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EARTH CARBON CYCLE
Scientists may have got one of Earth’s biggest ancient mysteries wrong: A 2-billion-year-old carbon clue thought to reveal a global change may actually point to magma, methane and microbesResearch from Caltech indicates that a significant carbon signal may arise from local geological processes instead of global events. The st...
In 1994, two friends set out to circle the Earth without engines or sails; 13 years later, one returned after nearly 46,000 miles, a crocodile attack and a dozen crossingsJason Lewis completed a thirteen-year journey around the world using only human power. He traveled by bicycle, pedal boat, inline skates, a...
A future without oxygen: Scientists explain what Earth could look like in a billion years - hostile to complex life long before the Sun dies outEarth's breathable atmosphere is a temporary phenomenon, experts predict. Computer simulations show oxygen loss within one billion years, l...
In 2020, NASA put seeds from 11 crops aboard an experimental spaceplane; after months in orbit, scientists brought them back to test whether they could still growIn 2020, NASA put seeds from 11 crops aboard an experimental spaceplane; after months in orbit, scientists brought them back to test whethe...
Michigan researchers transformed old wind turbine blades into tasty gummy bear candies, sports drink, organic glass for windows and carsWe know that old wind turbine blades need not end up in landfills; they could be recycled to make new products such as bathroom sinks, kitc...
In 2012, Jason Mraz began farming 5 acres in California with organic practices. 14 years later, his family farm had grown thousands of trees while promoting regenerative agricultureSinger Jason Mraz has beautifully transformed his San Diego orchard into a thriving regenerative avocado farm. Since acquiring the property...
In 1997, NASA grew Brassica rapa on Mir for 122 days to test a full life cycle; seed-to-seed cycles succeeded, but space-grown seeds were smallerIn an exciting development, researchers have achieved seed-to-seed cycling of plants in microgravity environments, demonstrating gravity in...
Pangea Ultima: In 200 million years, Earth could have a new supercontinent, and its climate may be almost impossible for humans to surviveEarth's continents are moving, and a future supercontinent may form. Scientists model Pangea Ultima, a landmass forming in 200 million year...
In 1950, livestock viruses drove the Serengeti's wildebeest herd down to 300,000. Less than a decade later, it surpassed 1.5 million, helping turn the ecosystem into a carbon sinkIn the 1950s, rinderpest and livestock disease pushed the Serengeti’s wildebeest herd to dangerously low numbers. After the virus was broug...
Science says sand isn’t always made from rocks: Some beaches are built from the remains of living thingsThe next time you stroll along a white tropical beach, remember that the sand beneath your feet may have a far more complex origin than ero...
Carbon emissions are worsening the western US water crisis, new study findsDecades of carbon emissions significantly worsened the western United States water crisis. Fossil fuel and cement producers' emissions redu...
In 1962, NASA packed 22,900 gallons of water into a Saturn I rocket and deliberately released it 65 miles above Earth to see how water behaved in the upper atmosphereNASA scientists have long explored recycling resources for extended space travel. Plants and microorganisms could help regenerate vital sup...
In 2017, USGS and MIT researchers dated a magma pulse to 251.9 million years ago. 9 years later, it links to Earth's worst extinctionEarth faced its worst extinction event around 252 million years ago. Volcanic activity in the Siberian Traps is the leading explanation for...
In 1988, scientists began quantifying the ocean's global productivity. 38 years later, microscopic phytoplankton produce roughly 50% of Earth's oxygenScientists began measuring the ocean’s global productivity in 1988, revealing a hidden force behind Earth’s oxygen cycle. Nearly four decad...
On the ISS, astronauts see 16 sunrises every day as the station circles Earth, but their bodies refuse to follow the 90-minute cycle, forcing crews to stick to a familiar 24-hour routine despite living through multiple days and nightsAstronauts on the International Space Station experience sixteen sunrises daily. They follow a strict twenty-four-hour schedule, ignoring t...
Amazon trees kept a rainfall diary in their rings; it shows wet seasons grew up to 22% wetter while dry seasons lost up to 13.5% of their rainResearchers have discovered that ancient Amazonian trees provide vital climate information through their annual rings. By examining oxygen ...
110-quadrillion-kilometer fungal network moves CO₂ equal to about 11% of annual human emissions into soil each yearAn intricate web of tiny fungal threads stretches underground, connecting plants around the world. These microorganisms are essential, shar...
Between the 1930s and 1980s, Finland drained 4.7 million hectares of peatland to accelerate forest growth; the exposed peat soils are now a growing source of carbon dioxideFinland drained vast peatlands for forestry after World War II. These drained soils now release significant amounts of carbon dioxide annua...
In the early 2000s, researchers found that holding their breath for days helps insects stay aliveMore than twenty years after those early studies attracted attention, scientists continue investigating how insects breathe, survive, and a...
Sixth mass extinction may begin by 2100: StudyResearchers from MIT in the US analysed significant changes in the carbon cycle over the last 540 million years, including the five mass ex...