'A fantastic find': Mars hides thick sheets of ice just below the surface
1-11-18
Directly next to slopes the height of skyscrapers are vast layers of ice, only 300 feet thick. On Mars, studying this ice will likely reveal information about the planet's geological history and potential to host life. Up to one third of Mars' surface is covered in ice, discovered by the Mars Odyssey spacecraft in 2001 (based on Helium content in the atmosphere). However, the darker regions are special because their freeze signifies pure ice since it is blue, and does not appear to be mixed with the typical Mars dirt.
This discovery seems to be important mostly because it proves that there might be extraterrestrial life on Mars and that Mars may be able to host humans. This is also a valuable example of why space exploration must be continued; we are constantly discovering something new that changes the way we think about the universe.
This discovery seems to be important mostly because it proves that there might be extraterrestrial life on Mars and that Mars may be able to host humans. This is also a valuable example of why space exploration must be continued; we are constantly discovering something new that changes the way we think about the universe.
The planet just had its hottest 4 years in recorded history. Trump is dismantling efforts to fight climate change.
1-18-18
Despite the climate change situation, the Trump administration is attempting to open more land to oil drilling and dismantle environmental regulations, including Obama's Clean Power Plan. Additionally Trump claimed to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement last year. In reaction to the Trump administration's incompetency of global warming, some states, such as California, have doubled their own efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There has also been a slight declining trend in American emissions, however it is likely that it will not continue and in fact will increase by 1.7%, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Although 2016 is currently the hottest year on Earth, 2017 probably would have been hotter if it experienced trends comparable to El Nino.
Although climate change poses dangerous/lethal threats to all people, especially poor people, maybe the entire crisis along with the Trump crisis are causing more political activism/responsibility in the common people. Seen in the states of the U.S. that are taking their own responsibilities seriously to the record breaking protests and immense amounts of people making lifestyle changes to reduce their carbon footprints, it seems that where the U.S. government fails the country, the country works cohesively to counteract the damages of the Trump administration? With the U.S. as the only country not listed under the Paris Agreement, maybe the backlash will be enough to change the current American trajectory which has serious implications for the rest of the world.
Although climate change poses dangerous/lethal threats to all people, especially poor people, maybe the entire crisis along with the Trump crisis are causing more political activism/responsibility in the common people. Seen in the states of the U.S. that are taking their own responsibilities seriously to the record breaking protests and immense amounts of people making lifestyle changes to reduce their carbon footprints, it seems that where the U.S. government fails the country, the country works cohesively to counteract the damages of the Trump administration? With the U.S. as the only country not listed under the Paris Agreement, maybe the backlash will be enough to change the current American trajectory which has serious implications for the rest of the world.
Scientists discover the oldest human fossils outside Africa
1-25-18
Near the Israeli coast in a collapsed cave, a human jaw bone/teeth fossil was uncovered and it is apparently 175,000 years old. The fossil means that Homo sapiens travelled into Eurasia and out of Africa approximately 60,000 years earlier than other fossils have suggested. The teeth are not those of a Neanderthal and resemble the modern human's. Most importantly, the fossil shows that Homo sapiens overlapped in time with Neanderthals, so this changes the perceived history of the evolution of humans.
The importance of this fossil discovery is our obligation to support this type of archeological research. Especially pronounced in this human jaw, the fossils that are studied are an integral part of our history as a species, as well as that of the entire world.
The importance of this fossil discovery is our obligation to support this type of archeological research. Especially pronounced in this human jaw, the fossils that are studied are an integral part of our history as a species, as well as that of the entire world.
Volcán de Fuego from Earth and space
2-1-18
Volcan de Fuego, or fire volcano, is one of the most active volcanoes in South America. In Guatemala it erupted on January 31, 2018. It was active for 20 hours, located only 40 miles west of Guatemala City. The resulting plume, which contains gaseous components invisible to the human eye, including sulfur dioxide SO2, reached 21,000 ft above sea level. It may make acid rain due to its composition and will likely have impacts on climate by forming aerosols in the atmosphere.
The importance of this explosion is the possibility of briefly slowing climate change, although that will be unlikely to occur on a large scale at all.
The importance of this explosion is the possibility of briefly slowing climate change, although that will be unlikely to occur on a large scale at all.
Ottawa overhauls Environment Act, NEB
2-8-18
Both the Environmental Assessment Act and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency will be replaced, according to federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna. The result is that government agencies, such as NEB and Fisheries and Oceans, will not be able to control environmental reviews. The greenhouse gas emissions that would result from projects such as fracking will also be taken into consideration in regards to the Paris agreement.
With the goal of speeding up review processes, this new law will lead to less oversight on projects that have important environmental implications for communities and wildlife in Canada. It is important to manage all corporate interests that will impact the environment in a significant way, and no short cuts should be taken in this tedious task.
With the goal of speeding up review processes, this new law will lead to less oversight on projects that have important environmental implications for communities and wildlife in Canada. It is important to manage all corporate interests that will impact the environment in a significant way, and no short cuts should be taken in this tedious task.
2-15-18
President Trump has presented to Congress a plan to cut the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative by 90 percent, from $300 million to $30 million. Todd Ambs, of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has stated that Trump is “out of touch with reality” and “fails to meet the needs of millions of people.”
Three Space Station Crew Members Return Home To Earth Closing 168-Day Mission
3-1-18
Yesterday, Mark Vande Hei and Joe Acaba of NASA, and commander Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos safely landed in Kazakhstan. Their mission lasted 168 days, including four space walks and intensive studies about the amount of energy the Sun emits to the Earth. Vande Hei also was able to complete maintenance work on the spacecraft. As soon as the astronauts landed their successful mission, another team set out on Expedition 55 to operate the station.
I don't completely understand the significance of space exploration aside from the interesting information that it provides for us to better understand our situation on Earth. I am not particularly educated on this subject, but it seems that space exploration won't necessarily lead to economic or social benefits. I am still, of course, in favor of funding for space exploration for the sake of curiosity.
I don't completely understand the significance of space exploration aside from the interesting information that it provides for us to better understand our situation on Earth. I am not particularly educated on this subject, but it seems that space exploration won't necessarily lead to economic or social benefits. I am still, of course, in favor of funding for space exploration for the sake of curiosity.
Protest over scarce supply, wastage on World Water Day
3-22-18
After a scorching summer, Indians in Old Panvel are only being supplied water on alternate days. They have seen a 10% cut in their water resources, too. The water scarcity faced by these residents has forced them to travel great distances to retrieve water and protest their hardships. There are leakages within the infrastructure, as well, which doesn't help the situation. Cidco has an open sewage system, which drains into and pollutes the Ghadi River. One social activist, Dilip Mahajan states “We often observe water getting wasted from damaged water pipelines, tap leaks. The onus to save water from being wasted in the supply lines is of the service provider. We have hardly seen any surveillance teams to monitor the situation on ground. Periodic maintenance and vigilance will be some of the deterrent measures to plug the loss.”
Access to fresh water is a basic human right. It is tragic that such a massive amount of people still lack this human right. There is huge poverty in India, which makes it difficult to effectively address the grand infrastructural problems that confront Indians. However, fresh water should be a top priority. Additionally, some updates to the water system would help solve environmental, sanitary, and health-related issues that are connected to current utility problems.
Access to fresh water is a basic human right. It is tragic that such a massive amount of people still lack this human right. There is huge poverty in India, which makes it difficult to effectively address the grand infrastructural problems that confront Indians. However, fresh water should be a top priority. Additionally, some updates to the water system would help solve environmental, sanitary, and health-related issues that are connected to current utility problems.
MUMBAI IS NOT DELHI YET, BUT RISING AIR POLLUTION, IS TAKING A TOLL ON OUR LUNGS
3-29-18
India has the highest air pollution death toll, which reached a remarkable 1.8 million two years ago. Although Mumbai is not as threatened as Delhi, the two are growing closer in their air pollution risk. Children and the elderly are most susceptible to this smog that leaves one's lungs scarred similar to those of a smoker's (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis). The World Health Organization labels the pollutants as particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. The particulate matter is measured in less than 10 microns and less than 2.5 microns. In Delhi last month, the PM levels measured 10x the suggested limit. Much of this pollution can be attributed to construction projects and the lack of public transportation. The pollutants weaken one's immune system, leaving them more vulnerable to diseases such as tuberculosis. India needs a national air pollution plan and local initiatives within its cities. For example, the baking of bread and pav in Mumbai causes large amounts of pollution because they are fueled by diesel and wood, primarily. Much of India's environment is not monitored whatsoever, making it difficult to create tangible steps to achieve environmental goals.
It is incomprehensible how air pollution can cause literal deaths. Unfortunately, these deaths are most common among the poor, and most perpetrated by the wealthy. In a place like Mumbai that is cramped to the point where nearly 2/3 of the population lives in slums, making any type of change can be practically impossible, and the consequences of allowing environmental degradation are lethal. Public transportation could do worlds of improvement for the air quality in Mumbai, but how can one create public transportation systems when there are 18 million people- packed like sardines- in the way? Mumbai is also already quite green, as it has a thriving tropical ecosystem and very strict regulations around cutting down trees. The emissions must be combatted at the source, but how can one accomplish this?
It is incomprehensible how air pollution can cause literal deaths. Unfortunately, these deaths are most common among the poor, and most perpetrated by the wealthy. In a place like Mumbai that is cramped to the point where nearly 2/3 of the population lives in slums, making any type of change can be practically impossible, and the consequences of allowing environmental degradation are lethal. Public transportation could do worlds of improvement for the air quality in Mumbai, but how can one create public transportation systems when there are 18 million people- packed like sardines- in the way? Mumbai is also already quite green, as it has a thriving tropical ecosystem and very strict regulations around cutting down trees. The emissions must be combatted at the source, but how can one accomplish this?
China issues three-day smog alert and orders factories to cut output by 50%
4-5-18
Beijing is China's highest priority smog city, and for the third time this year has undergone strict smog precautions due to its high risk. When in code orange, industries that produce items such as furniture are required to reduce emissions to 50% instead of the normal 80%. In spite of these warnings, Beijing has seen the highest average reduction of emissions, which was achieved by the implementation of natural gas instead of coal in households.
Small changes can have big impacts, but that isn't always enough. Clean air is a human right, and the problems Beijing faces are only going to confront other populations around the world at our current rate of air pollution. I think that sometimes industry and the economy must be compromised for the sake of making our environment healthier. But in a grander sense, environmentalism holds many possibilities to preserve our economies and industries.
Small changes can have big impacts, but that isn't always enough. Clean air is a human right, and the problems Beijing faces are only going to confront other populations around the world at our current rate of air pollution. I think that sometimes industry and the economy must be compromised for the sake of making our environment healthier. But in a grander sense, environmentalism holds many possibilities to preserve our economies and industries.
Global warming has changed the Great Barrier Reef ‘forever,’ scientists say
4-11-18
Two years ago, a sea heatwave engulfed the Great Barrier Reef, killing enough of the coral that the Reef is unlikely to ever recover. In 2016, approximately 30% of the reefs died. The heatwave also impacted the various species of coral differently, completely altering the Reef ecosystem. It is expected to shift into a more homogeneous and resilient habitat as the result of this unnatural selecting process/bleaching. On top of this, the bleaching has been eradicating the zooxanthella algae, on which the coral relies for photosynthesis. Of the 1,400 stretch of reef, roughly half has died due to the bleaching.
As one of the current disasters in our environment, it must be noted that the general impacts of climate change are not moving slowly and far from arrival-- they are here right now, and we are already missing out on the ability reverse the resulting damage.
As one of the current disasters in our environment, it must be noted that the general impacts of climate change are not moving slowly and far from arrival-- they are here right now, and we are already missing out on the ability reverse the resulting damage.