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New approach predicts threats to rainforests

A new study by scientists from the Universities of Oxford, Montana, and the US Forest Service highlights novel approaches to tackling deforestation. The team built a multi-scale model of deforestation on Borneo's island using machine learning algorithms, predicting future deforestation risk faced by remaining forests.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalLandscape Ecology·DateMay 25, 2017

Study: Early organic carbon got deep burial in mantle

A Rice University study found that fossilized organic carbon could have been deeply buried in the mantle starting around 2.4 billion years ago, during a critical period known as the great oxidation event. The researchers discovered that the chemical composition of subducting crustal rock plays a crucial role in determining whether carb...

SourceRice University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateApr 25, 2017

Sustainable ceramics without a kiln

Material scientists at ETH Zurich have developed a method to manufacture ceramics without heat, using calcium carbonate nanoparticles compacted with water. The resulting material is stronger than concrete and as stiff as stone, with potential applications in sustainable construction and energy storage.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 28, 2017

Transforming the carbon economy

The task force proposes strategies to recycle carbon dioxide and remove large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, complementing carbon-free approaches like electrification. These approaches aim to produce an overall emissions reduction of at least one billion tons of carbon dioxide per year.

Decoding ocean signals

Ocean absorbing more carbon dioxide reduces atmospheric greenhouse gas levels, but promotes acidification in marine organisms. A study by UC Santa Barbara geographer Timothy DeVries and colleagues found that a slowdown of the ocean's overturning circulation is likely the cause.

What happened to the sun over 7,000 years ago?

Researchers have identified a new type of solar event and dated it to 5480 BC using carbon-14 levels in tree rings. The team proposes causes for the event, extending knowledge of the sun's behavior and its effects on Earth. The study provides new insights into the sun's activity during the mid-Holocene period.

SourceNagoya University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 6, 2017

Wetlands play vital role in carbon storage, study finds

A new study published in Nature Communications reveals that wetlands store a significant amount of carbon, with freshwater inland wetlands holding nearly 10 times more carbon than tidal saltwater sites. The research highlights the importance of protecting wetlands from human activity to prevent climate change.

SourceKenyon College·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 2, 2017

The making of Antarctica

Researchers at McGill University suggest that a link between global climate change and dramatic changes in ocean circulation can explain the formation of Antarctica's ice sheets. This new theory highlights the complexity of climate change and the impact of ocean circulation patterns on global temperatures.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJan 31, 2017

Fossil fuel formation: Key to atmosphere's oxygen?

A new study links rapid increase in sediment burial of carbon-rich organic matter to the surge in atmospheric oxygen during the Cambrian explosion. This process prevented dead plant material from burning and allowed oxygen to build up. Fossil fuel formation played a crucial role in supporting advanced animal life on Earth.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateDec 30, 2016

New biochar model scrubs CO2 from the atmosphere

A new biochar model suggests using a bioenergy-biochar system to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, potentially becoming a viable option for climate change mitigation. This approach involves charring organic material and producing carbon-sequestering biochar that can be used as fertilizer and improve crop production.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 28, 2016