Aerial overview of Nabuyatom Crater, located south of Lake Turkana, Kenya
Martin Harvey/Alamy
The arid conditions of East Africa have led to a decline in the water levels of Kenya’s Lake Turkana for millennia, triggering rising earthquakes and volcanoes beneath its surface. This risk associated with climate change could potentially impact other water bodies globally as precipitation and drought patterns shift.
Lake Turkana is often referred to as the cradle of humanity. Fossils from at least six different human species, dating back 4.2 million years, have been unearthed here, with some believed to have lived alongside each other. As the size of these lakes decreased over thousands of years, our ancestors faced not just a more arid environment but also increased geological activity.
“We believe that during these eras, there would have been a rise in the frequency of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions,” states Christopher Scholz, a researcher at Syracuse University in New York. “The challenging conditions observable today in the region would have been further intensified.”
Situated in the Great Rift Valley between Kenya and Ethiopia, Lake Turkana is the world’s largest desert lake, a greenish body of saline water surrounded by sandy shrublands and breezy outcrops. However, 9,000 years ago, it was considerably larger and enveloped by rich grasslands and forests.
Between 4,000 and 6,000 years ago, the climate shifted towards drier conditions, causing the lake’s level to fall by 100 to 150 meters. Such a drop in water levels lessens the pressure on the lakebed below, potentially influencing seismic behavior. To investigate the impact of this climatic alteration, Scholz and his team pinpointed specific sediment layers that correspond to various historical periods from cores previously extracted from the lakebed.
They conducted sonar scans from a boat over 27 faults on the lake floor to analyze how the sediment layers were displaced vertically on either side of each fault. Their findings suggested that as the climate grows drier, the sides of faults slip past one another at an accelerated average rate of 0.17 millimeters per year.
“The key mechanism here involves tightening and loosening this deformation area, which causes earthquakes,” Scholz explains. “A drier climate coupled with lower lake loads will facilitate a slicker fault line.”
Computer simulations indicate that as water mass diminishes, an increase in magma movement occurs beneath the lake. One of the volcanic islands in Lake Turkana erupted in 1888.
Research previously demonstrated that declining sea levels heighten volcanic activity at ocean ridges. However, this provides the first solid evidence of a similar trend occurring around this lake, according to Ken McDonald from the University of California, Santa Barbara. “It’s akin to loosening the cork on a champagne bottle,” he remarks. “Reducing the pressure increases the likelihood of magma ascending within the Earth’s crust and erupting.”
While climate change is currently leading to higher water levels in Lake Turkana, it may take millennia for seismic and volcanic activities to stabilize significantly.
Nevertheless, the authors of the study advocate that seismic risk assessments should take into account how climate change affects water levels. Moreover, policymakers should factor in seismic vulnerabilities when planning the construction or deconstruction of dams.
“They should install [seismometers] before making any substantial alterations,” McDonald advises.
Slope stripes are prominent dark markings on Martian slopes that naturally form and can fade over decades. Some planetary scientists interpreted these features as evidence of liquid flows, raising the possibility of a currently habitable environment on Mars. However, recent research by Brown and Bern Universities offers alternative explanations, focusing on drying processes associated with wind and dust activities.
This image captures the impact crater in the Sirenum Fossa region of Mars, taken by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on March 30, 2015. The crater is about 3,300 feet (1 km) wide, displaying sharp rims and well-preserved features, indicating a relatively recent origin. The steep inner slope is carved into the gully and exhibits a recurring slope system on equator-facing slopes. Image credits: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona/Alfred McEwen.
“A significant focus of contemporary Mars research is understanding active processes on the planet, including the potential presence of liquid water on its surface,” states Dr. Admos Valantinus, a postdoctoral researcher at Brown University.
“In our study, we examined these features but found no evidence of water. Our model supports the idea of a dry formation process.”
The unusual stripes were first identified from images sent back by NASA’s Viking mission in the 1970s.
These stripes typically appear darker than the surrounding terrain, stretching across sloped regions that can extend several hundred meters.
While some stripes endure for years or decades, others appear and disappear more rapidly.
The phenomenon known as recurring slope features (RSLs) tends to manifest in the same locations during Mars’ warmest periods.
The origins of these stripes have fueled much debate among planetary scientists.
Seeking new insights, Dr. Valantinus and his colleague Dr. Valentin Bickel employed machine learning algorithms to catalog as many slope streaks as possible.
After training the algorithm on confirmed sightings of slope streaks, it was used to analyze over 86,000 high-resolution satellite images.
The outcome was the first comprehensive global map of slope streaks on Mars, featuring over 500,000 individual streaks.
“With this global map, we can compare it against a database of various factors such as temperature, wind speed, moisture, and rock slide activity,” said Dr. Bickel.
“This enables us to search for correlations across a vast number of cases to better comprehend the conditions under which these features form.”
This extensive analysis indicated that slope stripes and RSLs are generally not linked to conditions that would suggest the presence of liquid or frost, such as specific gradient directions, significant surface temperature fluctuations, or high humidity levels.
Instead, the authors posited that both features are likely to form in areas with moderate wind speeds and dust deposition, consistent with arid origins.
Researchers concluded that these stripes likely arise when fine layers of dust suddenly slide down steep slopes.
Variability in triggering factors was noted. Slope stripes are observed more frequently near recent impact craters where shock waves can disturb loose surface dust, while RSLs tend to be more prevalent in areas affected by dust devils and rockfalls.
Collectively, these findings raise new questions about the viability of slope stripes and RSLs as indicators of habitable environments.
This research holds significant implications for future Mars exploration efforts.
While a habitable environment may seem like an appealing exploration target, NASA aims to be cautious in this regard.
Earthly microorganisms potentially present on spacecraft could contaminate Mars’ habitable zones, complicating the search for extraterrestrial life.
This study suggests that the risk of contamination at slope streak locations is relatively low.
“This demonstrates the advantage of a big data approach,” noted Dr. Valantinas.
“It helps eliminate certain hypotheses from consideration before launching a spacecraft for exploration.”
The results were published on May 19, 2025, in Nature Communications.
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VT Bickel & A. Valantinas. 2025. The streaks on the slopes of Mars are dry. Nature Communications 16, 4315; doi:10.1038/s41467-025-59395-w
IT is a warehouse resembling the size of 12 football pitches, poised to provide essential employment and development opportunities in the city of Caucaia, northeastern Brazil. Yet, the shelves remain empty. This extensive facility is set to transform into a data center, as designated by TikTok, になったんです。 English: The first thing you can do is to find the best one to do. part of a 5.5 billion Reais (7.3 billion pounds) project aimed at expanding the global data center infrastructure.
With the increasing demand for supercomputer facilities, Brazil is attracting an array of high-tech companies, buoyed by the AI boom. The selection of Caucaia is strategic. Submarine cables carry data from Fortaleza, the nearby capital of Ceará, to various continents. Proximity to these cables enhances traffic capacity and reduces latency—the response time across the Internet network.
Additionally, Caucaia is home to the Pecém EPZ, where businesses can produce goods and services for export, benefiting from various tax incentives and streamlined bureaucratic processes.
However, data from Brazil’s disaster digital atlas and integrated disaster information system indicate that Caucaia is also prone to extreme weather events, including drought and heavy rainfall.
Between 2003 and 2024, the city experienced drought-related emergency conditions declared at least once. In 2019, around 10,000 residents were impacted by water shortages. The digital atlas of disasters shows that as reservoirs depleted, water quality diminished, leading to crop failures and challenges in access to basic food supplies.
Data centers consume vast amounts of energy and water to keep supercomputers cool. Nevertheless, public agencies are promoting green construction in drought-affected areas. Caucaia is part of a broader trend.
According to the Digital Disaster Atlas, five of the 22 planned data centers are situated in cities that have faced repeated drought and water scarcity since 2003.
So far, China’s social networks have not been mentioned in Caucaia’s permit application. However, in February, the chief of staff for the state government, Chagas Vieira, confirmed in an interview with local radio stations that discussions were ongoing with Chinese firms, and representatives from TikTok and its parent company ByteDance met with senior officials, including the Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services, Geraldo Alckmin.
ByteDance has been approached for comments.
The truck will deliver water to Caucaia, a city facing repeated problems with drinking water supply. Photo: Marília Camelo/The Guardian
The project is officially led by Casa dos Ventos, a Brazilian wind energy firm that has invested in the data center sector. Mario Araripe, the company’s founder and president, announced last year that he aims to attract major global technology companies like Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft to fill the facility with computers.
Casa dos Ventos has already secured one of the three required licenses from the state of Ceará. According to the state’s Environmental Supervision (SEMACE), the project received a license for “30m³/day water consumption in closed circuits supplied by Artesian Well.” Specific details have been withheld for commercial confidentiality.
Casa dos Ventos claims it is “committed to transforming Porto do Pecém into a complex of technological innovation and energy transition.”
Projects requiring significant energy, such as data centers, are required to obtain special permission from the Brazilian government. As of 2024, at least seven of the 21 approvals granted by the Ministry of Mines and the Ministry of Energy were linked to data centers.
Casa dos Ventos is also responsible for another data center project currently under state review in Campo Redondo, Rio Grande do Norte, a region that has experienced drought for 14 out of the last 21 years. During the water crisis in 2022, local governments sought federal aid, and water trucks were dispatched to address the demand.
A similar situation is unfolding in Igaporanga, Bahia, where a Brazilian renewable energy company plans to establish two data centers. The city has been in a state of emergency due to drought conditions for 12 of the years between 2003 and 2022. In 2021, about 5,500 people faced rural water shortages.
Transparency regarding water usage by data centers under construction in these areas is lacking. Companies have not disclosed this information voluntarily, and the government has withheld technical documents for licensing, citing commercial confidentiality.
In early April, the National Electric Power System Operator (ONS) denied requests for access to the grid for Casa dos Ventos, citing concerns for grid stability. Consequently, the Ministry of Mines and Energy requested a recalculation to assess potential grid adjustments.
bIG tech firms acknowledge their water consumption in water-scarce areas heightened by AI requirements. The 2024 Sustainability Report details that Microsoft reported that 42% of its water usage originates in regions experiencing water stress. Similarly, Google stated that in the same year, 15% of its water consumption fell in areas marked by “high water scarcity.”
Data centers utilize a large volume of water to prevent overheating in computers and machines. However, some water may evaporate, potentially exacerbating the local climate crisis where they are located. As AI technologies evolve, the demand for processing power increases, leading to heightened energy and cooling requirements. Consequently, water and energy consumption are projected to rise.
Workers at a Data Center in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Such facilities utilize considerable amounts of water for cooling machinery. Photo: Jeff Botega
The International Energy Agency projects a significant increase in data center energy consumption to double, reaching 945,000 GWh by 2030—equivalent to Japan’s annual energy consumption. Countries like Brazil will account for approximately 5% of this growth within that timeframe.
Water consumption is expected to surge. Researchers from the University of California, Riverside, and the University of Texas at Arlington estimate that global AI demand will require between 4.2 billion and 6.6 billion cubic meters of water by 2027, surpassing half of the UK’s annual water usage.
However, Shaolei Ren, a researcher from UC Riverside and co-author of the study, highlights a crucial distinction between consumption (water extracted from the system) and loss (water evaporated).
“Residential users generally do not withdraw significant amounts of water, but data centers often consume between 60% and 80%,” notes Ren, meaning that much water is lost.
Data centers can be cooled through two approaches: one is air conditioning, a widely adopted method for various facilities, while the second is utilizing water.
The outskirts of Caucaia, where inadequate water became unsuitable for urban consumption after reservoirs were depleted in 2019. Photo: Marília Camelo/The Guardian
One method involves recycling or reusing water but incorporates fans and radiators within closed systems, resembling car engine technologies. Alternatively, a cooling tower might use evaporation to expel heat from heated water, allowing the return of cold water to the system. The final method involves misting water into the air, increasing humidity and reducing temperature.
Nonetheless, these methods are not without inefficiencies. “Both evaporation and misting lead to water loss,” asserts Emilio Franceschini, an associate professor at ABC Federal University.
A small data center with a capacity of 1MW consumes around 25.5 million liters of water annually, with an estimated 1% (255,000 liters) lost to evaporation.
In Pecém, alternatives to extracting water include purchasing desalinated seawater or recycled water from Fortaleza.
It falls upon the state government to grant water concessions to data centers as part of the environmental licensing process.
rOnildo Mastroianni, technical director at Esplar, an NGO with a 50-year presence in Ceará, argues that projects demanding high water consumption in semi-arid areas are misguided. “It’s simply pushing for increased dryness,” he asserts.
Mastroianni cautions that such projects could alter the local hydrological basin, which may weaken fragile ecosystems, like the Caatinga, and heighten food insecurity due to rural water scarcity. He indicates that representatives from local NGOs and various Kilombola and Indigenous communities were not included in project discussions.
Due to water stress, many communities have constructed reservoirs to secure water supply during drought periods. Photo: Marília Camelo/The Guardian
Other Latin American nations are also witnessing a surge in the data center industry. Chile has launched 22 data centers in the Santiago region alone. In December, the government announced a National Plan to establish 30 additional projects, projected to place the country at medium to high levels of water stress by 2040, signifying decreased water availability.
In Chile, both governmental and corporate bodies are facing escalating opposition. In 2019, Google disclosed plans for its second data center in Santiago, which sparked estimates from the activist organization MOSACAT indicating the project would extract 700 million liters of water annually.
Following a wave of protests, a Santiago court reviewed the project. By early 2024, the court halted Google’s assessments concerning environmental impacts, pending further evaluation.
Among those advocating against the project was Tania Rodriguez of MOSACAT, who lamented, “That turned into extractivism,” she said in interviews with other outlets. “We will become everyone’s backyards.”
Las Vegas – After a staggering 214 days without any measurable rainfall, the Las Vegas Valley finally saw some drizzle.
On Thursday, the National Weather Service recorded 0.01 inch of rain at Harry Reed International Airport, ending one of the longest dry spells in the city’s history.
This marks the first time in 88 years that Las Vegas has gone more than 200 days without rain, according to the National Weather Service. The last significant rainfall in the area was seven months ago, before July 13th, 2024.
While this dry spell broke records, the city’s longest stretch without measurable rain remains at 240 days, a drought that occurred in 2020.
The current winter season is uncharacteristically warm and dry in the region.
Almost all of southern Nevada is currently facing “extreme” drought conditions. The US drought monitors release color-coded maps weekly to show the severity of drought conditions nationally.
The most recent drought monitor map shows that over 88% of the state is experiencing some level of drought, with around 21% facing “extreme” or “exceptional” dryness.
Thursday’s rain extended across desert areas in the southwest, affecting much of southern Nevada, as well as parts of California and Arizona.
The Las Vegas branch of the Meteorological Bureau stated that due to months of dry weather, the exact amount of rainfall from this event remains uncertain. According to x.
Higher elevations are expecting snow, with winter storm warnings in place for Nevada’s Spring Mountain area until Friday afternoon. Weather services predict 12-24 inches of snow in the mountains, with snowfall potentially reaching above 8,000 feet.
The precipitation is part of a storm system moving through southern Nevada on Thursday and Friday.
The Weather Service forecasts Las Vegas could receive 0.5-0.9 inches of rain over the two days.
Eric Porth, director of the California Water Resources Institute, mentioned that having more water tanks in the Palisades area could have been beneficial. However, he noted that municipal water systems, like the one in place, are primarily used for extinguishing residential fires and not typically designed for larger scale emergencies. He emphasized that the current situation has resulted in a significant burn scar that is overwhelming the existing water resources.
Los Angeles officials have advised residents to reduce their water consumption in light of the ongoing fire situation. Quiñones, from the water department, highlighted the need for water conservation to ensure that fire departments have enough resources to combat fires effectively.
Furthermore, a 48-hour boil water notice was issued for a specific zip code that includes the Palisades area and neighboring communities due to declining water quality caused by the fire and ash particles in the system.
Ajami expressed concerns about potential water contamination due to the drop in water pressure during the fire. She pointed out that the compromised pipeline infrastructure could allow external contaminants to enter the system.
Mark Gold, director of water scarcity solutions at the Natural Resources Defense Council, emphasized the impact of climate change on the frequency and intensity of fires. He underscored the need to reassess infrastructure in order to better cope with such disasters.
President-elect Donald Trump has criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom for the wildfires in Los Angeles, attributing the situation to a policy dispute regarding water allocation in the state.
In response to Trump’s accusations, Governor Newsom’s communications director clarified that there is no such document as a Water Restoration Proclamation and emphasized Newsom’s commitment to prioritizing public safety and supporting firefighters.
Gold, formerly associated with the Newsom administration, identified infrastructure issues and environmental factors as key contributors to the water resource challenges in Southern California.
In recent decades, scientists have observed a decrease in atmospheric moisture leading to drying soils, water-starved plants, withering vegetation, and increased forest fires. This phenomenon is linked to wildfire and extreme drought events globally.Despite these observations, the cause of this air dryness remains unclear, and scientists aim to understand it better to enhance climate models for the future of Earth.
Scientists measure atmospheric dryness by comparing the air’s moisture-holding capacity to the actual moisture it holds, known as the “Insufficient steam pressure” or VPD. High VPD in certain areas can lead to soil dryness and surface heating, potentially causing severe droughts.
An international team of researchers examined VPD patterns in Europe to determine if rising levels are natural or a result of global warming. They investigated the difference between current VPD levels and those before industrialization to understand the impact of human activity on VPD changes.
To assess the historical impact of water on Europe’s climate, researchers analyzed Oxygen Isotopes found in tree rings. These isotopes reflect changes in parameters like rainfall and soil moisture influenced by VPD.
Using a Mass spectrometer, researchers analyzed oxygen isotope ratios in tree rings to track changes over time. By counting rings, they could determine the age of trees and obtain valuable data for their study.
The team gathered tree-ring data from various European sites, using Oxygen Isotope Measurements to reconstruct pre-industrial VPD records. They compared these reconstructions with historical data and Earth System Model simulations to understand the factors influencing VPD changes.
Their analysis revealed increasing VPD levels across all European regions studied, with the most significant dryness observed in southern mountainous areas. Industrial influences were found to be a significant factor in current air drying, particularly during summer.
The researchers noted that recent atmospheric drying in Europe is affecting climate and vegetation, impacting plant moisture exchange and growth. This change in atmospheric moisture levels poses risks to human health and the environment, especially in densely populated areas.
In conclusion, the drying of the atmosphere in Europe is attributed to global warming, leading to adverse effects on vegetation, tree growth, and food supplies. Further research is necessary to mitigate these risks and understand the long-term implications.
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No matter how wet your phone gets, whether it’s caught in a pouring rain, dropped in the bath or in the pool, perhaps the most well-known folk remedies are: Place the device inside the rice bag. The theory is that the dry, absorbent rice should absorb moisture and help save the device. Experts have been saying it’s a bad idea for years, but now Apple is officially warning users not to do it.
“Don’t put your iPhone inside a rice bag.” Doing so may cause small rice grains to damage your iPhone. ” the company says
In a recent support note discovered by macworld. There is a risk of damage and test suggested
Raw rice is not particularly effective at drying your device.
The origins of this modification may lie in the history of photography. The Verge traces the method back to 1946
As a way to maintain your camera. During this time, panicked cell phone users have suggested dangerous methods such as attacking the phone with a hair dryer or soaking it in alcohol. So what should you actually do?
Apple is providing guidance for users who see a “liquid detected” warning when trying to charge their phone. First, unplug both ends of the charging cable. Then, “gently tap the phone in your hand with the connector facing down to remove any excess liquid.” Let it dry for at least 30 minutes, and if your phone and cable are “all dry,” try charging your device again. If this attempt fails, try again in one day.
Apple’s new support document includes two other warnings in case your phone becomes intoxicated.
“Do not use an external heat source or compressed air to dry your iPhone.”
“Do not insert foreign objects such as cotton swabs or paper towels into the connector.”
If your phone does not work at all, turn it off immediately and do not press any buttons. The next steps will vary depending on your specific situation, but as a general rule of thumb, dry it with a towel and place it in an airtight container filled with a silica packet if you have one. Do not charge until you are sure it is dry. There are a few other things you should keep in mind if you drop your iPhone in water. Even though many of today’s phones are water resistant, liquid disaster can still creep up on them.
Astronomers used the FORCAST instrument on NASA's retired Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) to obtain mid-infrared spectra of four S-type (silicate-rich) asteroids: Iris, Partenope, Melpomene, and Massalia. Did. They detected features on two of her asteroids, Iris and Massalia, that could clearly be attributed to water molecules.
Arredondo other. Using his FORCAST instrument at NASA's SOFIA Observatory, he observed four silicate-rich asteroids and found mid-infrared spectral signatures indicating molecular water on two of them, Iris and Massalia. Separated. Image credit: NASA/Carla Thomas/Southwest Research Institute.
“Asteroids are leftovers from the planet-forming process, so their composition varies depending on where in the solar nebula they form,” said Dr. Anisia Arredondo, a planetary researcher at the Southwest Research Institute.
“Of particular interest is the distribution of water on the asteroid, as it may reveal how water was delivered to Earth.”
Anhydrous, or dry, silicate asteroids form close to the Sun, and icy material coalesces farther away.
Understanding the location of asteroids and their composition can help us understand how material within the solar nebula has been distributed and evolved since its formation.
The distribution of water in our solar system provides insight into the distribution of water in other planetary systems, and because water is necessary for all life on Earth, there is potential both within and outside the solar system. You will decide where to look for natural life.
“We detected features on the asteroids Iris and Massalia that are clearly attributable to water molecules,” Arredondo said.
“We are building on the success of the team that discovered water molecules on the moon's sunlit surface.”
“We thought we could use SOFIA to find this spectral feature in other objects.”
Sofia detected water molecules in one of the largest craters in the moon's southern hemisphere.
Previous observations of both the Moon and the asteroid have detected some types of hydrogen, but have not been able to distinguish between water and its chemical cousin hydroxyl.
Scientists found that in the cubic meters of soil spread across the moon's surface, there is approximately the equivalent of a 12-ounce (355 ml) bottle of water trapped chemically bonded to minerals.
“Based on the band intensities of the spectral features, the water abundance on the asteroid matches the water abundance on the sunlit moon,” Arredondo said.
“Similarly, in asteroids, water not only binds to minerals, but also adsorbs to silicates and can become trapped or dissolved in silicate impact glass.”
Data from two fainter asteroids, Partenope and Melpomene, were too noisy to draw definitive conclusions.
The FORCAST instrument appears not to be sensitive enough to detect the spectral signature of water, if it exists.
But with these discoveries, researchers are calling on NASA/ESA/CSA's James Webb Space Telescope to take advantage of its precise optics and superior signal-to-noise ratio to investigate more targets. I am requesting you to do so.
“We conducted initial measurements of two more asteroids with Mr. Webb during Cycle 2,” said Dr. Arredondo.
“We are making another proposal to consider 30 more goals in the next cycle.”
“These studies will improve our understanding of the distribution of water in the solar system.”
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