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Updated: 19 hours 41 min ago

Human disturbances drive significant soil carbon loss in hyper-arid deserts, study reveals

Thu, 08/21/2025 - 15:13
A recent study led by Prof. Zeng Fanjiang from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has revealed concerning trends in soil organic carbon (SOC) loss due to prolonged human disturbance in hyper-arid desert ecosystems.

Groundwater: How scientists explore the mysteries of ancient aquifers

Thu, 08/21/2025 - 15:04
Beneath Australia's soils lie ancient aquifers which supply 30% of the water consumed across the country. The groundwater they hold can be some of the oldest water on the planet, dating back as far as two million years.

Big quakes in lower North Island 'clustered' in time, study shows

Thu, 08/21/2025 - 14:21
Large earthquakes along some of New Zealand's major faults are commonly clustered in time and place, according to recent research.

Scientists discover how heat 'awakens' carbon food source for deep Earth biosphere

Thu, 08/21/2025 - 13:41
Deep beneath the ocean's surface lies Earth's largest carbon reservoir: marine sediments that have accumulated organic matter over millions of years. Long assumed to be permanently "locked away," this vast carbon pool is far more dynamic than scientists previously believed, according to a new international study.

At Mono Lake, visitors witness the stark toll of LA's water use

Thu, 08/21/2025 - 12:19
At a trailhead surrounded by sagebrush, a naturalist welcomes a group of visitors to Mono Lake beside a sign that reads "Oasis in the Desert."

Asia steps into the global carbon cycle conversation

Thu, 08/21/2025 - 08:00
A deeper look into carbon flux is now possible—thanks to a deep pool of scientific collaboration. And for once, the spotlight is on Asia.

A 2022 Pacific volcano eruption made a deep dive into Alaska

Thu, 08/21/2025 - 05:57
Atmospheric waves from a massive 2022 South Pacific volcanic eruption created seismic waves that penetrated Earth to at least 5 kilometers in Alaska, creating an opportunity to employ an unusual method of peering into the state's deep subsurface.

Ozone will warm planet more than first thought, study finds

Wed, 08/20/2025 - 23:10
The world will warm more than expected due to future changes in ozone, which protects the Earth from harmful sun rays but also traps heat as it is a greenhouse gas.

Microbial carbon use efficiency rises after abrupt permafrost thaw, study finds

Wed, 08/20/2025 - 20:33
Thawing permafrost is a major climate risk due to the associated release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHGs). However, new research by a team led by Prof. Yang Yuanhe from the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences shows how microbes can stabilize soil carbon and potentially weaken the climate risk.

A new online tool can help streamline mineral identification

Wed, 08/20/2025 - 20:08
Identifying a mineral might sound straightforward: Analyze its chemistry, compare it to known minerals and voilà. But for geologists, this process can be a time-consuming puzzle requiring specialized expertise and a lot of manual calculation.

By 2051, emissions from coal mining on federal lands could drop by 86%

Wed, 08/20/2025 - 19:30
Federal lands—which make up about 640 million acres, or 28%, of U.S. soil—are used for many purposes, including conservation, recreation, and extraction of resources such as coal. Greenhouse gas emissions are released throughout the life cycle of coal use, including during its mining, transport, and combustion.

New 'in and out' mechanism reveals how carbon dioxide reacts at water's surface

Wed, 08/20/2025 - 19:20
Each year, billions upon billions of tons of CO2 are pumped into the atmosphere. A significant proportion of this ends up in Earth's oceans, where it can react with water to form carbonic acid, which causes ocean acidification.

Climate change amplifies extreme rains more than light precipitation, study finds

Wed, 08/20/2025 - 18:31
Climate change enhances extreme rains more than the ordinary drizzle. New research shows that frontal rain increases the most, and illustrates why extreme rains caused by other phenomena are not equally affected.

Stylolites complicate sound wave propagation in sedimentary rock samples, affecting lab-scale monitoring

Wed, 08/20/2025 - 16:30
Stylolites—irregular seams that occur in limestone—have been found to affect how acoustic waves move through rock samples. Laboratory-based insights from KAUST researchers offer an improved understanding of how these features impact acoustic imaging techniques, which are used to analyze induced microseismic events during hydraulic fracturing.

Study finds temporary slowdown in melting of Arctic sea ice

Wed, 08/20/2025 - 15:07
Arctic sea ice has been melting at a slower rate for the past 20 years, despite human-induced global warming.

Abrupt Antarctic changes could have 'catastrophic consequences for generations to come,' experts warn

Wed, 08/20/2025 - 15:00
Antarctica is at risk of abrupt and potentially irreversible changes to the continent's ice, ocean and ecosystems that could have profound implications for Australia and beyond, unless urgent action is taken to curb global carbon emissions.

'Biomining' seaweed explored for critical minerals to improve domestic supply chains

Wed, 08/20/2025 - 14:59
In a bright, open laboratory nestled along Washington State's Sequim Bay, among rows of glassware filled with seawater and green and purple seaweed, researchers are investigating a new way to produce the critical minerals that are vital to everyday life.

Ash dieback triggers hidden surge in carbon emissions from woodland soils, research shows

Wed, 08/20/2025 - 14:17
Ash dieback and other tree diseases are resulting in significantly more greenhouse gas emissions than previously thought because a large amount of carbon is escaping from woodland soils, a study has found. This is in addition to carbon losses from tens of millions of dying trees and reduced removal of CO2 from the atmosphere due to the widespread deaths of mature ash trees.

Mysterious Fickle Hill earthquake in northern California may have unexpected source

Wed, 08/20/2025 - 13:16
What lies beneath Fickle Hill in northern California? Maybe the answer to an earthquake mystery that has puzzled seismologists for decades.

Earth system models project start of Amazon dieback within 21st century

Wed, 08/20/2025 - 13:14
The Amazon is the world's largest rainforest. It harbors immense biodiversity and plays a crucial role in the global climate system by storing vast amounts of carbon in its vegetation.

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