extent that no oligomers were detected. 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New inexpensive treatment can quickly remove BPA from water

New inexpensive treatment can quickly remove BPA from water. Bisphenol...

Why are so many North American whales dying off so quickly?. Whale watching is a beloved pastime worldwide. You can find whale watching tours in Washington, Canada, and parts of New England, just to name a few. But, what could be a once in a lifetime opportunity for you and your family could also pose a deadly threat to the endangered whales in those areas.

Surprisingly, whale watching is actually a contributing factor threatening natural habitats of endangered whales like the humpback whale, the sperm whale, and the northern right whale. Boat collisions account for many whale and marine injuries and deaths and collisions with whale watching tours are more common than you might think. 

And with some whale species with populations continuing to drop at an increasing rate, understanding these threats and how to minimize them could mean life or death for the survival of some species. 

The rare North American right whale is an endangered whale with just 500 left worldwide. And recently, several right whales have been found dead in the Gulf St. Lawrence Gulf in Canada. 

So far there have been nine reported <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/investigate-baby-whale-deaths/">deaths</a> of right whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in just two months. 

The cause of these deaths are due to several factors including collisions, fishing operations in those areas, and run ins with natural predators. But there is something about this pattern of deaths that is causing alarm in the scientific community. 

Tonya Wimmer, director of the<a href="https://www.marineanimals.ca/"> Marine Animal Response Society</a>, is heading the investigation into these deaths and their increasing numbers. Wimmer and her team will be performing necropsies, or animal autopsies, on some of the right whales that were found dead.

While certain measures have been taken in Canada to halt fishing operations where those right whales preside, Wimmer and her team want to emphasize the need for long term solutions that will help ensure the safety and survival of right whales and other members of the whale family. 

 --

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Why are so many North American whales dying off so quickly?

Why are so many North American whales dying off so...

Climate change could facilitate the spread of diseases. New research by the <a href="https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/">University of Liverpool</a> finds that the impact of climate change on how infectious diseases spread and affect populations could be greater than previously thought. This study – published in Scientific Reports, is the first large-scale assessment of the effects of climate on viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens that cause disease in humans or animals in Europe.

The data used in the study was compiled using the Enhanced Infectious Disease Database (EID2), a “Big Data” record that contains over 60 million scientific papers, electronic sources, and textbooks related to infectious diseases.

The researchers used this database to review published literature on 100 human and 100 domestic animal pathogens that have the most significant impact on public health in Europe. Out of the pathogens examined, almost two-thirds were found to be climate-sensitive, the majority of which were discovered to have more than one climate driver – meaning the impact of climate change on them will be even more complex.

"Currently, most models examining climate effects only consider a single or at most two climate drivers, so our results suggest that this should change if we really want to understand future impacts of climate change on health,” says Marie McIntyre, who headed the study for the <a href="https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/">University of Liverpool</a>.

Diseases spread by ticks and other insects were found to be the most sensitive to climate, with diseases transmitted through soil, water, and food following closely behind. Pathogens spread from animals to humans (zoonotic pathogens) were more climate sensitive than those that exclusively affect just humans or animals. Currently, 75% of emerging diseases are zoonotic, which is concerning given how likely they are to be influenced by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alter-lifestyle-fight-climate-change/">climate change</a>.

The results of this study may help policymakers decide which pathogens to focus their attention on given that climate change may increase the change of some diseases emerging or spreading. 

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Climate change could facilitate the spread of diseases

Climate change could facilitate the spread of diseases. New research...

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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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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



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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

[sendtonews key="sFFhiK9OOn-1720418-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> 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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Aerial,Photo,Of,River,In,Amazon,Rainforest,Jungle,In,Peru

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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

[sendtonews key="u0TYxxqfF7-2186404-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA’s...