Understanding how our planet’s climate has fluctuated over geological timescales is vital for informing current and future climate policies. A groundbreaking study co-conducted by the Smithsonian Institution and the University of Arizona sheds new light on the evolution of Earth’s surface temperatures over the past 485 million years. Published on September 19 in the journal
Earth
The Thwaites Glacier, often referred to as the “Doomsday Glacier,” occupies a significant position in the ongoing dialogue about climate change and its consequences. Spanning an area approximately equal to Florida, this massive ice structure not only contributes profoundly to the stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet but also serves as a harbinger of
Recent advancements in oceanography have unveiled critical patterns in deep ocean temperatures, underscoring the increasingly urgent reality of climate change. A September study published in Geophysical Research Letters has utilized data from Deep Argo floats—sophisticated unmanned underwater robots—to enhance our understanding of deep ocean warming. This innovative research merges contemporary data with historical records to
Methylmercury is a neurotoxic substance that poses significant health risks, particularly affecting children’s developmental growth and adult cardiovascular health. As societies worldwide increasingly consume fish as a dietary staple, the rising prevalence of industrial fishing practices introduces alarming levels of methylmercury into human diets. Recent studies, particularly from esteemed institutions like the Harvard John A.
In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers led by Ryuhei Nakamura at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science in Japan and the Earth-Life Science Institute of the Tokyo Institute of Technology have made significant strides in our understanding of life’s origins. Their study, published in *Nature Communications*, highlights the parallel between inorganic nanostructures found around deep-sea
As climate change becomes an increasingly pressing issue, the implications of global warming reach far beyond just rising temperatures and melting ice caps. A recent study published in *Nature Communications* brings to light a critical concern regarding the feedback loops created by thawing permafrost and the escalation of wildfires in the Subarctic and Arctic regions.
The glaciers of Northeast Greenland, particularly the 79° N Glacier, have been in the spotlight due to the growing concerns regarding global warming and its impact on our planet’s ice reserves. As the largest floating glacier tongue in the region, the 79° N Glacier faces a precarious future, primarily attributed to the intrusion of warmer
Urban environments are increasingly facing a pressing issue: air pollution from various sources, particularly non-exhaust emissions generated by vehicles. As cities expand and the number of vehicles on the road increases, the degradation of air quality poses significant health risks to pedestrians and cyclists. These groups, often the most vulnerable road users, are continually exposed
Recent geological studies have begun to illuminate one of Earth’s most enigmatic habitats: the deep biosphere, an underground ecosystem that exists far from the reach of sunlight and oxygen. A groundbreaking research effort focused on the fractures embedded in Greenland’s ancient bedrock has unveiled the persistence of microbial life in this extreme environment dating back
In recent years, the alarming increase in the frequency and intensity of forest fires has captured global attention, especially as it pertains to climate change. A revealing study published in *Nature* presents new insights into an unintended consequence of these calamitous events: the warming of land surfaces following fire incidents. The study utilizes over a
The far reaches of the Arctic, often perceived as untouched wilderness, are currently grappling with consequences of human activities that extend beyond borders. A recent study spearheaded by Dartmouth researchers has shed light on how fossil fuel emissions significantly alter the atmospheric chemistry in these remote regions. The findings underscore a grim reality: air pollution
As our planet undergoes significant climatic shifts, the consequences manifest in surprising and alarming ways. One critical concern is the reduced freezing duration of freshwater lakes, a matter underscored by recent research spearheaded by an international team of scientists, including prominent freshwater ecologist Stephanie Hampton from Carnegie Science. Their findings, which are now published in