Science X Newsletter: Earth News

An approach to plan the actions of robot teams in uncertain conditions

Reshaping protein design with function-first, AI-guided engineering

Archaeologists uncover Europe’s hidden Bronze Age megastructures

Researchers develop comprehensive genetic map for bison, discover gene responsible for albinism

Researchers seek consensus on what constitutes Artificial General Intelligence

The way dogs see the world: Objects are more salient to smarter dogs

Why does even a small amount of red wine give some people headaches?

Proof of concept of new material for long lasting relief from dry mouth conditions

‘Naked Clams’: Aquaculture system hopes to turn marine pest into nutritious seafood

Study claims surfing creates $1 trillion wave for global economy by improving mental health

Saturday Citations: Bronze-Age gender representation, gamma rays, nice bonobos in your neighborhood want to meet you

Inverted perovskite solar cell breaks 25% efficiency record

Researchers develop potential glaucoma treatment strategy to guide stem cells to the retina

Researchers boost vaccines and immunotherapies with machine learning to drive more effective treatments

Lung cancer cells’ ‘memories’ suggest new strategy for improving treatment

World’s richest 1% emit as much carbon as bottom two-thirds: report

The richest one percent of the global population are responsible for the same amount of carbon emissions as the world’s poorest two-thirds, or five billion people, according to an analysis published Sunday by the nonprofit Oxfam International.

AI finds formula for how to predict monster waves by using 700 years’ worth of data

Long considered myth, freakishly large rogue waves are very real and can split apart ships and even damage oil rigs. Using 700 years’ worth of wave data from more than a billion waves, scientists at the University of Copenhagen and University of Victoria have used artificial intelligence to find a formula for how to predict the occurrence of these maritime monsters. The new knowledge can make shipping safer.

Coastal river deltas threatened by more than climate change, study shows

Worldwide, coastal river deltas are home to more than half a billion people, supporting fisheries, agriculture, cities, and fertile ecosystems. In a unique study covering 49 deltas globally, researchers from Lund University and Utrecht University have identified the most critical risks to deltas in the future. The research shows that deltas face multiple risks, and that population growth and poor environmental governance might pose bigger threats than climate change to the sustainability of Asian and African deltas, in particular.

NASA mission excels at spotting greenhouse gas emission sources

Since launching 16 months ago, the EMIT imaging spectrometer aboard the International Space Station has shown an ability to detect more than just surface minerals.

Earth to warm up to 2.9C even with current climate pledges: UN

Countries’ greenhouse gas-cutting pledges put Earth on track for warming far beyond key limits, potentially up to a catastrophic 2.9 degrees Celsius this century, the UN said Monday, warning “we are out of road”.

Study examines how massive 2022 eruption changed stratosphere chemistry and dynamics

When the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano erupted on January 15, 2022 in the South Pacific, it produced a shock wave felt around the world and triggered tsunamis in Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, Japan, Chile, Peru and the United States.

Blasts to clear World War II munitions could contaminate the ocean

World War II concluded decades ago, but live mines lurking on the ocean floor still pose threats, potentially spewing unexpected geysers or releasing contaminants into the water. Experts conduct controlled explosions to clear underwater munitions, but concerns have arisen over the environmental impacts of these blasts.

Fire is consuming more of the world’s forests than ever before, threatening supplies of wood, paper

A third of the world’s forests are cut for timber. This generates US$1.5 trillion annually. But wildfire threatens industries such as timber milling and paper manufacturing, and the threat is far greater than most people realize.

Threat from sand and dust storms spreading: UN

The UN warned Wednesday that the number of sand and dust storms are increasing “dramatically” with Central Asia the most hit by the dangerous phenomenon.

New hardiness zone map will help US gardeners keep pace with climate change

Southern staples like magnolia trees and camellias may now be able to grow without frost damage in once-frigid Boston.

Global one-day temperature spikes above 2C for first time: EU monitor

The global average temperature on Friday was more than two degrees Celsius hotter than pre-industrial levels for the first time on record, Europe’s Copernicus climate monitor said Monday, adding Saturday likely continued the unprecedented warming streak.

Concern for the Great Barrier Reef can inspire climate action, but the way we talk about it matters

There’s no doubt you’ve heard the Great Barrier Reef is under pressure. The main culprit? Climate change. The main solution? An urgent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a shift away from fossil fuels.

‘Forever contaminant’ road salts pose an icy dilemma: Do we protect drivers or our fresh water?

As winter approaches, many communities in Canada and around the world arm themselves against icy roads and sidewalks with a time-honored ally: road salt. For decades, applying road salt has been regarded as a simple but vital tool in countering the dangers of slippery road conditions, but the downsides of its use are apparent with implications that extend beyond the cold months.

Plants are likely to absorb more carbon dioxide in a changing climate than we thought—here’s why

The world’s vegetation has a remarkable ability to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and store it as biomass. In doing so, plants slow down climate change since the CO2 they take up does not contribute to global warming.

Myths about plastic pollution are leading to public confusion: Here’s why

Does the prediction that there could be “more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050” concern you? How about reports that “we eat a credit card’s worth of plastic per week”? These are some of the “facts” about plastic that are cited by the media.

In many major crop regions, workers plant and harvest in spiraling heat and humidity

A global study of major crops has found that farmworkers are being increasingly exposed to combinations of extreme heat and humidity during planting and harvest seasons that can make it hard for them to function. Such conditions have nearly doubled across the world since 1979, the authors report, a trend that could eventually hinder cultivation.

Looking for lithium-bearing pegmatites

The commercial importance of lithium is ever-growing, and its production is globally dominated by lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites. These are spectacular rocks featuring impressive ultra-coarse textures, but they are very elusive due to a combination of factors: they are small, and until a decade ago, they were often regarded as nothing more than a geological curiosity. As a result, our knowledge of LCT pegmatites from an exploration standpoint is limited, which makes them hard to find.

New psychology study unearths ways to bolster global climate awareness and climate action

An international team of scientists has created a tool that can aid in increasing climate awareness and climate action globally by highlighting messaging themes shown to be effective through experimental research.

A volcano may keep residents out of an evacuated Iceland town for months

People in southwest Iceland remained on edge Saturday, waiting to see whether a volcano rumbling under the Reykjanes Peninsula will erupt. Civil protection authorities said that even if it doesn’t, it’s likely to be months before it is safe for residents evacuated from the danger zone to go home.

First French ski reports open, but only at high altitude

A few French high-altitude ski resorts opened ahead of schedule Saturday, just days after storms in the northern Alps wiped out some early snows.

Torrential rains in Brazil leave at least six dead

Flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rains in southern Brazil have claimed at least six lives over the past week, authorities said Sunday.

At least 21 dead in torrential Dominican Republic rains

At least 21 people, including three children, died after heavy rainfall inundated the Dominican Republic over the weekend, authorities said Sunday, warning the downpours were linked to worsening climate change.

Frustration as latest talks on global plastic treaty close

The latest negotiations toward a global plastic treaty concluded late Sunday with disagreement about how the pact should work and frustration from environment groups over delays and lack of progress.

Women are leading the fight to stop climate change

Over the past few years, international climate policy has been shaped largely by a close-knit group of politicians in the twilight of their careers. Now leaders from beyond the traditional U.S.-Europe-China power center—some new to the international stage, others already veterans—are emerging. And women are at the forefront.

Q&A: To save the planet’s glaciers, human actions still matter, says scientist

Climate change is melting glaciers around the world. Vanishing ice means less water for the millions of people relying on it and threatens the habitats of species—from bacteria to plants and fish—that live in glacier-fed ecosystems.