Houseplants play a vital role in enhancing indoor air quality by removing carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and releasing oxygen as a beneficial byproduct.
In 1989, NASA researchers conducted groundbreaking studies to explore whether plants could effectively purify the air in confined spaces, such as those within a space station.
During these tests, a variety of houseplants were placed in a small, sealed chamber containing contaminants like carbon monoxide, benzene, and formaldehyde—pollutants commonly found in home environments.
According to NASA findings, the spider plant proved extremely effective, reducing carbon monoxide levels from 130ppm to zero within 24 hours, significantly below the generally regarded safe indoor limit of 9ppm.
Philodendron domesticum, known as the spade leaf, excels at removing high levels of formaldehyde, while Gerbera jamesoni, or Gerbera daisy, effectively targets benzene.
However, it’s essential to recognize that these experiments were conducted in a controlled environment much smaller than typical living spaces. The levels of formaldehyde and benzene detected after 24 hours remained above accepted safe thresholds.
Additionally, homes are not airtight; ventilation through doors and windows influences the ability of plants to purify air, often decreasing their effectiveness in real-world conditions.
Subsequent research indicates that while indoor plants can slightly enhance air quality, the impact is not as significant as NASA’s original findings suggested.
This article addresses the question, “Which houseplants are optimal for improving air quality?” as posed by Eugene Abbott of Northumberland.
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Fighter pilots in training are leveraging AI technology to read their brainwaves while flying in virtual reality simulations. This innovative approach helps assess task difficulty and adjust complexity in real-time, offering a more personalized training experience. Recent experiments revealed that trainee pilots prefer this adaptive training system over traditional, static methods, although it hasn’t demonstrated a measurable improvement in skills.
Utilizing simulators and virtual reality platforms for pilot training is not only more cost-effective but also significantly safer than real-world flight exercises. However, it’s crucial that these educational scenarios are dynamically fine-tuned to balance comfort and cognitive load effectively.
Evi van Weerden, a researcher at the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Center in Amsterdam, has spearheaded this initiative by utilizing a brain-computer interface to read student pilots’ brainwaves through electrodes attached to their scalps. The AI analyzes this data to assess the difficulty levels of tasks pilots encounter.
“We are continually striving to enhance pilot training. It may sound like science fiction, but for me, as I analyze the data, it feels quite normal,” Van Weerden states.
A total of 15 Dutch Air Force pilots participated in the experiment, where the system calibrated between five distinct difficulty levels by adjusting visibility within the simulation based on the AI’s assessment of task complexity.
Post-training interviews revealed that while none of the pilots reported noticing real-time adjustments in difficulty, 10 out of the 15 pilots expressed a preference for the adaptive tests over preprogrammed exercises that incrementally increased in difficulty. Nevertheless, it’s noteworthy that pilots displayed no significant improvement in task performance when compared to traditional training methods. In essence, while pilots appreciated the mind-reading technology, it did not enhance their skill levels.
This discrepancy may stem from the individual differences in brain function, as Van Weerden explains. The AI model was initially trained on data from a separate cohort of novice pilots and subsequently applied to the 15 study participants. Implementing AI systems that accurately analyze brainwaves across varied populations remains a challenge. Notably, six pilots exhibited minimal variation in perceived difficulty, suggesting the AI may not have accurately interpreted their brain data.
Dr. James Blundell from Cranfield University in the UK highlighted that similar technologies are being explored for use in live aircraft to enhance pilot operation safety. “We’re investigating the ability to detect panic responses and creating interventions to help pilots regain control and composure during challenging situations,” Blundell explains. For instance, should a pilot find themselves inverted, the technology could provide critical information to enable a return to stable flight.
While promising progress has been made in isolated scenarios, the question of whether brain-reading technology can be effectively harnessed to bolster aviation safety remains unanswered. “There is still a considerable journey ahead to realize this potential,” concludes Blundell.
Researchers at the University of Sydney, in collaboration with Dewpoint Innovations, have engineered a porous polymer coating that can reflect as much as 97% of sunlight, dissipate heat into the atmosphere, and maintain surface temperatures up to 6 degrees cooler than the ambient air—even in direct sunlight. This mechanism fosters ideal conditions for atmospheric water vapor to transform into water droplets on these cooler surfaces, much like the condensation seen on a bathroom mirror.
Experimental equipment installed on the roof of the Sydney Nanoscience Hub. Image credit: University of Sydney.
Professor Chiara Neto from the University of Sydney stated: “This innovation not only advances cool roof coating technology, but also paves the way for sustainable, low-cost, decentralized freshwater sources—an essential requirement given the challenges of climate change and rising water scarcity.”
A six-month field study conducted on the roof of the Sydney Nanoscience Hub demonstrated that dew was collected for 32% of the year, enabling a sustainable and reliable water source even during dry spells.
Under optimal conditions, this coating can yield up to 390 mL of water per square meter daily—sufficient for a 12-square-meter home, meeting one person’s daily hydration needs.
This research illustrates the integration of passive cooling techniques and atmospheric moisture collection into scalable paint-like solutions.
The extensive collection area suggests that this coating could have diverse applications in various industries, including water supply for livestock, horticulture for premium crops, cooling through spraying, and hydrogen production.
Contrary to conventional white paints, the porous coatings utilizing polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene (PVDF-HFP) do not depend on UV-reflective pigments like titanium dioxide.
Dr. Ming Chiu, Chief Technology Officer of Dewpoint Innovations, remarked, “Our design achieves superior reflectiveness through an internal porous structure, ensuring longevity without the environmental downsides of pigment-based coatings.”
“By eliminating UV-absorbing materials, we have surmounted traditional limitations of solar reflectance while avoiding glare from diffuse reflection.”
“This equilibrium between performance and visual comfort enhances its ease of integration and appeal for real-world applications.”
Throughout six months of outdoor examination, researchers documented minute-by-minute data on cooling and water collection, confirming solid performance that remained stable under the harsh Australian sun—unlike similar technologies that often degrade quickly.
In addition to water harvesting, these coatings could help mitigate urban heat islands, lower energy needs for air conditioning, and provide climate-resilient water sources for regions facing heightened heat and water stress.
“This research also challenges the notion that dew collection is confined to humid environments,” noted Professor Neto.
“While humid conditions are optimal, condensation can also occur in arid and semi-arid areas where humidity increases during the night.”
“It isn’t a substitute for rainfall; rather, it serves as a water source when other supplies are scarce.”
The team’s work was published in the October 30th issue of Advanced Functional Materials.
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Ming Chiu et al. A passive cooling paint-like coating to capture water from the atmosphere. Advanced Functional Materials published online October 30, 2025. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202519108
The iPhone Air represents a stunning blend of technology and design, prompting the question, “What sacrifices are you ready to make for an ultra-lightweight, sleek device?”
More than just a marvel of engineering, the Air signifies a minimalist approach, condensing the iPhone experience into a premium chassis with essential features.
By eliminating the rear camera, reducing battery size, and forgoing stereo speakers while maximizing screen real estate, what remains is a striking combination of titanium and glass.
The cost reflects this craftsmanship. Priced at £999 (€1,199/$999/AU$1,799), the iPhone Air sits between the standard iPhone 17 at £799 and the £1,099 17 Pro variant.
The sleek design is subtly disrupted by a raised camera lens, adding to the phone’s overall thickness of around 11.3mm, reminiscent of Google’s Pixel series. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Images alone fail to showcase the Air’s beauty. Upon handling it, one immediately recognizes it as something unique. The slender 5.64 mm frame feels even lighter due to its rounded edges, making it 12 g lighter than the already featherweight iPhone 17.
The glass rear constitutes the majority of the phone’s structure, while the remainder houses the battery. Traditional iPhone buttons, including those for camera control and actions, line the sides. The top features only the ear speaker. While adequate, you’ll find the absence of stereo sound disappointing during video playback—especially since the 6.5-inch screen delivers a crisp and vibrant viewing experience.
Functionally, the Air operates like any contemporary iPhone. It features a glass-like aesthetic, runs iOS 26, offers all standard apps, includes Face ID, and boasts a highly responsive interface. However, it has a notable drawback: the iPhone Air lacks a nano SIM card tray, operating solely on eSim. In the U.S., Apple has only supported eSim since the iPhone 14, while earlier models sold in other regions included nano SIM slots.
The profiling of the phone’s edges is only marginally thicker than the buttons themselves. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Most major networks in the UK now support eSim; however, experiences with setup and transitions between devices can vary, especially among budget providers. Mobile network companies must enhance their eSim services to ensure wider accessibility.
Specifications
Screen: 6.5 inch Super Retina XDR (120Hz OLED) (460ppi)
The Air takes approximately 105 minutes to charge fully, reaching 60% within 35 minutes using a 20W or higher USB-C power adapter (sold separately). Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The Air is equipped with the same A19 Pro chip found in the iPhone 17 Pro, though it contains one less GPU core—resulting in somewhat slower performance during gaming and graphics-intensive activities. For routine tasks, it feels swift, yet the camera protrusions can cause it to warm up noticeably when under strain.
The reduced battery capacity marks a significant trade-off for the Air’s thin profile, despite much of the structure being allocated for the battery. Battery life is less than other iPhones, but surprisingly adequate. A moderate day with 5 hours of usage for browsing and video streaming on Wi-Fi saw the Air comfortably last 40 hours between charges.
A Qi2 or MagSafe magnetic wireless charger, like the Twelve South Power Bug, could significantly enhance daily usage of the Air. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
On more hectic days filled with photography, 5G navigation, music streaming, messaging, and videos, the Air maintained about 30 hours of life, ending the day with around 25% of the battery remaining. A full overnight charge should suffice for most daily demands, but those heavily into gaming or intense tasks might find themselves requiring low-power mode.
Sustainability
The sleek design of the Air includes a replaceable battery that may require changing after about 1,000 charge cycles. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The Air comprises over 35% recycled materials, including aluminum, cobalt, gold, lithium, rare earth elements, steel, tin, titanium, and tungsten. Apple outlines the environmental implications of mobile devices in its annual report, and offers trade-in and complimentary recycling options, even for non-Apple products.
Camera
While functioning like other iPhone cameras, the Air is somewhat limited due to the absence of ultra-wide and telephoto options. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The camera represents a significant compromise. It features a single 48MP camera at the back and an upgraded 18MP selfie camera at the front, using Center Stage technology from the iPhone 17 series.
The primary camera parallels that of the standard iPhone 17 rather than the larger sensor of the 17 Pro, yet it delivers commendable performance. It captures impressive photos and videos in good lighting and handles dim indoor environments reasonably well. At times the images may appear soft and grainy. While it doesn’t often win awards, it typically produces satisfactory photos. A 2x crop zoom is available, excellent for brightly lit scenes, but further zooming reveals the downsides of a digital zoom—textures and distant subjects tend to lose clarity.
The Air’s zoom capacity is satisfactory in bright conditions, but is prone to detail loss when focusing on further objects. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The absence of ultra-wide and telephoto capabilities restricts creative options for photography. The only other iPhone model with a single rear camera is the more budget-friendly iPhone 16e.
The 18MP front camera dynamically pans and zooms to capture group shots, allowing you to take landscape selfies without rotating your device. This feature is particularly useful. Moreover, it enables simultaneous video recording from both the front and rear cameras, placing you in the frame within a small window.
Price
The iPhone Air starts at £999 (€1,199/$999/AU$1,799) and includes 256GB of storage.
For perspective, the iPhone 16e comes in at £599, the iPhone 17 at £799, the iPhone 17 Pro at £1,099, the 17 Pro Max at £1,199, and the Google Pixel 10 retails for £1,199. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge sells for £899 and the Fairphone 6 is priced at £899, with the Fairphone 6 available for £499.
Verdict
The iPhone Air is a notable design that effectively addresses a specific need. Many have wished that contemporary smartphones would focus on being thinner rather than just emphasizing battery life or camera quality.
The remarkably thin design feels distinctive at first, but the novelty quickly diminishes. Similar to Samsung’s equally slender Galaxy S25 Edge, the primary advantage lies in reducing weight, enhancing comfort during use and storage. Despite its expansive screen, the Air remains compact and easy to carry.
Battery longevity exceeds expectations; while it performs adequately on most days, it might not hold up as well over several years. Apple offers a smart MagSafe battery that can increase its capacity by an additional 65%. However, using it can compromise the device’s thin, lightweight advantages, as would placing it in a case.
A significant limitation is the sole rear camera; the absence of ultra-wide and telephoto features can be restricting for users who rely on their phones for photography.
If you’re an Apple enthusiast seeking a slim, eye-catching device that’s easy to maneuver, the iPhone Air is a remarkable option. Otherwise, there are alternatives that might be more suitable.
Pros: Ultra-thin and lightweight, excellent display, impressive single rear camera, enhanced center stage selfie camera, superior performance, long-term software updates, and Face ID.
Cons: Lacks ultra-wide and telephoto capabilities, high price point, comparatively short battery life, best suited for use without a case, and lacks cutting-edge AI features.
The iPhone Air is visually striking and offers a unique feel compared to other models in the iPhone lineup. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
sKY’s newest streaming TV model offers an excellent all-in-one budget solution for your living space. It successfully fulfills all these demands while establishing a strong presence among similar priced, average appliances.
Glass Air is the lightweight, sleek, and affordable alternative to the Glass Gen 2, designed to be the first low-cost option from Sky, priced at £309 or available for £20 with interest-free credits.
Like its pricier counterparts, Glass Air requires a Sky subscription for full functionality. It serves as a basic smart TV featuring streaming apps and three HDMI ports, but you won’t be utilizing Sky TV unless you subscribe to TV over broadband service.
Glass Air can be viewed as a stripped-down version of Glass Gen 2, maintaining the same service and internal smart hardware, yet lacking an integrated soundbar, aluminum housing, and various display options, leading to a reduced weight and thickness.
The slender plastic frame comes in three color choices along with matching remote controls. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
This means all you need is a power cable and an internet connection; no aerial or satellite cables are needed thanks to WiFi or Ethernet. The remote also unifies TV, streaming apps, and services. Additionally, it includes Sky’s voice control system with a built-in microphone, allowing you to power it on and manage search, volume, and playback simply by saying “Hello Sky” followed by a command. While the voice command can be a bit finicky at times, it works effectively. Alternatively, you can press and hold the microphone button on the remote to communicate with it.
The 60Hz display is a vibrant and clear 4K LCD panel with HDR support, although it lacks the superior local dimming backlight found in Glass Gen 2 and other premium TVs. Consequently, the picture maintains a uniform brightness across scenes, diminishing the contrast between bright and dark areas. This can make certain high-contrast scenes appear less dramatic and somewhat shallow, though bright visuals remain appealing.
Nonetheless, the TV excels at showing beautiful visuals, performs well with everyday television shows, and handles vivid animations and dark-themed films competently.
Glass Air features three HDMI ports, an optical port, two USB ports, Ethernet, and an aerial socket, but only requires power and WiFi for operation. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The 15W stereo speakers are surprisingly impressive for a slim TV devoid of a soundbar. They deliver clear vocals and can reach volumes sufficient to fill medium-sized rooms, a feat not typically associated with most TV speakers.
While they lack deep bass and any surround sound capabilities, they are adequate for viewing bargain hunts and Premier League games. For a more immersive audio experience, you can connect a soundbar via one of the three HDMI ports; however, turning up the TV’s volume may impede some screen visibility.
Sky OS
The modern Sky Interface consolidates all your content into a single, user-friendly system for both live and on-demand viewing. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
A significant selling point for Glass Air over other budget TVs is its robust software. Sky OS has seen considerable improvements in recent years and operates smoothly with Glass Air.
It allows for seamless integration of live broadcasts and on-demand content through excellent playlist functionalities, making it easy to keep track of shows and movies. The ability to watch live TV, pause, and rewind functions efficiently. It supports nearly all major streaming platforms, including BBC iPlayer, ITV X, Channel 4, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Disney+, Paramount+, and Discovery+, among others.
Glass Air is compatible with AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth for streaming content from a variety of Apple devices.
Sustainability
The TV shifts to screensaver mode before powering down after a designated period of inactivity while detecting motion through a remote sensor. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The TV is designed for repair, incorporating recycled materials and solder. The company has a program for recycling older units and ships the TV in packaging free of plastic.
Price
The Sky Glass Air is offered in three sizes: £309 for 43 inches, £509 for 55 inches, and £649 for 65 inches. It also provides 24- or 48-month, interest-free payment options for £6-£20 per month.
The minimum Sky package for essential TV service starts at £15 per month, with various options for entertainment, movies, kids, and sports channels available on a 24 or 1-month rolling contract, including Netflix and Discovery+.
Verdict
Sky Glass Air is a solid budget-friendly television that includes all the perks of Sky’s Pay-TV bundled with broadband service.
It’s lightweight and slim, with stereo speakers that outperform many other thin models. The 4K visuals are bright and vibrant, though there’s a slight contrast issue at times. The essential features of the TV are satisfactory. When compared to other budget competitors in terms of service and software, it is notably superior to many low-end smart TVs.
However, a monthly subscription is required for full access, but those interested in Sky Pay-TV will find that they are not compromising on software experience with this affordable model. Plus, it offers the remarkable convenience of all TV and streaming services in one box, needing just one remote and basic power and internet.
Shop wisely and secure a well-designed mid-range TV that exceeds expectations at this price point. Glass Air is an excellent choice for those seeking value in a crowded market of budget televisions.
Pros: All-in-one streaming and pay TV device, decent sound quality, no satellite/cable or aerial needed.
Cons: Lacks local dimming which results in lower contrast, limited refresh rates for gaming consoles, and no Chromecast support. Subscription required.
The TV connects to a sturdy plastic stand featuring two metal prongs and requires no additional tools. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
On Monday, air quality warnings were issued for millions across the upper Midwest and northeastern regions as smoke from wildfires in Canada moved into these areas.
Areas expected to experience hazy skies include Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Northern Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Maine. The National Weather Service reports.
In Canada, approximately 200 wildfires remain uncontrolled, including 81 in Saskatchewan, 159 in Manitoba, and 61 in Ontario. Data from Canada’s Interagency Forest Fire Centre indicates that over 16.5 million acres have been affected this year, which may lead to a record-breaking wildfire season.
The Air Quality Index on Monday across 14 Midwest and Northeastern states indicated conditions ranging from “moderate” to “unhealthy” for the general population.
Wildfire smoke is particularly hazardous as it contains fine particles measuring less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, which is about 4% the width of an average human hair. This type of pollution can penetrate deeply into the lungs, exacerbating asthma, lung cancer, and other chronic respiratory conditions.
High levels of air pollution can lead to inflammation and weaken the immune system. Infants, children, the elderly, and pregnant women are especially at risk during poor air quality conditions.
Research indicates that climate change contributes to the frequency and intensity of wildfires. Elevated temperatures can desiccate vegetation, elevating the likelihood of wildfires igniting and spreading quickly.
Cities experiencing poor air quality on Monday included Milwaukee, Detroit, Buffalo, Albany (New York), Boston, and New York City. Multiple alerts are in effect until Tuesday, as reported by the Weather Bureau.
In the western regions, several wildfires are causing additional air quality concerns. Over 65,000 acres have burned in California’s Los Padres National Forest, where high temperatures and dry conditions are fueling the growth of wildfires.
In Colorado, the Air Quality Index also displayed “moderate” readings on Monday.
“If the smoke becomes thick in your area, we advise you to remain indoors,” stated the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. This recommendation particularly applies to individuals with heart diseases, respiratory issues, young children, and the elderly. If smoke levels are moderate to intense, consider reducing outdoor activities.
Heatwaves are increasing in frequency as global smog diminishes
Claudio Reyes/AFP via Getty Images
As the world works to eliminate harmful aerosol pollution, heatwaves are becoming more common, exposing the intensifying effects of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This warming trend is particularly pronounced in densely populated areas where air pollution typically rises.
“Mitigating aerosol pollution is imperative for public health,” states Geeta Persad from the University of Texas at Austin. “However, we must acknowledge that this reveals specific risks that become magnified in populated regions.”
Aerosol pollution, primarily stemming from fossil fuel combustion, has effects that generally counteract those of greenhouse gases. While gases like carbon dioxide trap heat, aerosols tend to cool the atmosphere by reflecting sunlight either directly or by altering cloud behavior. Some estimates suggest that aerosol pollution masks half of the global warming effect of greenhouse gases.
This interplay means that cleaning up air pollution can inadvertently amplify climate warming effects. However, the specific ways in which aerosol variations impact heat in populous regions have remained unclear until now.
To analyze this more precisely, Persad and her team utilized climate models to evaluate how aerosol levels influence the occurrence of land heatwaves, examining both historical data and future projections. They defined a heatwave as three consecutive days where temperatures would rank among the hottest 10% for that time of year in a pre-industrial context.
Throughout most of the 20th century, the team discovered that aerosols mitigated the rise in heat wave occurrence driven by increasing greenhouse gases. However, since 2005, this trend has shifted as aerosol reductions have accelerated the growth of global heatwaves by nearly two days each decade.
The researchers also found that aerosols exert a more significant influence on heatwave frequency in densely populated regions compared to less populated areas. In certain regions, the reduction of aerosol levels has proven to be more than twice as impactful as the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations. “If you examine the spatial distribution of aerosol concentrations, they correlate strongly with areas of high population,” remarks Persad.
In a scenario where greenhouse gas emissions rise significantly while aerosol levels gradually decrease, the team predicts a notable escalation in the frequency of heatwaves. By 2080, the number of heatwave days in densely populated regions could surge from about 40 to over 110 days annually.
“What sets this study apart is its focus on daily timescale data. You can genuinely perceive the decrease in aerosol levels across different areas of the globe,” says Shiv Priyam Raghuraman at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, who was not involved in the study. He highlights that these results arise from a single model under the most severe greenhouse gas emission scenario.
“These findings are compelling and enhance existing literature on the significant role aerosols play in climate extremes,” states Daniel Westerbert from Columbia University in New York. “It will be fascinating to see how other models might differ in their findings, and whether past observations support these results.”
Another significant uncertainty lies in the future trajectory of aerosol concentrations in the coming years, adds Persad. “Current emissions scenarios could determine aerosol trends over the next three decades,” she remarks.
Will it take flight? This question is increasingly raised by those mindful of the environment. Boarding a plane might seem like the only realistic choice, especially during hard times or when loved ones live far away.
We can certainly engage in some air travel as part of a sustainable future, but we must first dispel certain misconceptions and clearly outline feasible ways to lessen our global warming footprint.
The most common myth is that sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) can resolve our issues. This label is misleading, as SAFs often don’t live up to their name.
Here’s why: there are three primary categories of SAF. The first type is derived from waste, particularly used cooking oil. However, this only accounts for about 2-3% of global flights. The second type consists of synthetic SAFs produced from raw materials like captured carbon dioxide, using renewable energy. The efficiency of these processes is quite low (at least 2 kilowatt-hours of energy are needed to generate 1 kWh of fuel), which is a misguided use of limited renewable resources. The third type is made from crops, which puts immense pressure on farmland and the food system, posing major challenges. In reality, sustainable aviation fuel is not the revolutionary solution many hope for.
Another hopeful concept I often encounter is the idea that electrification or hydrogen fuel could decarbonize aviation. However, electrification is practical only for short-haul flights; battery weight makes it unfeasible for long distances. Hydrogen poses its own challenges due to its bulky storage requirements, even when compressed to 700 times atmospheric pressure.
On a brighter note, there are significant opportunities that haven’t garnered enough attention.
Potential solutions for greener aviation have been overlooked until recently. The high, wispy trails produced by aircraft exhaust – which account for over 60% of the climate impact of flights – carry even more weight when considering their short-term influence over the next two decades.
These contrails reflect Earth’s heat back into the atmosphere and function somewhat like a blanket. However, their overall impact is complex. They can not only trap heat but also reflect sunlight on clear days, creating a cooling effect that mainly occurs during the day, particularly over dark surfaces like oceans. Unfortunately, the warming effect tends to dominate during warm nights over dark surfaces.
By making small adjustments to flight paths, we can manage contrail formation. Changing an aircraft’s altitude or trajectory in specific weather conditions can be beneficial. Deliberate modifications while flying over sunny waters could yield positive results. A slight alteration in flight routes—just 1.7%—could potentially reduce contrail warming impacts by almost 60%. Real-time modeling is essential for integrating this into flight planning, similar to current practices for avoiding storms and managing air traffic.
This presents a relatively cost-effective solution that requires industry leadership. Once contrail management becomes established, the role of SAF might shift significantly, allowing it to contribute to cleaner burning and mitigate the worst impacts of contrails on more challenging flights.
Does this imply we can ignore the climate ramifications of flying? Unfortunately, no. Yet, understanding these factors provides a legitimate reason for optimism.
Mike Berners-Lee is the author of True Climate: Why We Need It and How to Get It
Coal Power Plants Contribute to Cooling via Sulphate Pollution
Frank Hermann/Getty Images
The presence of sulfate air pollution causes clouds to darken and reduces sunlight. This factor could contribute to recent temperature increases beyond just greenhouse gas effects.
“Two-thirds of the global warming observed since 2001 is attributed not to rising CO2 levels, but to decreasing SO2 levels,” says Peter Cox from the University of Exeter, UK.
While some sunlight is reflected and some is absorbed before being released as heat, increased carbon dioxide levels enhance the retention of this heat. This greenhouse effect is a primary driver of global warming, but the albedo, or reflectivity of the planet, significantly influences temperature.
Since 2001, satellite instruments like Ceres have measured sunlight reflection and absorption. These observations reveal a decline in sunlight reflectivity, indicating a darker planet with diminishing albedo, leading to more intense warming.
Factors contributing to this reduced albedo include diminished snow and sea ice as well as fewer clouds. However, Cox and Margaux Marchant’s analysis of Ceres data spanning 2001 to 2019 suggests that the most significant contributor is the darkening of clouds.
Industrial and maritime sulfate emissions are known to enhance the density of cloud droplets, improving their reflectivity. This principle underpins a proposed geoengineering technique called Marine Cloud Brightening. However, recent shifts away from high-sulfur fuels like coal have led to reductions in these emissions.
Thus, Merchant and Cox explored whether the observed loss of cloud brightness is linked to reduced SO2 levels and found correlations. They presented initial findings at the Exeter Climate Forum recently.
These findings are promising, as the accelerated warming trends indicate that some researchers fear the global climate sensitivity (the temperature rise associated with increased atmospheric CO2) could be at the upper range of estimates. While the short-term effects of reduced pollution contribute to warming, this suggests greater warming potential as CO2 emissions rise if cloud darkening results from increased CO2.
“If this darkening signifies a genuine shift in cloud feedback indicating greater sensitivity than previously thought, rather than a mere result of decreased SO2 emissions, it is promising news,” stated Laura Wilcox from the University of Reading, UK, who was not involved in the research.
Wilcox notes limitations in the datasets utilized by Marchant and Cox; for instance, the SO2 contamination data may have changed since their analysis.
Furthermore, two recent studies suggest dimming is largely due toreduced cloud cover, not darker clouds. “The factors behind these recent darkening trends are currently being intensely debated,” she says.
Overall, Wilcox adds that her research supports the view that the recent acceleration of global warming is chiefly driven by reduced air pollution, and this effect is likely to be temporary.
The UK’s Intelligence Commission (ICO) has urged manufacturers of air fryers, smart speakers, fertility trackers, and smart TVs to prioritize the privacy rights of individuals.
Many individuals feel overwhelmed by the lack of control over how data is gathered, utilized, and shared regarding their homes and personal lives.
Following concerns raised about an air fryer that reportedly listens to its environment, Public concerns have emerged about digital devices collecting an excessive amount of personal data, prompting data protection regulators to issue initial guidelines on the handling of personal information.
Manufacturers and data handlers are now required to ensure data security, maintain transparency with consumers, and routinely delete collected information.
“We are pleased to share our commitment to offering a diverse range of services to our clients,” stated Stephen Almond, executive director of ICO’s regulatory risks.
“These products are meant to enhance our lives, but that doesn’t imply they should collect unnecessary data… Users shouldn’t have to sacrifice their privacy to enjoy the advantages of smart devices.”
“Everyone expects a degree of privacy within their own homes, thus we need to trust that smart products will honor that privacy, act responsibly, and utilize information only as anticipated.”
The new guidance points out various devices classified as part of the “Internet of Things,” which collect data that must be managed with care. These items include smart fertility trackers that log user periods and temperature readings, transmitting that data back to manufacturer servers to determine fertile days.
Smart speakers should not only listen to their owners but also to other family members and visitors; they must be designed to empower users to adjust settings to minimize personal data collection.
Regulators emphasized that manufacturers must be clear with individuals regarding the use of their personal data, only collecting what is necessary, and enabling easy deletion of data from devices.
The ICO has stated to manufacturers that it is “prepared to take necessary actions to safeguard individuals from potential harm.”
Smoke from Canadian wildfires is prompting air quality warnings across the Midwest and Northeastern US this Thursday as forests in North Korea continue to burn at a historic rate reminiscent of the extreme fire season of 2023.
Air pollution levels have surged in cities including Minneapolis, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Washington, Philadelphia, and New York due to smoke and ozone from the heat.
According to Canada’s Interagency Forest Fire Centre, the ongoing fire season in Canada has already resulted in the burning of around 8.6 million acres. With three months left in the season, this figure has exceeded the seasonal average since 1983, which stands at approximately 6.5 million acres.
The current burning rates in Canada are mirroring those from 2023, known as the year with the highest smoke exposure in modern American history, raising concerns that the current season may reflect that intensity.
“We’re facing significant challenges with our response,” stated Robert Gray, a wildfire ecologist in Chilliwack, British Columbia. “Most forecasts for Canada indicate above-average temperatures, while precipitation levels remain below normal.”
In past years, nearly 43 million acres burned in Canada by the end of the fire season.
Gray noted that much of the smoke this year originates from the densely packed boreal forests found in northern British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Wildfires typically occur in these regions during May and June, coinciding with longer days and rising temperatures. The subsequent developments depend heavily on weather conditions.
“It could be a brief two-week event. The huy starts burning, aspen gets involved, and then weather changes,” Gray explained, alluding to the common aspen trees in these forests. “If aspen and rain don’t clear out, the fires may persist.”
Gray mentioned that drought, low snowfall during winter, and heightened “overwinter” fires are factors contributing to increasingly busy fire seasons.
These overwintering fires continue smoldering beneath forest debris and peat, reigniting in spring.
“There was a fire that started in 2023, lingering through winter into 2024,” Gray remarked. “Some of the same fires have reemerged this year.”
As northern British Columbia faces these wildfires, smoke is often transported to the US by the jetstream, a high-altitude air current that influences pressure and weather changes in the Northern Hemisphere.
“It’s a consistent pattern that remains stable. As long as central and northern BC are burning, this pattern channels smoke into the central and northeastern US,” Gray stated.
Sometimes the smoke stays aloft, creating hazy skies without significant ground-level air quality deterioration. However, it can pose a risk to health.
Wildfire smoke is increasingly hazardous across the US, reversing decades of improvements in air quality achieved under the Clean Air Act.
Inhaling wildfire smoke can cause inflammation, particularly as particles enter the lungs and bloodstream, compromising the immune system. This exposure can elevate the risks of asthma, lung cancer, and other chronic respiratory diseases, especially in vulnerable populations such as the elderly, pregnant individuals, infants, and children. Additionally, wildfire smoke is linked to respiratory illnesses, premature births, and miscarriages.
A total of 156 million residents in the US, approximately 46% of the population, resided in areas with poor air quality that received an “F” grade from the American Lung Association due to ozone or particle pollution. This indicates a decline in the country’s air quality standards, as per the Association’s 26th Annual Air Quality Data Analysis.
An examination of data from 2021 to 2023 revealed a rise of about 25 million individuals living in unhealthy environments compared to the previous year’s survey results.
The report highlights the impact of climate change, such as increased heat, drought, and wildfire smoke, contributing to changes in air quality nationwide.
Katherine Pruitt, senior director of Clean Air Policy, expressed surprise at the significant increase in the number of people residing in areas with poor air quality, especially due to ozone degradation. She emphasized the influence of hot and sunny weather conditions on this deterioration.
In 2023, the final year of the Lung Association’s analysis, global temperatures recorded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration were among the highest on record. The US experienced the fifth-highest temperatures in its history.
The spike in ozone levels, particularly in states like Texas facing intense heatwaves in 2023, was evident. Pruitt pointed out how towns like Del Rio endured temperatures exceeding 100 degrees for extended periods.
Additionally, heavy wildfire smoke significantly impacted air quality, with regions like the northeast being exposed to the most smoke in modern American history due to wildfires in Canada.
The growing threat of wildfire smoke has hindered progress made under the Clean Air Act, releasing particles that pose health risks. Recent studies indicate that around 25% of Clean Air Act progress has been reversed due to increased wildfire smoke.
Pruitt warned of ongoing environmental degradation and its consequences, emphasizing the need to address emission sources to combat these challenges.
The EPA’s plans to roll back environmental regulations, including revisiting programs under the Clean Air Act, have raised concerns about future air quality standards.
Bakersfield, California, was identified as having the most polluted air in the country from 2021 to 2023, ranking high for both short-term particle pollution and ozone pollution.
Apple’s iPad Air remains a premium tablet with the latest version, featuring chip upgrades to stay ahead of the pack.
The new iPad Air M3 costs £599 (€699/$599/$999) – the same as its predecessor, it comes in two sizes with an 11-inch or 13-inch screen. It is between the base model £329 iPad A16 and the £999 iPad Pro M4, splitting the difference in price and functionality.
Nothing has changed outside the tablet. The M3 model is a straight replacement for the M2 model, featuring the same crisp screen, refined aluminum design, and touch ID fingerprint scanner on the power button.
The center stage webcam at the top of the screen makes video calls easier by automatically panning and scanning to keep you and your family in frame. Stereo speakers watch TV and movies, but the support for the £129 Apple Pencil Pro is lazy and note-taking.
The thin aluminum frame includes stereo speakers, touch ID sensors, and volume buttons. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
specification
screen: 11-inch or 13-inch liquid retinal display (264ppi)
Processor: Apple M3 (9-core GPU)
Ram: 8GB
Storage: 128, 256, 512GB or 1TB
operating system: iPados 18.4
camera: 12MP rear, 12MP center stage
Connectivity: WiFi 6E (5G option ESIM only), Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C, Touch ID, Smart Connecter
size: 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm or 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.1mm
Weight: 460g or 616g
M3 upgrade and solid battery life
The iPad takes about 2 hours to charge using a power adapter of 30W or higher, but this is not included. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
A major change in the new Air is an upgrade of the Apple M3 chip that was first seen on the MacBook Pro in late 2023 and successfully used on the MacBook Air until it was replaced with the M4 chip on the MacBook Air.
The M3 is not Apple’s latest chip, but on tablets, it’s much stronger than most people need, and much faster than the competition. It’s about 10-20% faster than the outgoing M2 model under test, and does short work on gaming and pro-level apps. Affinity Photos, Reproduction Or Adobe Lightroom.
Combined with a reliable battery life of 9-10 hours, it can be easily used as a laptop replacement when equipped with accessories such as a new version of Apple’s excellent magic keyboard case, but costs £269. However, inexpensive third-party options such as Logitech are available.
The iPad Air runs iPads 18.4, which includes a collection of multitasking tools, and can be plugged into an external monitor such as a laptop via a USB-C port. However, the M3 chip also enables a variety of Apple Intelligence features that cannot be used with the standard iPad A16. These include several AI image editing and generation tools, writing and proofing tools, ChatGPT integration into SIRI, and more.
Sustainability
The recycled aluminum body also looks great. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Apple says the battery should last more than 1,000 full charge cycles at least 80% of its original capacity and can be replaced from £115. Tablets are generally repairable Damaged Warrant Repair Costs Starting from £429.
The tablet contains at least 30% recycled content, including aluminum, cobalt, copper, glass, gold, lithium, plastic, rare earth elements, tin, and more. Apple breaks down the environmental impact of tablets in reports and offers trade-in and free recycling schemes that include non-Apple products.
price
The 11-inch iPad Air M3 costs £599 (699 Euros/$599/$999) and the 13-inch iPad Air M3 costs £799 (949 Euros/$799/$1,349).
For comparison, the iPad A16 costs £329, the iPad Pro M4 costs £999, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE costs £499. The MacBook Air M4 starts at £999.
verdict
The iPad Air M3 is an excellent premium tablet that makes your base model Apple tablet a great upgrade.
This is a very capable machine with laptop-level power, long battery life, high-quality screens, enough accessories to turn it into a drawing tablet, computer replacement, or many other tools. Size choice balances well between portability at 11″ and the 13″ version of the large screen utility.
However, the M3 model is not a worthwhile upgrade to make with the latest iPad Air versions. Even just watching TV or movies, the standard iPad A16 does much less work. Meanwhile, the top-end iPad Pro M4 beats the air on every count, but costs a lot of money.
So, for those looking for a premium do-it tablet, beating the iPad Air M3 is difficult.
Strong Points: Select size, laptop-level M3 performance, solid battery life, high-quality screen, USB-C, long software support life, various apps and accessories, excellent speakers, landscape center stage camera, recycled aluminum.
Cons: Expensive, no multi-user support, iPados still need to act as a laptop replacement, no kickstand, face ID, 60Hz screen without a case.
Browsing the web and reading stories is the joy of an 11-inch iPad Air. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Apple’s MacBook Air, a beloved consumer laptop, has received a significant power boost for 2025, along with a better webcam and unexpected price cuts, making it even more appealing.
The thinnest laptops from the company now start at £999 (€1,199/$999/$1,699), which is £100 less than last year’s model. With Apple’s top M4 chips and a minimum of 16GB of memory, even the cheapest model is significantly more powerful.
Externally, there haven’t been many changes apart from a new light blue color replacing the long-standing “space grey” since 2022. The aluminum body remains well-crafted, thin, and lightweight. The keyboard is excellent, the power button touch ID fingerprint reader is fast, and the trackpad is generous and perfect for everyday use.
The 13.6-inch LCD screen, while limited to 60Hz, is crisp and of good quality. This year’s new features include upgraded webcams supporting 12 megapixels and featuring Apple Center Stage Technology with automatic panning and scanning. Desk view M4 MacBook Pro, to display things remotely.
The center stage camera at the top of the screen is a major upgrade for those who spend time on video calls. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Two significant internal changes have been made. The new M4 chip essentially makes the MacBook Air as fast as the MacBook Pro. In tests, it performs slightly slower than the PRO and faster than the iPad Pro with an M4 chip, despite not having fans to keep it cool for extended periods. The air can handle external workstation-class workloads without any issues. Note: The cheapest models have two fewer graphics cores, making them slightly more powerful in certain apps and games.
All MacBook Air models now come with at least 16GB of memory, the minimum recommended amount for modern laptops. Previous models started with only 8GB of memory and cost significantly more starting from £200.
In addition to the powerful performance, the main selling point of the air – a long battery life – remains. For typical light workloads involving browsing, note-taking, word processing, image editing, chatting, and emailing, the air lasts over 16 hours between charges. Even with slightly more demanding tasks like development and photo editing, the air offers over 10 hours of battery life.
Full charge using a power adapter of 70W or more and the included Magsafe cable took about 105 minutes, reaching 50% in 28 minutes. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
specification
screen: 13.6in LCD (2560×1600; 224 PPI) True tone
Processor: Apple M4 with 8-core GPU or 10-core GPU
Ram: 16, 24, or 32GB
Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB SSD
operating system: MacOS 15 SECOIA
camera: 12MP Center Stage
Connectivity: Wifi 6e, Bluetooth 5.3, 2x Thunderbolt/USB 4, Headphones
size: 215 x 304.1 x 11.3mm
Weight: 1.24kg
Sustainability
The recycled aluminum lid on the Sky Blue MacBook Air looks grey on some lights and blue on others. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The MacBook Air is made from 55% recycled materials such as aluminum, cobalt, copper, glass, gold, lithium, plastic, rare earth elements, steel, tin, and more. Apple provides detailed reports on the environmental impact of the laptop.
The computer is Generally repairableand the battery can be replaced by Apple for £159. The machine received a repairability score of 5 out of 10 from the repair specialists at aquixit. Apple also offers trade-in and free recycling programs for non-Apple products.
MacOS Secoia 15.4
MacOS continues to be one of the best operating systems for laptops, with many customization options and a very useful new window tile tool. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The MacBook Air runs the same MacOS Sequoia software as the rest of the Mac lineup and has been recently updated to version 15.4.
The Mac Mail app now resembles an iPhone app with AI email classifications such as promotional emails, receipts, and more. The AI notification overview and iPhone mirroring features are useful for users with an Apple smartphone. The new snap and window tile tool is very convenient and allows for quick window placement using either the mouse or keyboard shortcuts, eliminating the need for third-party tools.
Price
The Apple 13-inch MacBook Air starts at £999 (€1,199/$999/$1,699) with an 8-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. The 15-inch version starts at £1,199 (€1,499/$1,199/$2,099).
For comparison, the M4 MacBook Pro starts at £1,599, while the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge is priced at £1,399, and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 starts at. £1,049.
Verdict
The MacBook Air is a top-notch consumer laptop that stands out unless you specifically require Windows. It offers a superior combination of performance, battery life, speakers, keyboards, and trackpads compared to its competitors.
The M4 chip upgrade, with a fanless design, keeps it ahead of the competition, always running silently. The new centrestage webcam is also a major improvement for users who rely heavily on video calls for work. While the screen is still great, it may be an area where competitors offer better displays at a higher cost. The device has only two USB-C ports, but they can be utilised for connections via the Magsafe port.
With a minimum of 16GB of memory and price reductions of around £1,000 on the 13-inch model, the MacBook Air is highly appealing.
Strong Points: Ultra-fast M4 chip, silent and cool running, extremely long battery life, good 13.6 inch screen, great keyboard, best-in-class trackpad, magsafe, good speakers, center stage webcam, touch ID.
Cons: Two USB-C ports and no USB-A or SD card slots, Face ID, RAM and SSD upgrades are expensive and cannot be changed after purchase. There is no WiFi 7.
The Touch ID Power button is perfect for storing up to three fingerprints and logging in to your laptop. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The Biden administration has urged coal and oil-fired power plants to cut back on toxic chemical emissions, including mercury.
Today, the Trump administration is offering a special opportunity for businesses. By sending an email, you could receive permission from President Trump to bypass new restrictions and other major clean air regulations.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced this week that a vague section of the Clean Air Act allows the president to temporarily exempt industrial facilities from new regulations if the necessary technology is unavailable and if it is for national security reasons.
In notifications to businesses, the agency provided templates for seeking approval, including what to include in the subject line of an email. “The president will make a decision on merit,” stated a notice issued by the EPA on Monday.
Joseph Goffman, former executive director of the Harvard Law School Environment and Energy Law Program, expressed concern that President Trump is establishing a process that lacks scrutiny.
Goffman noted that government agencies typically set more specific standards for exemptions from regulations. He argued that Congress intended to include conditions in the Clean Air Act that would ensure some level of pollution control.
He stated, “It’s strongly indicated that decisions will be made on an ad hoc basis at best, as the provision doesn’t currently exist. This contradicts Congress’ intent, disregards the public health needs of affected communities, and goes against the EPA’s historical practices.”
EPA spokesperson Molly Vaseliou disagreed with this perspective, asserting that there is no explicit requirement for such conditions in the law. “This type of legal analysis seems in line with the responsibilities given,” she stated in an email addressing the interpretation of the law.
Under the latest policy, businesses can apply for up to two years of exemptions from various new restrictions on the emission of toxic substances like mercury and arsenic. This includes ethylene oxide, a carcinogen used in sterilizing medical devices.
Former New York Congressman Zeldin also mentioned that coal-fired power plants could seek exemptions from new regulations requiring them to address the health risks associated with coal ash, a toxic byproduct of electricity production through burning.
The EPA plans to eventually revise many of these same regulations, a complex process that will take time. While this process unfolds, companies are able to avoid complying with certain rules.
Critics like Pugh find it difficult to justify these exemptions, especially since the Biden administration had already identified feasible alternatives for the new rules. They also question the notion that contamination is in the national interest.
As of Thursday, it remained unclear whether companies had begun applying for exemptions, if any were granted, or if they would be made public. The deadline for applying for exemptions is by the end of the month, according to the EPA.
Alexa Lopez, spokesperson for the National Association of Manufacturers, expressed gratitude for the EPA’s consideration of exemptions for affected manufacturers. “NAM is prepared to collaborate with the administration to find a sustainable solution that protects the environment and supports manufacturers in global competition,” Lopez stated.
Air pollution can have a cooling effect on the climate.
CHEUNGHYO/Getty Images
James Hanssen, the most well-known climate scientist, has doubled the impact on the climate of air pollution in the 1980s. I did.
“Humanity made bad transactions when using aerosol to offset almost half of greenhouse gas warming. Briefing The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network is hosting.
However, other researchers say that this conclusion is based on unstable foundation, but it is not yet known how much reduction in air pollution has contributed to global warming. Hansen's conclusion states that “it is floating around the top of what is plausible.” Michael Diamond Florida State University is not involved in research.
The recorded spike of the global average temperature in 2023 and 2024 has spured the debate on whether the pace of global warming is accelerating faster than expected. The temperature of the greenhouse gas and the global warming of the Pacific Ocean have increased the majority of the temperature, but other unknown contributors have raised higher temperatures than they can explain only by these factors.
Hansen and his colleagues Before The acceleration speed has been accelerated as air pollution decreases. Currently, they are providing new analysis that claims that a decrease in air pollution can explain the temperature of temperature in the past two years. Both air pollution aerosol reflects sunlight directly from the earth and affects the reflection characteristics of the clouds. Changes in the cover of the clouds are also related to heat.
Researchers are particularly focused on the effects of 2020 regulations that reduce harmful sulfur used in transport fuel. Sudden deterioration of air pollution against the ocean provides an experimental unintended experiment and can make the aerosol's impact on the climate more accurately.
Hansen and his colleagues looked at the busy Pacific transport corridor, estimated this effect, and measured the change in solar radiation absorbed by planets in these regions as air pollution decreased. From this, they estimate that the decline in transportation aerosol has increased the heat reaching the earth by 0.5 watts per square meter. This is almost the same as the global warming effect of the world's 10 years of today's level.
They discovered that additional warming was enough to explain the unknown heat seen in the past two years. But its meaning is wider. That also means that the cooling effect of air pollution hides the total range of the global warming effect of greenhouse gases. In other words, the warming, which has been experienced so far, does not have a complete impact on our emissions.
Hansen and his colleagues warn that this means that the climate is much more sensitive than the level of greenhouse gas levels. As a result, they argue that the world is approaching the climate turning point, which is approaching more quickly, such as the deceleration of the main Atlantic current and the collapse of the Southwest Pole. To fight this, they say they need to be more serious about how to cool the planet with interventions like Solaragio Engineering.
However, 0.5 watts per square meter at the core of the new analysis are much higher than other estimated values of the changes in shipping emissions. Tianle yuan In Maryland University Boltimore County. But he says it is not completely unbelievable.
Gabin Schmidt This number is “very” because NASA assumes that all changes in the absorbed sunlight are due to changes in the transport aerosol, rather than other changes such as air pollution and natural fluctuations from China. It is said that it is overestimation.
Changes in aerosol may not be necessary to explain the temperature spike in 2023. SHIV PRIYAM Raghuraman At the Illinois University Urban Champag School -he found that it could be explained before Change of Pacific temperature Alone. He says that a lot of work is needed to adjust the various estimated values of the aerosol's global warming effect.
Air pollution is difficult to avoid, especially for city dwellers
Ron Adder/Alamy
Air pollution is increasingly linked to an increased risk of eczema, with new research showing a clear link between air pollution and skin conditions.
Vehicles and power plants emit pollution particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, called PM2.5. These have previously been associated with an increased risk of eczemathis is thought to be the result of the immune system becoming overactive and causing inflammation, drying out the skin and causing itching.
In order to collect more evidence, Jeffrey Cohen Professors at Yale University School of Medicine analyzed the medical records of more than 280,000 people. Most of them were in their 50s and participated in this medical treatment. Research programs for all of us. It collects health data from a diverse population in the United States, with an emphasis on people typically underrepresented in research, such as ethnic minorities.
We then compared PM2.5 levels at 788 locations across the United States to eczema cases diagnosed through mid-2022. They found that for every 10 micrograms per cubic meter of PM2.5, the incidence of eczema more than doubled. “More contaminated areas of the country had more eczema outbreaks,” Cohen says.
The research team considered factors that could influence the results, such as ethnicity and whether the participants smoked or had food allergies.
“This study successfully demonstrated a clear correlation in a large population and advanced the science,” he says. Giuseppe Varacchi at North Carolina State University. PM2.5, like pollen and dust mites, can irritate the immune system and cause inflammation when it comes into contact with the skin, Valacki said. Inhaling it may also have an effect, he says, because it can worsen inflammation in the body.
The study should give governments new reasons to implement policies to reduce air pollution, Cohen said. Meanwhile, people living in contaminated areas can reduce their risk by wearing long sleeves and staying indoors when pollution levels are particularly high, Valacki said.
ohOn September 1, 1974, two men made the fastest trip ever between New York and London. Traveling three times the speed of sound and taking less than two hours, this incredible journey set a record that still stands 50 years later.
Even the mighty Concorde, which set the record for the fastest commercial transatlantic flight in 1996, was almost an hour late.
The US Air Force Lockheed Blackbird SR-71 jet, with a crew of two – pilot James Sullivan and reconnaissance systems operator Noel Widdifield – completed the flight between the two cities in one hour, 54 minutes and 56 seconds, before landing in triumph to a great welcome at the Farnborough Air Show in Hampshire.
Widdifield, now 83, divides his time between Virginia and Florida in the US. “In some ways it was a normal flight for us,” he said, reflecting on that momentous day. “There was nothing unusual about the flight or the way we flew the plane, but in July 1974 we were told we were going to attempt the world record for flying from New York to London, which had previously been held by a Royal Navy pilot. There was a lot of media interest.”
It wasn’t just the Air Force’s prestige that was at stake. America was facing an international public relations crisis. Just three weeks earlier, disgraced President Richard Nixon had resigned after the Watergate scandal and Gerald Ford had taken over the White House. The country was still reeling from its disastrous involvement in the Vietnam War. The country needed something to cheer about.
There were other schemes as well. Widdifield observer“Although I didn’t know anything about it at the time, behind the scenes, negotiations were taking place between the US and the UK to deploy Blackbird SR-71s on British soil.
Widdifield flew B-52 bombers before joining the Blackbird SR-71 program. Photo: Noel Widdifield
“There were fears in the UK that this move might cause a lot of backlash, especially in the Middle East. But after we broke the record and flew into the Farnborough Air Show, that seemed to be the clincher and the UK allowed the SR-71 to be parked.”
Widdifield was 33 when he made this historic flight. He originally wanted to be a train driver, but after seeing U.S. Air Force jets flying low over his house at age 12, he decided to become a pilot.
After training and flying B-52 bombers, Widdifield served in the Blackbird SR-71 program at Beale Air Force Base in California from 1971 to 1975, after which he retired from flying to serve in the U.S. space program until 1982.
Piloting a Blackbird was akin to being an astronaut: The crew wore space suits and flew at an altitude of 80,000 feet (most commercial airliners top out at 42,000 feet). “It was pitch black up there,” Widdifield said. “You could see the stars and, depending on the time of day, the moon or the sun.”
Their plane took off from Beale and had to fly along the coast to New York to avoid creating a sonic boom over populated areas and causing significant damage to buildings. High above the city was an invisible “gate” where the journey would begin. Reaching a speed of Mach 3.2 (three times the speed of sound, about 2,455 miles per hour), the Blackbird crashed through the gate and the record attempt began.
The plane had to refuel twice: once upon takeoff, once when it docked with a tanker over California to top off, and once en route to near Greenland.
In one incident that looked terrifying from the outside but was handled with cool by the crew, the Blackbird suddenly began to “yaw,” or move quickly from side to side, after losing thrust.
Because the Blackbird took in air from the front to provide thrust for the engines, the air intake mechanisms would often become misaligned, causing a momentary, significant loss of power in one engine.
Widdifield and Sullivan stand in front of a Blackbird SR-71. Photo: Noel Widdifield
“The automatic restart system was activated, the misaligned cones were corrected and the engine was restarted,” Widdifield said. “We had no real concerns other than what this would do to our record speed run.”
The plane then flew through the London “gates” without incident, and the Blackbird landed at Farnborough, where a large crowd waited and a press conference was held, during which Widdifield and Sullivan were on the phone with the new president. “It got huge international coverage for the next year,” says Widdifield, who has six scrapbooks of the clippings. “But what Jim and I always tried to emphasize was that although it was just the two of us who got the glory, there was a huge team behind every flight.
“When you take into account the support staff, the administrative staff and all the people who work to get us flying, that’s 1,000 people. They deserve as much credit as Jim and I do.”
Widdifield, who has been married to his wife Ann for 63 years and has two children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, is mourning the loss of his co-pilot, Jim Sullivan, who died in 2021, and the Blackbird SR-71 itself, which was officially retired in 1998.
He said: “Jim and I kept in touch but then lived far apart so we only saw each other a few times at SR-71 reunions.
“Obviously I was sad when the SR-71 program ended. So am I surprised that no one has beaten our record in 50 years? No, because no aircraft has been built since then that could break that record.”
Researchers from James Madison University conducted a comprehensive study of thunderstorm environments in two distinct geographic regions: Washington, DC, and the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Air pollution is increasing the intensity of summer thunderstorms. Image courtesy of ELG21.
Land cover and atmospheric boundary layer characteristics modify thunderstorms and their characteristic phenomenon: lightning.
The most intense thunderstorm contrasts on Earth occur along continental and oceanic boundaries.
Generally, lightning strikes land at an order of magnitude more than it strikes sea.
The thermodynamic properties of the atmosphere vary significantly with different land covers over the Earth’s surface.
“Pollutants act as cloud nuclei,” said Mace Bentley, a professor at James Madison University and lead author of the study.
“Updrafts carry them into the clouds, and the updrafts and downdrafts separate the polluting particles, dispersing the electrical charges in the clouds and encouraging lightning to form.”
For the study, the authors surveyed nearly 200,000 thunderstorm events in the Washington, DC, area and more than 300,000 in the Kansas City area.
Using 12 years of lightning data from the National Lightning Detection Network and data from hundreds of air pollution monitoring stations in two cities, they found that in highly volatile environments, increased pollution increases the frequency of anti-ground lightning strikes.
“Our analysis identified a total of 196,836 thunderstorm events in the Washington DC area, while 310,209 thunderstorms were identified from the Kansas City lightning database,” the researchers said.
“In Washington, DC and Kansas City, more than 37.7% and 39.2% of all thunderstorm events, respectively, consisted of 10 or more flashes.”
“Evidence suggests that thunderstorm environments during mild warm-season synoptic weather are substantially different in terms of thermodynamics, aerosol properties, and aerosol concentrations in the Washington, DC, and Kansas City regions,” the researchers added.
“However, thunderstorm intensity, as measured by flash counts, appears to be controlled by similar thermodynamic and aerosol relationships despite differences in the surrounding environments.”
“When we look at the environments in which thunderstorms occur, we find a statistically significant positive correlation between convective available potential energy and the number of lightning events.”
“Aerosol concentration also appears to be a more important quantity than particle size when it comes to lightning enhancement.”
Scientists are now conducting a similar study in Bangkok, Thailand, a megacity that is more polluted than Washington, DC, or Kansas City and sits in a hot, tropical climate.
The results so far are similar, but these storms are showing a higher incidence of lightning.
“It appears that urban pollution can enhance thunderstorms and lightning wherever you go in the world,” Prof Bentley said.
of study Published in a journal Atmospheric Research.
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Mace Bentley others2024. Towards elucidating the relationship between thunderstorms and aerosols: An observational study centered on Washington, DC and Kansas City, Missouri. Atmospheric Research 304: 107402; doi: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2024.107402
If you struggle to picture a two-ton, wingless creature hovering, you’re not alone. However, a recent study shows that hippos (or hippopotamuses, to use the full name) can reach speeds that rival flying.
Although hippos are amphibious, they are some of the largest land animals, often weighing over 2,000 kg (2.2 tonnes). Due to their aquatic lifestyle, little is known about their terrestrial movement.
In a surprising discovery, researchers found that hippos can remain airborne for short periods, representing about 15 percent of their stride cycle, or approximately 0.3 seconds. This suggests that they move differently on land than previously thought.
In this image from the researchers’ footage, all four of the hippo’s legs are off the ground, giving the appearance of floating. – Image credit: Johan Vermeulen
While some animals like horses are known to leap into the air at high speeds, it’s rare for large animals like hippos to do so. This unique movement pattern sets them apart from elephants, which never lift all four legs off the ground simultaneously.
Prior studies were inconclusive about the hippo’s gait pattern, but recent research from the Royal Veterinary College reveals that hippos predominantly trot, regardless of their speed. This uniformity in movement is uncommon among land mammals and sheds light on how hippos navigate their environment.
Studying hippos is challenging due to their dangerous nature, making them elusive subjects for scientific research. Professor John Hutchinson, lead author of a study on hippos, emphasized the difficulty in studying these creatures due to their habitat and behavior.
To overcome these obstacles, researchers analyzed video footage of hippos at Flamingo Land Resort in Yorkshire, observing their movement patterns in detail. Their findings not only contribute to our understanding of terrestrial mammals but also have potential implications for veterinary medicine.
By uncovering how hippos walk and run, this study provides valuable insights into their behavior and capabilities. Hutchinson expressed admiration for the hippos’ surprising agility on land, highlighting the incredible nature of these animals.
Jet engines emit large amounts of ultrafine particles
Aerovista Luchtfotografie/Shutterstock
The health of more than 50 million people living within 20 kilometres of Europe's busiest airport is being harmed by high levels of ultrafine particle pollution from jet engines, according to a report. the study It was commissioned by campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E).
Several Other studies It says ultrafine particles can increase the risk of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, diabetes and pregnancy problems. Darn Fun Setters His team, working at the Dutch consultancy CE Delft, are using these studies to try to estimate the impact for Europe as a whole.
But ultrafine particle pollution is a less-studied aspect of air pollution and there is a lot of uncertainty: “There is little research in this area and the evidence is often inconclusive,” Van Seters said.
Most research on particulate air pollution has focused on particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, so-called PM2.5. Ultrafine particles are particles smaller than 0.1 micrometers in diameter.
“They are very dangerous because they are so small and can get very deep into the human body.” Carlos Lopez de la Osa At T&E.
Jet engines emit more ultrafine particles than other types of engines, so people who live or work near airports are most likely to be exposed to this form of air pollution, but there are no effective limits on its levels.
Ultrafine particles are a type of PM2.5, but PM2.5 limits are set for the total mass of particles per cubic metre of air. Ultrafine particles are so small that even a huge number of particles per cubic metre would not exceed the PM2.5 limit.
In fact, there's very little monitoring of ultrafine particle levels, says Lopez de la Osa. “What we have are mostly regional studies around individual airports like Zurich, Amsterdam, Berlin, Los Angeles,” he says. “We don't have a comprehensive view, and that's one of the main reasons we decided to launch this study.”
To estimate the impact across Europe, van Seters and his colleagues first estimated ultrafine particle pollution levels around the continent's 32 busiest airports, based on figures from surveys of individual airports. The team assumed that ultrafine particle pollution increases linearly with the number of flights and did not take wind patterns into account.
Next, based on studies looking at health effects, the researchers estimated that ultrafine particle pollution near 32 airports was responsible for an additional 280,000 cases of hypertension, 330,000 cases of diabetes, and 18,000 cases of dementia over the years.
“This is a first-order estimate based on extrapolation, and we need to do epidemiological studies to get more precise estimates,” Van Seters said.
But he thinks that, if anything, is an underestimate because the study only looked at 32 airports and people living within 20 kilometres, and excluded people who work at the airports.
In terms of population at risk, Orly Airport near Paris tops the list, with more than six million people living within 20 kilometers of the airport, while London's Heathrow Airport comes in fourth, with more than three million people living within the airport's vicinity.
The research team's estimates of health effects rely heavily on a study carried out in 2022 at Schiphol Airport near Amsterdam. Nicole Jansen Contacted by CE Delft, Janssen and her colleagues at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands said they advised researchers not to try to quantify the impact in this way because of large uncertainties.
But they agree that more research is needed: “We would underscore our recommendation to further investigate the risk of ultrafine particles from aircraft around other international airports,” Janssen said.
There are ways to reduce ultrafine particle pollution levels, says Christina Toth of T&E. Jet fuel can be improved to reduce ultrafine particle emissions, for example by reducing its sulfur content. So-called “sustainable aviation fuels” (SAF) also reduce ultrafine particle pollution.
“Unfortunately, we know it will be a long time before SAF can be produced at scale and be effective,” Toth says.
Limiting airport expansion and flight frequencies and encouraging alternative modes of transport would help, and would also limit flying's impact on the climate.
In Los Angeles, air pollution from cars and human activity is exacerbated by the city's factories emitting chemicals in response to rising temperatures and drought.
“It's difficult to control emissions from factories, [human-caused] “Some.” Eva Fannerstill At the Forschungszentrum Jülich, a German research institute.
From blooming jacaranda trees to fragrant eucalyptus, many plants emit compounds called terpenoids. To plants, these act as chemical signals and function as antioxidants. But in the atmosphere, these volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react with other pollutants to create harmful ozone and particulate pollution called PM2.5.
In areas where cleaner vehicles and electricity generation have reduced man-made sources of air pollution, industrial emissions have begun to play a larger role, but by how much is unclear.
Vannerstill and her colleagues flew planes over Los Angeles over several days in June 2021 to measure the city's VOC emissions. Using an on-board mass spectrometer, the researchers identified concentrations of more than 400 VOCs in the air. Simultaneous 3D measurements of wind speed allowed them to separate molecules rising from the city from those blowing in from elsewhere.
The researchers found that terpenoids made up the majority of VOC emissions in many parts of the city, especially in areas with the most vegetation and on the hottest days. When temperatures exceeded 30°C (86°F), terpenoids made up the majority of emissions, even in the downtown area, where vegetation was sparse and people were more likely to be present.
It's unclear exactly why plants release more terpenoids when temperatures rise, but it could be a response to heat or water stress, Pfannerstill said. Higher temperatures also increase VOC emissions associated with anthropogenic sources, such as gasoline, paint, and even scented personal care products like deodorant and hairspray, possibly due to increased evaporation rates.
The contribution of these personal-care products in particular spikes with population density, suggesting a small but direct link between urban air pollution and citizens' beauty habits. “It's measurable,” Vannerstill says.
The observed relationship between heat and emissions also suggests a pathway through which climate change could exacerbate air pollution: in Los Angeles, the researchers found that a 3°C warming predicted for the city by mid-century could double the impact of VOCs on ozone formation; and its impact on PM2.5 pollution could increase by 40%.
“This direct observation is crucial for building good models to predict what air pollution will be like tomorrow or a few years from now.” Matthew Cogon Jonathan Myers, environmental secretary at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said the increase in emissions from factories underscores the importance of further reducing man-made sources of air pollution that react with VOCs, such as nitrous oxide, which comes from burning fossil fuels.
The types of plants planted in cities also have an impact. Roissyne Comanet It's an important consideration as more cities pursue urban greening initiatives. “Vegetation is important,” she says at Columbia University in New York.
Paris, the host city for the 2024 Summer Olympics, has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. The city has made efforts to become greener by reducing its reliance on cars, setting an example for cities around the world.
Under the leadership of Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Paris has enacted several changes to promote sustainability. Over 100 roads have been closed to automobiles, parking fees have tripled, SUVs have been restricted, around 50,000 parking spaces have been removed, and over 1,300 kilometers of bike lanes have been built.
These efforts have resulted in a 40% reduction in air pollution, according to city officials. Hidalgo expressed that Paris would end its dependency on cars through disruptive changes.
Although European cities like Paris have been leading the way in reducing car use, similar reforms in the U.S. have been slow to materialize. The American infrastructure has historically been built around cars, making it challenging to transition to alternative modes of transportation.
The environmental reforms in Paris have garnered support from residents like Louise Kraustl, who believes that fewer cars and more walking and cycling make the city safer and less polluted. Inspired by the concept of the “15-minute city,” Paris aims to create pedestrian and bike-friendly neighborhoods where daily necessities are within easy reach.
While some cities in the U.S. have made progress in promoting biking and public transport, car dependency remains prevalent. Despite the challenges, experts emphasize the importance of reducing transportation emissions to combat climate change and improve air quality.
Paris’ efforts to prioritize sustainable urban planning serve as a model for other cities to follow. As cities worldwide grapple with the effects of climate change, the need for transportation reform becomes increasingly urgent.
The upcoming elections in Paris will be crucial in determining the city’s continued commitment to reducing car use and combating climate change.
A report released on Tuesday by Swiss air quality monitoring company IQAir suggests that the World Health Organization's air pollution ranking will increase in 2023 due to the continued reliance on fossil fuels and the impacts of climate change, posing a threat to human health. Only seven countries currently meet the WHO guidelines.
According to the report, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India have the most polluted air, with particulate pollution levels exceeding the WHO’s recommendations by at least 10 times. More than 92% of countries and territories analyzed surpassed the guidelines for particulate matter pollution, including the United States.
The report also highlights that Canada has become the most polluted country in North America, primarily as a result of a record wildfire season that burned over 45 million acres. Smoke from Canadian wildfires has affected air quality in the United States and contributed to an overall increase in particle pollution from 2022 to 2023.
It is evident from this analysis that air pollution from fossil fuel combustion, coupled with other factors like wildfires exacerbated by climate change, is impacting human health globally. While some regions such as Western Europe are seeing improvements in pollution levels as economies shift towards electrification, in other areas, air pollution control measures are regressing. The report authors emphasize that air pollution transcends national borders, making it a global issue even for countries making efforts to reduce emissions.
According to IQAir, this data is based on inputs from over 30,000 air quality monitors in 134 countries and territories. The company installed monitoring devices to assess average annual pollution levels in cities and calculate people’s exposure to particulate matter around 2.5 microns in size, known as PM2.5, which is considered a crucial indicator of pollution’s impact on human health.
“PM2.5 particles can penetrate every cell in our bodies, from skin cells to lung and brain cells,” stated IQAir Global CEO Frank Hames at a press conference.
Air pollution is linked to approximately 6.7 million premature deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization. In the United States, air pollution levels experienced a slight increase, with Canadian wildfires causing a 30 to 50% rise in average annual pollution in cities like Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Detroit in the upper Midwest.
A study by Stanford University researchers published in Nature last year revealed that smoke from wildfires in some parts of the US has reversed decades of air quality progress achieved through the Clean Air Act, with the situation now deteriorating.
In 2023, Americans, on average, inhaled more wildfire smoke compared to any other year on record, as per Stanford University researchers.
Wildfire smoke can deeply penetrate lungs and enter the bloodstream, increasing the risk of asthma, lung cancer, and other chronic respiratory diseases. Studies have also linked exposure to wildfire smoke to premature births and miscarriages.
Biologists are University of Surrey They investigated interspecific variation in particulate matter accumulation, washout, and retention in 10 broad-leaved plants, focusing on leaf characteristics.
thomson other. We found that the interaction between macromorphology and micromorphology in green-walled plant species determines their particulate matter removal ability.Image credit: Thomson other. 2024., doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170950.
Green wall is a vertical system that has received particular attention because it can be installed without occupying additional space at street level.
They also offer other benefits, such as reduced dependence on existing soil conditions and additional ecosystem services.
Green wall is a term that includes walls covered with all forms of vegetation.
Green facades and living walls are two types of green walls, where green facades usually include climbing plants, whereas living walls include planting materials and plants to support a more diverse variety of plants. Includes technology.
The reduction of air pollutants by green walls depends on several factors such as plant type, barrier dimensions, leaf area index, humidity, wind speed, and orientation of the location.
“By planting vertically against green walls, communities can purify the air without taking up too much street space,” said Mamatha Thomson, a postgraduate researcher at the University of Surrey.
“Our study suggests that this process depends not only on leaf shape but also on the micromorphological properties of the leaf surface.”
“We believe that the right mix of species creates the most effective green walls. We look forward to conducting further research to see if we are right. .”
The leaves of the evergreens candytuft and ivy were found to be particularly good at trapping pollutant particles, both large and small.
Meanwhile, rain was able to wash most of the pollutants from the lavender's hairy leaves.
Candytuft and marjoram also performed well in washing away small pollution particles.
“We hope that urban planners and infrastructure experts can use our findings to think more carefully about what they plant,” said Prashant Kumar, a professor at the University of Surrey.
“Having a green wall is a great way to remove pollution, but what you plant on top of it can make a big difference to its success.”
of result It was published in the magazine Total environmental science.
_____
Mamatha Thomson other. 2024. Investigating the interplay between particulate matter scavenging, scavenging, and leaf properties in green-walled species. Total environmental science 921: 170950; doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170950
TOxygen smog has been a part of big city life since the Industrial Revolution. Harmful particles can be like pea soup, so thick that they are difficult to see and breathe. But in many cities around the rich world, that dirty oil was banished as car engines became cleaner and factories moved. (Poor cities are still not so lucky.)
Some people believe that the transition to electric vehicles could reverse some of that progress. That means heavier cars and particles created by friction can sacrifice clean air on the altar of zero carbon emissions.
In our EV myth-busting series, the Guardian has examined claims about electric vehicles (EVs), examining issues ranging from carbon emissions and battery fires to the idea of overtaking them with hydrogen. In the latest installment of the series, do electric cars have an air pollution problem?
Claim
Electric cars eliminate engine pollution, but brakes and tires still rely on friction to function. This friction can cause substances to break down and eventually be released into the environment. Some argue that the transition to EVs could increase overall air pollution because they tend to be heavier and have more wear and tear.
In 2022, then British Environment Minister George Eustace said: Said Congress of “skepticism” about improving air quality. “Some say the fact that these vehicles are heavier means they may be less profitable than some are expecting, just from road wear and tear, but it's a bit unclear at this point. ” he said.
The Daily Mail reported that tire pollution is the “dirty secret of electric cars”, while the Sun reported that “super-heavy electric cars actually cause more pollution than petrol or diesel motors” EV drivers are being warned about how to
science
EVs do not directly burn fossil fuels and produce no emissions when produced using only zero-carbon electricity. This means that not only carbon dioxide, but also carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, a mixture of carbon, metals and unburned hydrocarbons are not emitted in urban areas. (Fossil fuel power plants still have problems charging electric cars, but they tend…thors difficult, and there have been relatively few comparative studies to date. This means there is still uncertainty as to whether the extra weight of EV batteries will lead to worse particulate pollution.
The shift to SUVs makes vehicles increasingly taller, wider and heavier, worsening carbon emissions. Photo: Mike Kemp/Photography/Getty Images
German tire maker Continental said vehicle and tire design is more important than driving style or road curves in determining wear (a point echoed by Malden). A Continental spokesperson said: “In principle, electric cars do not generate more particulate matter than comparable internal combustion…ase by a slight decrease in total PM emissions from road traffic in the future.” The study found that heavier electric vehicles experience slightly more road and tire wear than larger electric vehicles. 10pm Particles and smaller objects PM2.5. However, when engine pollution was added, gasoline and diesel cars did slightly worse.
Hawk moths are less likely to visit flowers if air pollution changes their smell.
Image courtesy of Floris van Brugel
Insects may have a hard time finding flowers because air pollutants are breaking down the chemicals responsible for the flowers' attractive scent.
“In recent years, there has been increasing interest in 'sensory pollution,'” he says. Jeff Riffel at the University of Washington in Seattle. This pollution resulting from human activities can change wild animal behavior by changing or introducing new stimuli, he says.
For example, we know that noise pollution affects bird songs and may be linked to an increase in whale strandings. Light pollution, on the other hand, can disorient a variety of animals, including migratory birds and sea turtles.
However, little is known about how human activities affect animals' sense of smell. Riffel and colleagues therefore investigated the effects of anthropogenic pollutants on plant pollinators.
They focused on ozone and nitric acid radicals, which are pollutants produced by the interaction of vehicle exhaust and gases in the atmosphere. Both are known to react with compounds emitted by flowers to change their scent.
The research team discovered pale evening primrose (evening primrose), a desert flower found in North America. Both pollutants degraded aroma compounds, but nitrate radicals did so more completely.
To study whether this led to changes in the behavior of the flowers' main pollinators, the researchers exposed species of hawk moths, including the hawk-moth sphinx.Hyles Lineata), flowers that emit a natural floral scent, or flowers that have been engineered to emit a degraded scent.
Primroses that emitted degraded scents were visited 70% less frequently than flowers that emitted naturally delivered scents. This decline in visitors could affect the hawkmoth's health, Riffel said. Researchers estimate that reduced moth visitation could reduce the amount of fruit plants produce by 28 percent, potentially having ripple effects on the broader ecosystem.
The researchers' models show that since the Industrial Revolution, the distance at which hawk moths can detect flowers has shrunk from about two kilometers to just a few hundred meters.
“This is another reason why we need to switch to energy sources that do not involve combustion,” say team members. Joel Thornton, also at the University of Washington. “Reducing nitrogen oxide emissions would be a win not only for air quality, but also for ecosystem function and agriculture.”
NIST researchers studied VOC emissions from living Christmas trees and their interaction with ozone. They found that monoterpenes were the main VOCs emitted, decreasing over time and reacting with ozone to produce low levels of formaldehyde. The study concludes that Christmas trees have minimal impact on indoor air quality for most people. Credit: SciTechDaily.com
Living Christmas trees emit chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Some of these VOCs can react with ozone, a reactive gas, to create chemical irritants in your home.
Levels of chemical irritants are low, but may be a potential concern for people who are sensitive to chemical irritants.
Every year during the holiday season, Americans purchase approximately 30 million live Christmas trees. Many families enjoy not only having a live tree in their home, but also smelling the fresh scent it produces. That odor comes from chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, little is known about how much is excreted and whether it affects health.
“Our noses are excellent chemical sensors,” says Dustin Poppendieck, an environmental engineer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). “We know these trees are emitting something, but the question is how big is the source? We are investigating which chemicals and how much they are emitting. “We wanted to compare that to other chemical sources in the home,” he said.
To answer these questions, Poppendieck and his colleagues at NIST took a common type of Christmas tree (Dog pine) and sealed it inside a room. They then measured the amount and type of VOCs emitted over a 17-day period. They also investigated whether VOCs react with other components of indoor air to form new compounds.
The team’s findings were published in the journal indoor environment.
NIST researchers placed a common type of Christmas tree in a sealed room for 17 days and monitored and measured the chemicals released from it. These chemicals are called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which give the smell of pine and can react with ozone to produce byproducts. Researchers found low amounts of these chemicals, which could be a potential concern for people who are sensitive to chemicals. Credit: M. King/NIST
The refreshing scent commonly associated with Christmas trees comes from a group of VOCs called . monoterpenesIt is also found in air fresheners, candles, and some personal care products. In the outdoors, conifer, a group of plants, including most Christmas trees, emit monoterpenes and can affect outdoor air quality. However, little is known about how much monoterpene is released when trees are cut down and placed indoors.
Research also shows that monoterpenes can react with ozone. Ozone in the upper atmosphere acts as a protective barrier against the sun. On the ground, chemical reactions with light produce ozone, which can cause symptoms such as coughs and throat irritation. Ozone also easily reacts with other chemicals in the air to form new compounds. Researchers were therefore interested in observing the effects of ozone in the presence of indoor trees.
They placed it inside an environmentally controlled room so they could measure the chemicals released by the tree in real time. Using a technique that can detect airborne organic compounds, known as proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS), they measured the VOCs emitted over a 17-day period.
In the experiment, the researchers simulated a home environment. They decorated the tree with a typical holiday lighting setup and illuminated it with bright lights to mimic the day/night cycle. They turned off the lights every 12 hours and watered the tree daily. They brought in outside air at rates typical of a typical home and constantly measured chemicals in the indoor air.
Monoterpenes were the most abundant VOCs emitted by trees. They peaked on the first day and then decreased significantly by the third day. Poppendieck said the concentrations were initially similar to those found in plug-in air fresheners and new homes, but quickly dropped to nearly 10 times the original concentration. Researchers detected 52 different monoterpenes.
The researchers then injected ozone into the chamber to see how it affected indoor air chemistry. They found that ozone reacts with monoterpenes, producing byproducts such as formaldehyde, another type of VOC, and other reactive chemicals. It was found that the introduction of ozone further reduced monoterpene concentrations and increased formaldehyde levels, affecting indoor air chemistry. However, the amount of formaldehyde produced was relatively small at approximately 1 ppb. Formaldehyde concentrations in typical homes in the United States range from 20 to 30 ppb.
For people who are sensitive to VOCs, Christmas trees can be another source of watery eyes and noses, especially if you first bring them indoors. In that case, Poppendieck suggests opening a window near the tree to reduce exposure. In addition, the emission intensity naturally decays over time, so a newly cut tree can be left outdoors or in the garage for three days before bringing it into the house.
“But for most people, this shouldn’t be a big concern,” Poppendieck says. I will continue to decorate the Christmas tree at home. ”
Reference: “Jingle Bells, what do they smell like?” Indoor VOC Emissions from Living Christmas Trees,” by Dustin Poppendieck, Riley Robertson, and Michael F. Link, December 22, 2023. indoor environment. DOI: 10.1016/j.indenv.2023.100002
A rare video was captured this week by a whale-watching trip off the coast of San Diego, showing an orca teaching its baby how to hunt by headbutting a dolphin and flipping it over multiple times in the air.
Wildlife filmmaker Domenic Biagini, who shot the footage, described the scene, saying: “The killer whale catches the dolphin, but when the dolphin slows down, he releases it after it is subdued and brings the baby killer whale with him to catch it himself.” “Seeing that level of communication and understanding was like watching a family.”
Biagini owns Gone Whale Watching, one of several companies that spotted a pod of six orcas off the coast of San Diego on Monday. He said the orca hunt took about 30 minutes, which was much longer than the average orca hunt because he was teaching orca pups.
According to marine biologist Alisa Shulman Janiger, killer whales are among the ocean’s apex predators and are known to incorporate their large size and speed into their hunting strategies. She added that it is common for orcas to slow down the prey and show the children how to hunt.
Shulman-Janiger explained that the killer whales in the video are so young that their eye patches are yellow instead of white, a color that eventually fades as they get older.
Where do whales come from?
Shulman Janiger said the whale in Biagini’s footage is an eastern tropical Pacific orca, which typically lives in waters off Mexico and Central America. They are rarely seen in the relatively warm, calm waters of Southern California.
Speaking about the hunting behavior, Biagini said, “We try to explain to our guests that while what whales do to dolphins can sometimes be very gruesome, this is normal and healthy.”
Biagini also mentioned that after Monday’s hunt, the killer whales approached the boat to see what was going on and began to poke their heads out of the water, which is a behavior known as spy hopping.
‘Remember us at your Thanksgiving feast’: Killer whales celebrate the hunt
Biagini said the killer whales often celebrate after a successful hunt and zigzag back and forth through the water. He compared it to the feeling of happiness and smiling after a Thanksgiving meal.
Additionally, Biagini expressed concern about the increasing number of boats getting close to orcas to film social media videos, urging people to film animals in the most ethical way.
Danger of flocking to whale watching
Biagini also raised concerns about the number of boats surrounding the pod of killer whales, stating that too many boats with inexperienced operators could interfere with their hunting behavior or lead to collisions.
In a video he shot, a man driving a boat by himself abandons the wheel to lean out onto the deck to record the video.
Overall, Biagini emphasized the importance of being stewards of animals and approaching them in an ethical way.
A groundbreaking study conducted by the University of Utah and EDF used Google Street View vehicles to closely monitor air quality in the Salt Lake Valley. This study revealed highly localized pollution hotspots, highlighted issues of environmental justice, and represents a major advance in understanding and addressing the uneven impacts of urban air pollution.
In the Salt Lake Valley, vehicles equipped with advanced air quality measurement tools similar to Google Street View vehicles drove through neighborhoods and collected highly detailed air quality data. This comprehensive sampling revealed clear variations in pollution levels within different regions. Additionally, new atmospheric modeling techniques have been developed to accurately identify these sources of pollution emissions.
In 2019, a team of atmospheric scientists at the University of Utah, in collaboration with the Environmental Defense Fund and other partners, introduced an innovative approach to air quality monitoring in the Salt Lake Valley. They equipped two Google Street View cars with air quality measurement tools, creating mobile air pollution detectors capable of identifying hyper-local pollution hotspots.
Over the next few months, John Lin, a professor of atmospheric science at the university, developed a breakthrough modeling technique. The method combined wind pattern modeling and statistical analysis to trace pollutants to their exact source. This technology provided a level of detail in pollution tracking that exceeded the more extensive and less accurate methods of traditional air quality monitoring, which typically assessed air quality across urban areas.
According to a study led by the United States and the Environmental Defense Fund (EFD) recently published in the journal atmospheric environment, the results are out. “With mobile vehicles, you can literally send them anywhere you can drive and find out more about pollution, including off-road sources that traditional monitoring has missed,” said Lin, who is also deputy director of the Wilkes Climate Science Center. “We can put up a map,” he said. policy. “I think the idea of patrolling lifeguards is pretty viable in many cities.”
Researchers equipped vehicles with air quality instruments and asked drivers to explore their neighborhoods street by street, taking air samples once every second, from May 2019 to March 2020. This created a huge dataset of air pollutant concentrations in the Salt Lake Valley. It is the highest-resolution map showing pollution hotspots at a detailed scale, with data capturing fluctuations within 200 meters, or about the width of two football fields.
The air quality pattern was as expected, with higher pollution around traffic and industrial areas. Neighborhoods with lower average incomes and higher proportions of black residents had more pollutants, confirming well-known issues of environmental justice. This pattern traces its legacy to his century-old redlining policy, in which Homeowner’s Loan Corp. created maps outlining “dangerous” areas in red ink.
“Air quality is not a new problem. It’s been around for decades, and it was probably worse back then,” Lin said. “The Interstate 15 corridor runs along red-light districts. And sadly, there is quite a bit of research supporting the fact that the red-light districts of 80 years ago are still important. These areas still struggle with air quality issues. These areas tend to be underinvested, so the legacy of racism remains.”
Research-grade equipment in Google Street View vehicles measures the ambient air that is pumped in from the surrounding area and detects major emissions. The researchers tested Lin’s new atmospheric modeling approach using two case studies of well-known pollution sources. The model was then applied to analyze previously unknown areas of PM elevation.2.5
The authors hope to use atmospheric models for projects such as Air Tracker, a web-based tool developed in partnership with EDF and Carnegie Mellon University that helps users find possible sources of air pollution in their neighborhood.
This research was funded by the Environmental Defense Fund. Other authors of this article are also cited, and the study utilized the resources of the National Center for High Performance Computing.
cookie dough brands If you fly on Delta’s new Airbus A321neo, you can use Bluetooth technology to connect your Apple AirPods to Delta’s seatback TV screen.
Delta’s A321neo, which began accepting commercial flyers in May 2022, features smooth leather recliners in first class, wide privacy dividers between seats and 13-inch high-definition touchscreen monitors.
TikToker Elise Brulotte On my Wednesday trip from Seattle to Honolulu, I was captivated by the in-flight entertainment.
“Finally, I can now watch movies on my AirPods on Delta’s new plane,” Brulot, who co-founded Hot Take Cookie Dough with her sister, wrote in a text. on her TikTok.
“As someone who has never bought over-ear headphones, I’m already blown away. Game changer,” she emphasizes in the caption of her video, which has been viewed over 520,000 times on TikTok. .
“The A321neo is our first aircraft to offer Bluetooth connectivity, available in the first class cabin,” a Delta representative said in a statement.
Bluelott told the Post that he was happy to see Delta Air Lines “achieve something I’ve wanted for a while.”
“I wish more airlines would integrate this feature, but it seems like a no-brainer to me,” Brulot said. “I’ve never seen it on a plane before, so it was very refreshing! I’ll be looking for more from now on.”
Delta Air Lines began commercial flights with the Airbus A321neo in May 2022. Getty Images
As of NovemberDelta Air Lines operates 35 A321neos and has a contract to purchase 155 of the aircraft through 2027.
The 194-seat aircraft features 20 domestic first class seats, 42 Comfort+ seats and 132 main cabin seats.
The in-flight entertainment system is It said it was loaded There are over 500 movies and over 100 TV series.
Meanwhile, Apple launched AirPods, wireless Bluetooth earphones, in 2016.
Brulotte’s 300,000 TikToker followers shared their experiences with AirPod technology on other flights.
“I ate this on a United Airlines flight. It changed the game,” one flyer said.
“The new Virgin Airlines has this and I was very happy (lol),” laughed the next.
“We just did this on Emirates!” exclaimed a third.
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