Earth

Amidst the vast expanse of Earth’s timeline, more than 700 million years ago, a remarkable ice age gripped the planet, causing a near-complete freeze over the entire globe. For decades, the cause of this extreme climate event has eluded scientists, leaving behind a perplexing mystery. However, Australian geologists have recently unraveled this enigma through groundbreaking

Natural gas flaring has become a common practice in the United States to dispose of the byproduct gas from oil extraction. While it helps reduce safety concerns and lessen the climate impact of natural gas on-site, it also leads to the production of nitrogen oxides (NOx). The impact of NOx on air quality and public

Marine heat waves, characterized by a significant increase in ocean temperatures, have become a recurring phenomenon in the Arctic region due to higher anthropogenic greenhouse-gas emissions, according to recent research conducted by Dr. Armineh Barkhordarian from Universität Hamburg’s Cluster of Excellence for climate research CLICCS. This article explores the findings of the study, shedding light

The long-held belief that the Circumpolar Current played a role in the formation of permanent ice in Antarctica has been called into question by a recent study led by the University of Barcelona, the Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (CSIC), and the Imperial College London. Published in the journal Nature Geoscience, the study

Subduction zones, where tectonic plates collide, have long fascinated scientists due to their association with powerful earthquakes. However, predicting the behavior of these zones between major seismic events has proven to be challenging. A recent study conducted by researchers from Penn State and Brown University suggests that rocks once buried deep in ancient subduction zones

Governments and businesses have placed excessive reliance on the future removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, instead of taking immediate action to reduce emissions and phase out fossil fuels. A critical examination of this approach reveals that the current understanding of the damaging consequences of carbon dioxide removal is incomplete. This research study,

Geoscientists have made a groundbreaking discovery that sheds new light on the enigmatic process of continent formation. Contrary to popular belief, this revised origin story reveals that the development of continents did not require the start of plate tectonics or any external factor. Instead, internal geological forces within oceanic plateaus during Earth’s early history played

The 1972 Clean Water Act serves as a crucial legislation to protect the “waters of the United States.” However, a significant obstacle in fully implementing this act lies in the lack of a precise definition for which streams and wetlands are covered by its regulations. This ambiguity has resulted in an ongoing struggle for presidential

Last year, the Amazon experienced a severe drought that resulted in record-low river levels, the need for food and water deliveries to river communities, and the death of numerous endangered dolphins. Researchers have identified human-induced global warming as the primary driver of this unprecedented drought, with El Niño also playing a significant role. This article

The global carbon market has seen a significant increase in the distribution of efficient cookstoves in developing countries as a means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, a recent study conducted by the University of California, Berkeley reveals that the carbon savings of these cookstoves are vastly overestimated, with the credits overestimating their impact by

In recent years, the world has experienced unprecedented temperatures, with 2023 being recorded as the hottest year on record. As climate change continues to intensify, the combination of heat and humidity poses a significant threat to our lives and livelihoods. However, our understanding of the local impacts of this threat is often underestimated, particularly in

In the midst of climate change, the process of deglaciation during the Holocene has been a topic of great importance. As glaciers retreat, they leave behind distinct landforms known as moraines, which have a significant impact on mountainous environments. Recent research published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters sheds light on the declining erosion rates

A recent study led by a Tulane University oceanographer has shed light on the relationship between ocean oxygen levels, carbon dioxide, and climate change. The research, published in Science Advances, delves deep into the ocean floor to uncover crucial information about the last ice age and its implications for today’s global warming. By analyzing seafloor

As human populations continue to expand and urbanize at an unprecedented rate, the issue of waste has become increasingly pressing. Waste, a natural by-product of life, has long been a challenge for living systems, but its impact on human systems has reached crisis levels. From microplastics infiltrating our bodies to wastewater polluting our waterways, and

In the management of fire-prone landscapes in the American West, a new and counterintuitive practice has emerged. Instead of focusing solely on suppressing wildfires, managers are now turning to prescribed burns as a way to prevent larger, more destructive fires. Prescribed burns are controlled fires that reduce the buildup of fuel, such as grasses, leaves,