Environmental Change
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Lake Mendota's Bacteria Are Stuck in an Evolutionary Loop, Finds Study
Research in Lake Mendota reveals seasonal bacterial evolution, with microbes adapting to environmental shifts over 20 years. Despite rapid changes, many species return to prior genetic states, highlighting cyclical evolution patterns. Extreme weather events, like those seen in 2012, led to lasting genetic adaptations, offering insights into how mic...
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Tracing the Origins of Oaks: How Climate and Tectonic Changes Shaped Modern Trees
Oaks, iconic trees in today’s forests, evolved over millions of years, influenced by significant climatic events like the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum. Fossils found in Austria reveal the earliest oak evidence, while tectonic movements led to the diversification of oak species across continents. Oaks adapted to changing climates, making their...
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Updated World Magnetic Model Predicts Magnetic North Pole’s Shift
On December 17, the National Centers for Environmental Information and the British Geological Survey released an updated version of the World Magnetic Model, designed to predict Earth's magnetic field changes over the next five years. The update is crucial for ensuring the accuracy of navigation systems, including satellite and smartphone applicati...
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NASA’s InSight Mars Lander Captured with Dust Layers by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
NASA’s retired InSight Mars lander has been spotted by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) in a recent image taken on October 23, 2024. The image, captured using the HiRISE camera, shows dust accumulation on InSight’s solar panels, now matching the reddish-brown Martian surface. This observation provides insights into wind patterns and dust m...
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Permafrost Thawing Could Accelerate Climate Change, Here’s What It Means
Permafrost, a frozen layer rich in organic matter, is degrading due to rising temperatures. By the end of the century, researchers predict significant thawing, releasing carbon into the atmosphere. In a study by Zhengzhou University and Purdue University, thawing scenarios under two climate pathways (SSP126 and SSP585) project the release of up to ...
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Humpback Whale’s Unprecedented 8,000-Mile Migration Shatters Records
A humpback whale has been tracked on an unprecedented 8,000-mile migration, breaking records for the longest documented journey between breeding grounds. Scientists suggest the movement might be due to climate change affecting food and mating behaviours. AI-driven photo tracking through HappyWhale.com played a key role in identifying the whale’s ...
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What To Know About Eco-Anxiety
Understanding eco-anxiety, its effects, and ways to address it is crucial for managing mental health while promoting positive environmental action.
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Arctic Ocean Likely to Experience Ice-Free Day by 2027, Study Warns
A study published in Nature Communications predicts the Arctic Ocean could face its first ice-free day as early as 2027, marking a critical environmental milestone. Conducted using 11 climate models and 366 simulations, the research highlights the urgent need for emission reductions. The loss of sea ice in the Arctic exacerbates global warming thro...
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California Announces Plan to Protect Joshua Trees from Wildfires and Climate Change Threats
A new plan released by California's Department of Fish and Wildlife outlines strategies to protect Joshua trees from threats including wildfires, human development and climate change. The plan includes land conservation, wildfire management and relocation of trees where necessary. It aims to safeguard the species for the future amid rising temperat...
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Ocean Acidification Study: Carbon Emissions Driving Deeper Chemical Changes in Oceans
A study in Science Advances by researchers from ETH Zurich highlights the escalating depth of ocean acidification, driven by carbon emissions since the industrial era. By 2014, acidification had penetrated to an average depth of 1,000 metres, with some regions affected as deep as 1,500 metres. Using a 3D model, the study explores the altered marine...
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Fossilised Dinosaur Droppings Could Reveal Secrets Behind Their Evolution into a Dominant Species, Says Study
A study published in Nature has analysed 200-million-year-old fossilised dinosaur faeces (coprolites), uncovering critical insights into early ecosystems. According to researchers, coprolites contained undigested plant matter, prey remains, and even charcoal, offering a glimpse into dinosaur diets and environmental conditions during the Late Triass...
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Space Debris Accumulation in the Stratosphere Threatens Major Environmental Risks
The growing presence of satellite space junk, as more satellites enter Earth's orbit, has raised concerns about environmental impacts. Pollution from burnt-up satellites contributes to changes in atmospheric chemistry, with metals like aluminium potentially harming the ozone layer. Scientists warn that satellite re-entries are contributing to a ris...
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Global Freshwater Levels Decline Since 2014, NASA-German Satellites Reveal
Data from NASA and German satellites reveal Earth's freshwater levels declined significantly after May 2014, with storage remaining persistently low. Research attributes this to global warming, major droughts, and human activity such as irrigation. The trend raises concerns over water stress, food security, and long-term environmental stability.
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New Global Policies to Cut Plastic Waste and Reduce Carbon Emissions by 2050
A study from UC Santa Barbara and Berkeley suggests four key policies that could reduce global plastic waste mismanagement by 91 percent and cut related emissions by 30 percent by 2050. The policies include a mandate for 40 percent recycled plastic in new products, a cap on plastic production, greater investment in waste management, and a fee on pl...
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Study Finds Industrial Aerosols May Cause Local Snowfall by Freezing Clouds
A new study led by the University of Tartu has shown that industrial emissions, particularly aerosol particles, can influence local snowfall by triggering ice formation in supercooled clouds. Using satellite and ground-based radar observations, researchers found that factories, including cement plants and power stations, may cause localised snow pl...
-
Lake Mendota's Bacteria Are Stuck in an Evolutionary Loop, Finds Study
Research in Lake Mendota reveals seasonal bacterial evolution, with microbes adapting to environmental shifts over 20 years. Despite rapid changes, many species return to prior genetic states, highlighting cyclical evolution patterns. Extreme weather events, like those seen in 2012, led to lasting genetic adaptations, offering insights into how mic...
-
Tracing the Origins of Oaks: How Climate and Tectonic Changes Shaped Modern Trees
Oaks, iconic trees in today’s forests, evolved over millions of years, influenced by significant climatic events like the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum. Fossils found in Austria reveal the earliest oak evidence, while tectonic movements led to the diversification of oak species across continents. Oaks adapted to changing climates, making their...
-
Updated World Magnetic Model Predicts Magnetic North Pole’s Shift
On December 17, the National Centers for Environmental Information and the British Geological Survey released an updated version of the World Magnetic Model, designed to predict Earth's magnetic field changes over the next five years. The update is crucial for ensuring the accuracy of navigation systems, including satellite and smartphone applicati...
-
NASA’s InSight Mars Lander Captured with Dust Layers by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
NASA’s retired InSight Mars lander has been spotted by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) in a recent image taken on October 23, 2024. The image, captured using the HiRISE camera, shows dust accumulation on InSight’s solar panels, now matching the reddish-brown Martian surface. This observation provides insights into wind patterns and dust m...
-
Permafrost Thawing Could Accelerate Climate Change, Here’s What It Means
Permafrost, a frozen layer rich in organic matter, is degrading due to rising temperatures. By the end of the century, researchers predict significant thawing, releasing carbon into the atmosphere. In a study by Zhengzhou University and Purdue University, thawing scenarios under two climate pathways (SSP126 and SSP585) project the release of up to ...
-
Humpback Whale’s Unprecedented 8,000-Mile Migration Shatters Records
A humpback whale has been tracked on an unprecedented 8,000-mile migration, breaking records for the longest documented journey between breeding grounds. Scientists suggest the movement might be due to climate change affecting food and mating behaviours. AI-driven photo tracking through HappyWhale.com played a key role in identifying the whale’s ...
-
What To Know About Eco-Anxiety
Understanding eco-anxiety, its effects, and ways to address it is crucial for managing mental health while promoting positive environmental action.
-
Arctic Ocean Likely to Experience Ice-Free Day by 2027, Study Warns
A study published in Nature Communications predicts the Arctic Ocean could face its first ice-free day as early as 2027, marking a critical environmental milestone. Conducted using 11 climate models and 366 simulations, the research highlights the urgent need for emission reductions. The loss of sea ice in the Arctic exacerbates global warming thro...
-
California Announces Plan to Protect Joshua Trees from Wildfires and Climate Change Threats
A new plan released by California's Department of Fish and Wildlife outlines strategies to protect Joshua trees from threats including wildfires, human development and climate change. The plan includes land conservation, wildfire management and relocation of trees where necessary. It aims to safeguard the species for the future amid rising temperat...
-
Ocean Acidification Study: Carbon Emissions Driving Deeper Chemical Changes in Oceans
A study in Science Advances by researchers from ETH Zurich highlights the escalating depth of ocean acidification, driven by carbon emissions since the industrial era. By 2014, acidification had penetrated to an average depth of 1,000 metres, with some regions affected as deep as 1,500 metres. Using a 3D model, the study explores the altered marine...
-
Fossilised Dinosaur Droppings Could Reveal Secrets Behind Their Evolution into a Dominant Species, Says Study
A study published in Nature has analysed 200-million-year-old fossilised dinosaur faeces (coprolites), uncovering critical insights into early ecosystems. According to researchers, coprolites contained undigested plant matter, prey remains, and even charcoal, offering a glimpse into dinosaur diets and environmental conditions during the Late Triass...
-
Space Debris Accumulation in the Stratosphere Threatens Major Environmental Risks
The growing presence of satellite space junk, as more satellites enter Earth's orbit, has raised concerns about environmental impacts. Pollution from burnt-up satellites contributes to changes in atmospheric chemistry, with metals like aluminium potentially harming the ozone layer. Scientists warn that satellite re-entries are contributing to a ris...
-
Global Freshwater Levels Decline Since 2014, NASA-German Satellites Reveal
Data from NASA and German satellites reveal Earth's freshwater levels declined significantly after May 2014, with storage remaining persistently low. Research attributes this to global warming, major droughts, and human activity such as irrigation. The trend raises concerns over water stress, food security, and long-term environmental stability.
-
New Global Policies to Cut Plastic Waste and Reduce Carbon Emissions by 2050
A study from UC Santa Barbara and Berkeley suggests four key policies that could reduce global plastic waste mismanagement by 91 percent and cut related emissions by 30 percent by 2050. The policies include a mandate for 40 percent recycled plastic in new products, a cap on plastic production, greater investment in waste management, and a fee on pl...
-
Study Finds Industrial Aerosols May Cause Local Snowfall by Freezing Clouds
A new study led by the University of Tartu has shown that industrial emissions, particularly aerosol particles, can influence local snowfall by triggering ice formation in supercooled clouds. Using satellite and ground-based radar observations, researchers found that factories, including cement plants and power stations, may cause localised snow pl...
