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New England’s salt marshes store 10 million cars’ worth of carbon—and add another 15,000-worth every year

Scientists at UMass Amherst accurately quantify coastal carbon storage using satellites, revealing 10 million cars' worth of carbon stored in top meter of soil and an additional 15,000-worth each year. The results are crucial for a resilient, low-carbon future, highlighting the potential for salt marshes to mitigate climate change.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences·DateFeb 13, 2025

Seagrass meadows as natural climate protectors

Seagrass meadows promote biodiversity, coastal protection, and water quality improvement while effectively storing carbon dioxide. A new project aims to develop strategies for their conservation and restoration in the Baltic Sea.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)·DateJan 24, 2025
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Biochar reduces the risks of DDT-contaminated soil

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology found that biochar significantly reduces DDT uptake by earthworms in contaminated soil, halving the toxin's presence. This method could enable farming on land deemed unusable due to environmental risks.

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalScience of The Total Environment·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 16, 2025

Human-related activities continue to threaten global climate and productivity

Researchers analyzed global gross primary productivity trends over 1982-2016, finding a 68% decrease across 68% of the terrestrial surface. The decline is attributed to a reduction in the CO2 fertilization effect, which has negative effects on plant growth due to nutrient deficiencies.

SourceEcosystem Health and Sustainability·JournalEcosystem Health and Sustainability·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 23, 2024

Construction materials and household items are a part of a long-term carbon sink called the “technosphere”

Researchers estimate that human-made products store around 400 million tons of fossil carbon annually, equivalent to 9% of extracted fossil carbon. Recycling and increasing product lifetime can help reduce waste streams, while enacting policies to minimize landfill discharge is crucial.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Reports Sustainability·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 20, 2024

Tiny poops in the ocean may help solve the carbon problem

A Dartmouth-led study suggests using clay to convert CO2 into food for zooplankton, which expel it as carbon-filled feces in the deep sea. This method accelerates the ocean's natural cycle for removing carbon from the atmosphere.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 10, 2024
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Roof greening in major Chinese cities possibly afford a large potential carbon sink

Researchers found that roof greening in all major Chinese cities could potentially create a large carbon sink, with grass planting scenarios showing approximately 52.2 Tg C a−1 emissions offset, equivalent to fully offsetting household emissions. Prioritizing greenery on low-rise roofs can harvest the most carbon sinks, over 90%.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·DateDec 6, 2024

Warming temperatures may shrink wetland carbon sinks

A global study using teabags to measure carbon release from soil in wetlands found that warmer temperatures led to increased decay of organic matter, reducing carbon preservation. Freshwater and tidal marshes showed the highest potential for carbon storage.

SourceRMIT University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·TypeObservational study·DateDec 1, 2024

Redefining net zero will not stop global warming – scientists say

A new study by the University of Oxford's Department of Physics shows that relying on natural carbon sinks to offset CO2 emissions from fossil fuels will not stop global warming. Governments and corporations are increasingly turning to these natural sinks to meet climate goals, but this approach is flawed.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalNature·DateNov 18, 2024
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Transforming agriculture from carbon source to sink

Researchers found that agricultural practices like planting cover crops and agroforestry could reduce greenhouse gas emissions as much as planting new forests by 2050. These methods also enhance agricultural productivity and resilience to climate change, with potential income of up to $235 billion for farmers.

SourceInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis·JournalNature Food·DateSep 23, 2024
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Forests endure as carbon sink despite regional pressures

The world's forests continue to absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide, with an average of 3.5 billion metric tons per year, nearly half of global fossil fuel emissions between 1990 and 2019. Despite disruptions, certain land management practices can help preserve this critical carbon sink.

SourceUSDA Forest Service - Northern Research Station·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 17, 2024

Forests endure as carbon sink despite regional pressures

A new study reveals that global forests have consistently absorbed carbon dioxide for the past three decades, with tropical forests experiencing a decline in their ability to absorb carbon due to deforestation. However, temperate forests have shown an increase in their carbon sink capacity, largely due to extensive reforestation efforts.

SourceInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis·JournalNature·DateJul 17, 2024
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Simple new process stores CO2 in concrete without compromising strength

A Northwestern University-led team of engineers has discovered a new way to store carbon dioxide (CO2) in concrete without compromising its strength and durability. The process achieved a CO2 sequestration efficiency of up to 45% and resulted in concrete with uncompromised properties.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalCommunications Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 26, 2024

Ancient ocean slowdown warns of future climate chaos

A UC Riverside study shows that extreme heat in Earth's past caused a decline in the exchange of waters from the surface to the deep ocean, which redistributes heat around the globe. This system has been crucial for regulating Earth's climate and removing anthropogenic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 13, 2024

Fjords are effective carbon traps regardless of oxygen levels

Research in three Swedish fjords shows that organic carbon is effectively trapped, regardless of oxygen levels. The study highlights the importance of sediments in storing carbon, with up to 18 megatonnes buried annually, representing 11% of global ocean carbon capture.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences·TypeObservational study·DateMay 31, 2024
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Tropical forest resilience to seasonal drought linked to nutrient availability

International research team finds that increasing key nutrients like potassium and phosphorus can sustain tropical forest productivity under drought conditions. This study, published in Nature Geoscience, aims to address the potential impact of climate change on these critical ecosystems.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 27, 2024

A chemical mystery solved – the reaction explaining large carbon sinks

Researchers at Linköping University discovered a specific reaction called oxidative dearomatisation that transforms biomolecules into millions of diverse molecules, making organic matter resistant to degradation. This process explains the substantial organic carbon sinks on our planet, reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

SourceLinköping University·JournalNature·DateApr 24, 2024
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

A new estimate of U.S. soil organic carbon to improve Earth system models

Scientists have developed a new method to estimate soil organic carbon in the US, providing a more accurate benchmark for policymakers. The study reveals how environmental variables affect soil organic carbon and offers insights into mitigating climate change through sustainable land management practices.

SourceEmory University·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 2, 2024

Climate change alters the hidden microbial food web in peatlands

A new study reveals that climate change alters the hidden microbial food web in peatlands, affecting carbon storage and potential releases. Rising temperatures dry out peatlands, causing protists to behave unexpectedly, leading to changes in feeding habits and CO2 emissions.

SourceDuke University·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateMar 18, 2024

Giant sequoias are a rapidly growing feature of the UK landscape

A new study found that giant sequoias introduced to the UK are well-adapted to the climate, growing at rates close to their native ranges and capturing large amounts of carbon during their long lives. The trees can potentially pull an average of 85 kilograms of carbon out of the atmosphere per year.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·TypeObservational study·DateMar 12, 2024
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Rock weathering and climate: Low-relief mountain ranges are largest carbon sinks

Research reveals that low-relief mountain ranges with moderate erosion rates have the highest CO2 capture through silicate weathering. In contrast, high-eroded regions release more CO2 due to faster carbonate and sulfide weathering. These findings suggest a complex relationship between erosion rates and the carbon cycle.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalScience·DateMar 7, 2024

Is the Amazon forest approaching a tipping point?

A recent study published in Nature identifies potential thresholds for stressors that could cause the Amazon forest to collapse. The research highlights the importance of understanding the most significant factors affecting the rainforest environment to develop strategies for keeping it resilient.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 14, 2024
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Understanding how soil traps carbon

Researchers found that electrostatic charges, structural features of carbon molecules, and surrounding metal nutrients play major roles in soil's ability to trap carbon. The study aims to help predict which soil chemistries are most favorable for trapping carbon.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 5, 2024

Shifts in lake carbon dynamics on the Qingzang Plateau — from predominant carbon sources to emerging carbon sinks

A study reveals that annual carbon emissions from Qingzang Plateau lakes have declined, with some shifting from carbon sources to sinks between 1970-2000 and 2000-2020. This finding has implications for global warming and climate change estimates relative to China.

SourceEurasia Academic Publishing Group·JournalEnvironmental Science and Ecotechnology·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 2, 2024

Tidal landscapes a greater carbon sink than previously thought

Tidal landscapes like mangroves and salt marshes are a greater carbon sink than previously thought, with stored carbon in biomass and muddy soils contributing to climate change mitigation. The new findings also show that bicarbonate exports from these ecosystems double the size of the carbon trap, making them even more effective.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2024
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Climate change threatens global forest carbon sequestration, study finds

A new analysis reveals a pronounced regional imbalance in forest productivity, with the Western U.S. experiencing a notable slowdown and the Eastern U.S. seeing slightly accelerated growth. This study highlights the urgent need for reduced global greenhouse gas emissions to restore the global carbon balance.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 15, 2024

Wildfires threaten environmental gains in climate-crucial Amazon

Uncontrolled wildfires are threatening environmental progress in Brazilian Amazonia, a critical carbon sink. Deforestation rates have fallen, but fire counts remain high, driven by hotter and drier climate conditions.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateOct 16, 2023

Carbon-capture tree plantations threaten tropical biodiversity for little gain, ecologists say

Ecologists say that carbon-capture tree plantations have a negative impact on tropical biodiversity and ecosystem services, despite their potential to offset climate change. In contrast, intact ecosystems like forests, grasslands, and savannahs store large quantities of carbon below ground and provide multiple ecosystem services.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Ecology & Evolution·TypeLiterature review·DateOct 3, 2023
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Boreal and temperate forests now main global carbon sinks

Researchers mapped annual changes in global forest biomass between 2010 and 2019, finding that boreal and temperate forests are the largest carbon sinks. Carbon stocks increased by 500 million tonnes per year, primarily due to young trees in these forests.

SourceINRAE - National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment·JournalNature Geoscience·DateOct 2, 2023

Transparent wood-based coating doesn’t fog up

A team of scientists at Aalto University has created a bio-based transparent film from lignin nanoparticles, offering an alternative to toxic synthetic materials. The coating can be used on glasses, windshields, and other surfaces, and also displays coloured films with structural colours.

SourceAalto University·JournalChemical Engineering Journal·DateSep 26, 2023
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Extreme El Niño weather saw South America’s forest carbon sink switch off

A study by the University of Leeds found that South American forests lost their ability to absorb carbon from the atmosphere during an extreme El Niño event in 2015-2016. This suggests that tropical forests may no longer be able to mitigate climate change, but conservation efforts can still protect them.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeSurvey·DateSep 4, 2023

Climate win-win: study quantifies benefits of enhanced weathering

A new study quantifies the climate benefits of enhanced weathering, applying ground-up silicate rock to Midwestern farm fields to capture significant amounts of carbon dioxide. The method reduced net carbon loss to the atmosphere by 42% in maize plots and more than doubled carbon storage in miscanthus plots.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateAug 21, 2023

Climate protection: land use changes cause the carbon sink to decline

Researchers in East Europe have recalculated the carbon sinks in the region, finding that they stored most of Europe's carbon between 2010 and 2019. However, data shows a decline in carbon absorption over time, with timber extraction having the biggest influence on the land-based carbon sink.

SourceKarlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·DateAug 10, 2023

Introducing the carbon neutrality capacity index: a revolutionary model for evaluating global carbon sink contributions

A new model, the Carbon Neutrality Capacity Index (CNCI), evaluates contributions from various carbon sinks, including rock weathering and vegetation. The study reveals that Guizhou has a significantly higher CNCI than China's average, with regions like Libo and Pingtang showing surpluses.

SourceChinese Society for Environmental Sciences·JournalEnvironmental Science and Ecotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 23, 2023
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Holistic management is key to increase carbon sequestration in soils

A novel framework guides informed and effective soil management as carbon sinks, considering context-dependent environmental conditions. Management targeting 'labile' carbon is more effective in increasing carbon sequestration than focusing on 'stabilized' carbon.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 15, 2023

Preserving forests to protect deep soil from warming

A decade-long study reveals that warmer temperatures lead to significant loss of organic compounds in deep forest soils, affecting carbon sequestration. This finding has implications for natural carbon sinks and soil management practices.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 14, 2023

Warming climate could turn ocean plankton microbes into carbon emitters

Researchers found that warming conditions can shift mixotrophic microbes from carbon sinks to carbon emitters, potentially accelerating warming and creating a positive feedback loop. These tiny microbes, abundant in freshwater and marine environments, could act as early warning signals for climate change tipping points.

SourceBritish Ecological Society·JournalFunctional Ecology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 1, 2023
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Can a city store as much carbon as a forest?

A new metric, called the carbon storage (CS) factor, enables urban planners to evaluate how a new development will affect the city's carbon balance. By using the right kind of wooden construction technologies, up to 70% of future construction can preserve lost forest carbon storage capacity.

SourceAalto University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateMay 9, 2023

A viscious circle: Climate change affects greenhouse gas emissions from stream networks

A new study by Linköping University reveals that climate change alters natural greenhouse gas fluxes from streams and lakes, making landscape carbon sinks less effective. The researchers found that increased precipitation and temperature affect the amount of carbon washed into streams and lakes, leading to greater emissions.

SourceLinköping University·JournalLimnology and Oceanography Letters·DateMar 22, 2023
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

How will phosphorus cycle influence carbon uptake in china?

Researchers found that phosphorus limitation decreases global and Chinese carbon sink strength by 7-16% by 2030s. The positive feedback between net primary productivity and soil decomposition amplifies this impact in China.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateMar 10, 2023

Deep-sea black carbon comes from hydrothermal vents

Research reveals hydrothermal vents as a previously undiscovered source of dissolved black carbon in the oceans, transporting it thousands of kilometers away. This discovery sheds light on the ocean's role as a carbon sink and provides insights into the formation of recalcitrant dissolved organic carbon.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 10, 2023

Forests recovering from logging act as a source of carbon

A new study finds that tropical forests recovering from logging are a source of carbon due to soil and rotting wood releasing more carbon than new growth can absorb. The study highlights the need for sustainable logging practices to minimize collateral damage.

SourceImperial College London·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 9, 2023
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.