This ever-growing permafrost-destroying 'sink hole' was originally a small gully in the 1960sMurton et al/Permafrost Periglacial ProcessesWhether you admire John Carpenter's creations or have a fascination with biology, the thawing of subterranean permafrost in polar areas presents notable apprehensions. In a recent discovery, researchers revealed a 'zombie virus' dating back 48,500 years, extracted from...
Aerial view of flooded streets in the Navegantes neighborhood of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil on May 4, 2024.Southern Brazil authorities worked urgently on Sunday to rescue individuals from severe floods and mudslides, marking the area's worst-ever climate disaster. The calamity has resulted in a death toll of at least 78,...
Credit: PixabayThe shift from the African humid period (AHP) to arid conditions in North Africa stands out as a prominent example of climate tipping points in recent geological records. These tipping points occur when minor disturbances provoke significant, nonlinear reactions in the climate system, leading to a transition to a distinctly different climate state,...
Credit: PixabayThe effects of human activities, including greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation, on Earth's surface have been extensively researched. Recently, hydrology experts from the University of Arizona delved into the influence of human actions on the deep subsurface of the Earth, an area located hundreds of meters to several kilometers below the surface."We examined...
The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo were some of the worst plastic offenders. Credit: PixabayA recent study revealed that nearly 25% of identifiable plastic pollution originates from just five large corporations. Analyzing 1.87 million instances of environmental plastic waste from 2018 to 2022, researchers found that over half of these instances couldn't be attributed to...
Credit: CanvasThe Dead Sea, nestled between Jordan, Israel, and Palestine, isn't your average sea. It's more like a big, salty bathtub with no outlet! Imagine that!Why so Salty?Well, it's all about the salt. The Dead Sea slurps up water from the Jordan River but doesn't let any out. So, when the water evaporates, it...
Credit: PixabayA recent study published in the journal Science indicates that nearly half of China's large cities are experiencing sinking land, posing flood risks to millions of residents.The research revealed that 45% of China's urban areas are sinking at a rate exceeding 3 mm per year, with 16% sinking more than 10 mm annually.Satellite...
Credit: DepositphotosFollowing North America's recent solar eclipse, another significant natural phenomenon is approaching. Between late April and June 2024, the largest group of 13-year cicadas, known as Brood XIX, will emerge alongside a midwestern group of 17-year cicadas, Brood XIII.This phenomenon will impact 17 states, stretching from Maryland to Iowa and extending southward into...
Replanting is done in phases, with old vines notably Chenin keeping up production while the new ones grow.On a South African wine estate, piles of dry, uprooted grapevines lie at the base of a barren, hilly terrain.Vineyards are replanting to adapt to climate change, anticipating infrequent but intense rainfall in the wine region.From Australia...
Credit: DepositphotosGlobal carbon cycle models usually consider plants, microbes, soil, and the atmosphere but often overlook animals. From earthworms to elephants, these creatures can play a crucial, yet understudied, role in carbon capture and storage within ecosystems.In a new theoretical framework published in the Journal of Geophysical Research:Biogeosciences by Matteo Rizzuto and colleagues, a...
