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SpaceX Might Get FAA Approval for 25 Starship Launches in 2025
A draft environmental assessment by the FAA suggests allowing SpaceX to increase Starship launches from Starbase, Texas, from the current limit of five annually to 25 by 2025. Public consultations in January 2024 will determine the next steps. Starship is SpaceX's reusable rocket intended for Moon and Mars missions, with six test flights conducted ...
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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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Conservation Expert Warns Earth Is In Midst Of Sixth Great Extinction, Calls for Immediate Action
Dr Jane Goodall, the celebrated primatologist, has warned that the world is in the midst of the sixth great extinction. Speaking during her European tour, she urged global leaders to take urgent steps to protect wildlife and ecosystems. Dr Goodall highlighted deforestation, habitat destruction, and the climate crisis, calling for stronger regulatio...
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NASA Partners with Microsoft For Earth Copilot AI to Simplify Access to Complex Earth Data
NASA, in collaboration with Microsoft, has introduced Earth Copilot, an AI-powered tool designed to simplify access to complex Earth science data. This tool is aimed at reducing the technical barriers that prevent non-experts from effectively navigating NASA’s vast geospatial datasets. Earth Copilot allows users to ask questions about environment...
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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...
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World’s Largest Living Organism Pando Might Be The Oldest Living Thing, Reveals New Study
Pando, a massive quaking aspen spanning 100 acres in Utah, is estimated to be between 16,000 and 80,000 years old. Research suggests that Pando has witnessed and survived vast environmental changes since humans began migrating out of Africa. The genetically linked stems span an interconnected root system that highlights plant resilience. Challenges...
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Microplastics Could Be Changing Earth’s Climate, Reveals New Study
A Penn State University study published in Environmental Science & Technology: Air reveals that airborne microplastics may influence the climate by affecting cloud structures and weather patterns. The study found that microplastics act as ice nucleating agents in clouds, potentially altering precipitation. Professor Miriam Freedman highlights the n...
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Ancient Log Discovery in Canada Shows How Wood Burial Could Be Key to Affordable Carbon Storage
A 3,775-year-old log, found by climate scientist Ning Zeng's team in Canada, has shown the potential of buried wood for long-term carbon storage. When covered by clay, the log retained most of its carbon, hinting at a cost-effective, natural solution for lowering atmospheric CO2 levels. Researchers suggest this low-cost strategy could lock away car...
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Future Supercontinent Pangea Ultima Could Trigger Mass Extinction, Reveals New Study
A University of Bristol study warns that Earth’s future supercontinent, Pangea Ultima, may make the planet uninhabitable for humans and mammals. Due to a combination of rising CO₂ levels, increased solar radiation, and vast land area far from oceanic cooling, the supercontinent could experience widespread extreme temperatures. Though millions o...
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Bio-Based Fibres Might Be A Bigger Environmental Threat Than Plastics, New Study Finds
A study from the University of Plymouth and University of Bath raises concerns about bio-based fibres. While often marketed as eco-friendly, these fibres may cause greater ecological harm than conventional plastics. Exposure to viscose and lyocell, commonly found in clothing and wet wipes, resulted in high mortality rates in earthworms, crucial for...
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Japan Launches World's First Wooden Satellite LignoSat into Space
Japan’s LignoSat, the first wooden satellite developed by Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, was launched on a SpaceX mission to the ISS. The satellite will orbit 400 km above Earth for six months, testing honoki wood’s durability against extreme temperatures and radiation. The team, led by astronaut Takao Doi, hopes to prove that wood can...
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Antarctic Ozone Hole Might Fully Recover by 2066, Claims New Study
In 2024, scientists observed a notable reduction in the size of the Antarctic ozone hole, marking it as the seventh-smallest on record. With ongoing efforts to eliminate chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), experts are optimistic that the ozone layer could fully recover by 2066. Factors contributing to this positive trend include a decrease in harmful chemi...
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Animals Fear Humans More Than Lions In South Africa's Wild: Study
Over 10,000 recordings showed that 95% of animals reacted more strongly to human sounds than lion roars, challenging the belief that animals would habituate to humans in non-hunting environments.
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RMIT University Develops Satellite Technology to Identify Plastic Waste on Beaches
Researchers at RMIT University have developed a satellite tool that can detect plastic waste on beaches from over 600 km above the Earth. This innovative technology uses variations in light reflection to identify plastic debris, offering a new approach to tackle the growing issue of plastic pollution. With millions of tonnes of plastic entering oc...
-
SpaceX Might Get FAA Approval for 25 Starship Launches in 2025
A draft environmental assessment by the FAA suggests allowing SpaceX to increase Starship launches from Starbase, Texas, from the current limit of five annually to 25 by 2025. Public consultations in January 2024 will determine the next steps. Starship is SpaceX's reusable rocket intended for Moon and Mars missions, with six test flights conducted ...
-
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.
-
Conservation Expert Warns Earth Is In Midst Of Sixth Great Extinction, Calls for Immediate Action
Dr Jane Goodall, the celebrated primatologist, has warned that the world is in the midst of the sixth great extinction. Speaking during her European tour, she urged global leaders to take urgent steps to protect wildlife and ecosystems. Dr Goodall highlighted deforestation, habitat destruction, and the climate crisis, calling for stronger regulatio...
-
NASA Partners with Microsoft For Earth Copilot AI to Simplify Access to Complex Earth Data
NASA, in collaboration with Microsoft, has introduced Earth Copilot, an AI-powered tool designed to simplify access to complex Earth science data. This tool is aimed at reducing the technical barriers that prevent non-experts from effectively navigating NASA’s vast geospatial datasets. Earth Copilot allows users to ask questions about environment...
-
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...
-
World’s Largest Living Organism Pando Might Be The Oldest Living Thing, Reveals New Study
Pando, a massive quaking aspen spanning 100 acres in Utah, is estimated to be between 16,000 and 80,000 years old. Research suggests that Pando has witnessed and survived vast environmental changes since humans began migrating out of Africa. The genetically linked stems span an interconnected root system that highlights plant resilience. Challenges...
-
Microplastics Could Be Changing Earth’s Climate, Reveals New Study
A Penn State University study published in Environmental Science & Technology: Air reveals that airborne microplastics may influence the climate by affecting cloud structures and weather patterns. The study found that microplastics act as ice nucleating agents in clouds, potentially altering precipitation. Professor Miriam Freedman highlights the n...
-
Ancient Log Discovery in Canada Shows How Wood Burial Could Be Key to Affordable Carbon Storage
A 3,775-year-old log, found by climate scientist Ning Zeng's team in Canada, has shown the potential of buried wood for long-term carbon storage. When covered by clay, the log retained most of its carbon, hinting at a cost-effective, natural solution for lowering atmospheric CO2 levels. Researchers suggest this low-cost strategy could lock away car...
-
Future Supercontinent Pangea Ultima Could Trigger Mass Extinction, Reveals New Study
A University of Bristol study warns that Earth’s future supercontinent, Pangea Ultima, may make the planet uninhabitable for humans and mammals. Due to a combination of rising CO₂ levels, increased solar radiation, and vast land area far from oceanic cooling, the supercontinent could experience widespread extreme temperatures. Though millions o...
-
Bio-Based Fibres Might Be A Bigger Environmental Threat Than Plastics, New Study Finds
A study from the University of Plymouth and University of Bath raises concerns about bio-based fibres. While often marketed as eco-friendly, these fibres may cause greater ecological harm than conventional plastics. Exposure to viscose and lyocell, commonly found in clothing and wet wipes, resulted in high mortality rates in earthworms, crucial for...
-
Japan Launches World's First Wooden Satellite LignoSat into Space
Japan’s LignoSat, the first wooden satellite developed by Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, was launched on a SpaceX mission to the ISS. The satellite will orbit 400 km above Earth for six months, testing honoki wood’s durability against extreme temperatures and radiation. The team, led by astronaut Takao Doi, hopes to prove that wood can...
-
Antarctic Ozone Hole Might Fully Recover by 2066, Claims New Study
In 2024, scientists observed a notable reduction in the size of the Antarctic ozone hole, marking it as the seventh-smallest on record. With ongoing efforts to eliminate chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), experts are optimistic that the ozone layer could fully recover by 2066. Factors contributing to this positive trend include a decrease in harmful chemi...
-
Animals Fear Humans More Than Lions In South Africa's Wild: Study
Over 10,000 recordings showed that 95% of animals reacted more strongly to human sounds than lion roars, challenging the belief that animals would habituate to humans in non-hunting environments.
-
RMIT University Develops Satellite Technology to Identify Plastic Waste on Beaches
Researchers at RMIT University have developed a satellite tool that can detect plastic waste on beaches from over 600 km above the Earth. This innovative technology uses variations in light reflection to identify plastic debris, offering a new approach to tackle the growing issue of plastic pollution. With millions of tonnes of plastic entering oc...
