Credit: PixabaySmall earthquakes beneath Alaska’s Mount Spurr suggest that the volcano may be nearing an eruption. Located about 3,370 meters (11,070 feet) above sea level, the mountain has experienced a surge in seismic activity recently, with thousands of minor earthquakes reported.Increased Chances of EruptionMatthew Haney, a volcano seismologist at the Alaska Volcano Observatory, informed...
Retired wind turbine blades can be hard to repurpose because of their typically non-recyclable composite materials - which can include fiberglassEstormiz / Wikimedia CommonsWind turbines provide an excellent source of clean energy, but disposing of them when they are decommissioned presents a major challenge. Researchers in China have discovered a practical method to recycle...
Credit: PixabayUsing scented products indoors alters the air chemistry, generating as much pollution as car exhaust does outside, according to a new study. Researchers warn that breathing in these tiny particles could have serious health consequences.Indoor Air Pollution from Common Household ItemsWhen you hear or think about "air pollution," you likely associate it...
Octopus Spring, a thermal spring at Yellowstone National Park's Lower Geyser Basin, contains higher levels of oxygen than the neighbouring Conch Spring. (Bill Wight CA/Getty Images)Recent research from Montana State University suggests that microbial life in Yellowstone’s Lower Geyser Basin could provide insight into the evolution of how life adapted to use oxygen.The microorganisms living...
Scientists have discovered a bacterium that can break down toxic "forever chemicals" DepositphotosThe so-called "forever chemicals" (PFAS) are increasingly present in the environment, food, drinking water, and even our bodies. However, researchers may have found a new solution to this problem: a bacterium capable of consuming these compounds and their toxic byproducts.Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances...
Blue rings visible in one of the tree samples. (Pawel Matulewski/Liliana Siekacz)A simple blue stain may unlock trees’ memories of cold summers and volcanic winters, offering scientists a precise new tool to reconstruct ancient climates through timber anatomy.By combining the biological stains safranin and astra blue, researchers can highlight areas with low lignin, a compound...
Credit: PixabayJanuary set a new heat record, defying expectations that La Niña would bring cooling.Copernicus Climate Change Service reported temperatures 1.75°C above pre-industrial levels, extending a historic warming trend. Scientists expected a cooldown after El Niño peaked in early 2024, but extreme heat persists, fueling debate over additional warming factors.Every fraction of a degree...
Credit: PixabayKeeping global warming under 2°C—the fallback goal of the Paris Agreement—is now "impossible," according to a controversial new study by prominent climatologist James Hansen and his team. Published in Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, the paper argues that Earth's climate is more sensitive to greenhouse gas emissions than previously thought.Adding to...
Sea surface temperature anomalies for 27 January 2025. The deeper the warm colors, the more anomalously high the sea temperature is. (NOAA)The sharp rise in global temperatures since 2023 has fueled relentless disasters worldwide, from the still-burning LA fires to the deadly Valencia floods, leaving scientists scrambling for answers.New ocean data suggests a key culprit:...
Credit: PixabayA recent University of Bristol study, published in Nature Communications, reveals the rapid shrinkage of glaciers in Svalbard, Norway, over the past 40 years. The study shows that 91% of glaciers have significantly retreated, losing over 800 square kilometers of ice since 1985. Moreover, 62% now experience seasonal calving cycles due to rising...
