Long-term drought has significantly contributed to the Great Salt Lake’s decline, but approximately 75% of the issue stems from human activities. According to research published in 2022, excessive water consumption by humans has taken a toll over the decades.
In 2022, state officials took decisive action to address the crisis. Lawmakers allocated $40 million to establish a water trust aimed at enhancing both water quality and quantity. Additionally, alterations to Utah’s water law now designate it as a “beneficial use” for farmers to redirect their allotted water into lakes, incentivizing donations and water transfers. Previously, any unused water rights could be lost.
National authorities also initiated modifications along the causeway dividing the lake’s northern and southern sections, enabling control over water and salt flow. Fortunately, this winter brought about double the normal snowfall in the mountains, which played a key role in the lake’s recovery.
Kevin Perry, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Utah specializing in the Great Salt Lake and its toxic dust, noted that these combined factors significantly lowered the lake’s salinity, effectively “saving it.”
According to Perry, “That huge snowpack buried and diluted all the salt in the southern part of the lake.”
The ecosystem is showing signs of recovery; “The seeds are back,” Perry remarked.
Baxter added, “This year’s flies were just tough.”
These changes were enough to temporarily avert a crisis, at least for now.
Joel Ferry, director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, expressed relief, stating, “We dodged an environmental nuclear bomb. We put away the red button.”
However, water levels have yet to return to a healthy state, and the potential impact of this year’s excessive snowfall continues to pose challenges.
Shortly after capturing the moment an endangered humpback whale was freed from its restraints, Miesa Grobbelaar remarked that the whale paused and gazed at them, seemingly grateful. The photos documenting the rescue were taken off the coast of Ha’apai, Tonga. For more, visit the Nature Conservancy’s 2025 Oceania Photo Contest.
Grobbelaar and the rescue team answered a distress signal regarding an entangled humpback whale. Upon arrival, they found a heavy, rusted chain embedded deep in its tail, as Grobbelaar shared upon receiving her award. They approached carefully and quietly to untangle her, and eventually succeeded in breaking the chains.
While humpback whales are no longer classified as endangered due to their population rebounding since the mid-20th century whaling days, some specific populations, like those around Tonga, still face risks. These numbers are currently in the low thousands, representing about 30 percent fewer than before commercial whaling started.
“This image captures a paradox: the horrific impacts of human behavior on nature alongside our compassion towards it,” remarked Jarrod Bourde, one of the contest judges, in an official statement.
Pluteus’ Firefly by Nick Wooding
Nick Wooding/TNC 2025 Oceania Photo Contest
The competition featured photographers from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands and awarded prizes in various categories. This enchanting photo above displays the Pluteus velutinornatus, a fungus growing on trees, which won in the “Plants and Fungi” category. Photographer Nick Wooding stumbled upon the hazel-colored fungus right before it blossomed, and upon revisiting days later, he found it transformed to a pristine white.
Windjana Valley by Scott Portelli
Scott Portelli/TNC 2025 Oceania Photo Contest
Scott Portelli received top honors in the land category with his stunning time-lapse image of stars captured (above) atop a rock wall in Windjana Gorge National Park in Western Australia, famous for its striking red rocks. The mesmerizing effect was crafted using over 600 photographs, illustrating the stars’ movement from dusk till dawn.
Peacock Mantis and Eggs by Peter McGee
Peter Magee/TNC 2025 Oceania Photo Contest
This striking image features a female peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus syralus) captured on film by Peter Magee in Bali, Indonesia. The photograph earned third place in the water category, showcasing the shrimp vigilantly guarding its precious red eggs while observing its surroundings.
Illustration of two planets circling white dwarf stars
Julian Baum/Science Photo Library
Planets in orbit around white dwarf stars may have the potential to remain habitable due to subtle movements dictated by the general theory of relativity.
As sun-like stars deplete their fuel, they expand into red giants, shedding their outer layers, ultimately leaving behind a dense, hot core called a white dwarf. Evidence shows that giant planets can continue orbiting these remnants, indicating that life may withstand the stars’ expansion.
Moreover, rocky planets could potentially orbit close to these stars within a compact habitable zone. This zone is the region around the star where liquid water can exist on a planet’s surface, though it has yet to be observed. White dwarfs can remain hospitable for immense periods, as they cool down very gradually, possibly for trillions of years.
The habitable zone is located million kilometers away from the stars and is significantly narrower than Earth’s orbit of 150 million kilometers. Previous studies indicated that a massive orbiting planet makes survival untenable due to tidal heating effects: the gravitational pull of a larger planet generates internal friction, leading to a runaway greenhouse effect akin to that of Venus.
However, modeling conducted by Eva Stafne suggests this might not necessarily be the case. Juliet Becker, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, found that, under certain conditions, Einstein’s general theory of relativity can provide a lifeline for the inner planet.
According to general relativity, massive objects warp space-time, which can be visualized as a dip or “well” on a flat surface. Essentially, the gravity wells of the host star become detached from the orbiting planet, slowly rotating and interacting inconsistently as the planet moves in and out of these wells.
“There’s a precession that separates the outer planet from the inner planet,” says Stafne, which prevents extreme tidal effects on the inner planet. “Past simulations did not consider general relativity, but this highlights the importance of including it in these close systems.”
Without considering general relativity, the outer planet, which would need to be at least 18 times more massive than the innermost planet, could provoke this runaway greenhouse effect, Becker explains. Yet, “factoring in general relativity changes the outcome dramatically,” she states. The inner planet can remain hospitable to similar distances, even with an outer planet as large as Neptune.
Mary Anne Limbach from the University of Michigan is uncertain about the likelihood of discovering such systems. “I’m not even sure if any habitable planets exist around white dwarfs,” she states. Telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope are actively on the lookout for rocky worlds in the vicinity of white dwarfs.
Nevertheless, this research reveals a unique series of plausible scenarios where inhabitants of distant worlds may thrive under suitable conditions, thanks to the bending of space-time.
“We might have a better understanding of how common relativity can be than we think,” Limbach observes.
The Enigma of the Universe: Cheshire, England
Join a weekend with some of the brightest scientific minds. Delve into the mysteries of the universe through an exhilarating program that includes a trip to see the iconic Lovell telescope.
As carbon emissions continue to climb, is geoengineering our best hope to hinder the melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, preventing significant sea level rise? A recent analysis of five major geoengineering proposals suggests otherwise.
Martin Seegert from the University of Exeter in the UK warns that promoting unworkable geoengineering solutions distracts from pressing issues. “This undermines our urgent need for decarbonization,” he asserts.
Seegert and his team assessed each polar geoengineering proposal using six criteria: effectiveness, scalability within a reasonable timeframe, affordability, international consensus, potential to create false hope for decades, and environmental risks.
In Antarctica, various ice sheets rest on the seabed, and they are melting from below due to warm seawater. One proposed solution involves erecting large “curtains” to block warm currents from reaching these ice sheets and the floating ice shelves that protect them.
The team warns that the effectiveness of these curtains is uncertain, as noted by Stephen Chaun from Monash University, Australia. “If hot water is diverted away from one ice shelf, where does it go next? Redirecting it to a nearby shelf just shifts the problem,” he states.
These curtains would need to be anchored to the seabed at depths of up to 1 kilometer, rising hundreds of meters and extending for tens of kilometers.
A significant portion of the research voyage to Antarctica is being refocused due to the hazards posed by icebergs and sea ice. “That presents considerable danger,” he notes.
Chown mentions that currently, only a single ship is capable of reaching the area where ocean curtains are required to safeguard Thwaites’ “Doomsday” glacier.
Concerns arise for glaciers that sit on land rather than floating on the seabed, as increased liquid water underneath the ice can act as a lubricant, speeding up the flow and leading to heightened sea level rise.
One proposed intervention is to drill holes in the ice and pump out any water beneath it.
“This approach necessitates a multitude of holes drilled into potentially thick ice. However, we lack precise knowledge of where the water lies,” says Sammy Buzzard from Northumbria University, UK. “Even with an understanding of the science, scalability, cost, and power supply issues make this an impractical solution.”
Another concept involves covering the Arctic Ocean’s surface with tiny hollow glass beads to reflect solar heat back into space. However, Chaun warns, “[This] could backfire completely.”
Sustaining this coverage would require the production of 360 megatons of glass beads annually—comparable to global plastic output. Following lab tests revealing the beads were toxic, the project aimed at testing this idea was discontinued.
Stratospheric aerosol injection is another proposed method, which involves releasing substances like sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere to form aerosols that reflect sunlight. This method poses significant challenges beyond just polar regions. Aerosols would not only fail to stay within the polar stratosphere but also provide minimal effectiveness during the dark polar winters against reflective ice and snow.
The scale of aerosol deployment would necessitate vast quantities, potentially damaging the ozone layer and disrupting climates in other regions, as noted by Valérie Masson-Delmotte from Paris-Saclay University, France. Affected countries may even seek compensation.
Another suggestion includes thickening Arctic sea ice by pumping seawater over it. “This would necessitate deploying millions of devices across drifting, fragile ice,” remarks Heidi Sevestre from Norway’s Arctic Surveillance and Assessment Program. “Such a scenario is technically, logistically, and economically unfeasible.”
The final concept evaluated by the researchers revolves around fertilizing the Southern Ocean to boost phytoplankton growth, thereby absorbing carbon as organic matter settles to the seabed. However, out of 12 small tests, none effectively reached the seabed. Furthermore, this approach could accelerate ocean oxygen depletion and release potent greenhouse gases like methane and nitrous oxide, warns Masson-Delmotte.
“I’m deeply worried about the overly optimistic views presented by some proponents of these strategies, which often gloss over the challenges,” states Masson-Delmotte. “I believe this article highlights that gap.”
Seegert argues that pursuing further research into these ideas squanders valuable resources. “The scale challenges are insurmountable,” he asserts.
Yet, not all researchers agree. “I believe it’s premature to dismiss any of these approaches entirely,” comments Shawn Fitzgerald from the Climate Restoration Centre in Cambridge, UK.
Yurok Tribal member and biologist working with engineers to set up a fish trap on a tributary of the Klamath River in California
Vivian Wan
The essence of this image lies in restoring the traditional way of life, captured by Vivienne Wang, whose work is part of the series that earned the New Scientist Editor’s Award at the Earth Photo 2025 Competition.
The photograph illustrates the Yurok community collaborating with biologists and engineers to install a rotary screw trap on the Trinity River, a key tributary of the Klamath River in Willow Creek, California. The team employs fish traps to assess the health of the salmon and examine their migration behaviors.
The Klamath Basin is central to Yurok existence, holding significant cultural and spiritual importance through its rich waters that support Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). However, 19th-century colonization displaced the Yurok tribe and depleted local resources through mining, logging, and damming efforts.
Climate change and diverted river flows have severely affected salmon populations. A new irrigation policy in 2002 resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Chinook salmon in the Klamath River, adding urgency to the decades-long initiative to remove river dams. Notably, the last dam on this river was demolished last year.
For Wang, the mission was to illuminate how Indigenous communities could lead the charge for environmental justice. “We aspire for viewers to gain respect for the resilience, culture, and ongoing struggle of the Yurok people as they work to safeguard the Klamath Basin,” she remarks.
In the image below, Yurok Fisheries technician Hunter Mattz examines monitors that reveal enlarged salmon scales, gathering valuable insights into mortality factors sourced from fishing and natural causes. This information is crucial for determining sustainable catch limits and spawning goals, as well as assessing run sizes, which indicate the number of salmon entering a river or stream within a specific timeframe.
Mattz, a third-year Yurok fishery technician, inspects a monitor showing a magnified salmon scale
Vivian Wan
In this scene, Mattz holds a slender tag on a needle, contributing critical data to the fish monitoring research program.
Mattz displays a small fish tag providing essential data to fish monitoring initiatives
Vivian Wan
Mattz also manages the Net Harvest Project, which entails traversing over 70km from the Pacific Ocean to the estuary’s mouth and into the heart of the Klamath Basin, including stretches beyond Blue Creeks in California. Collecting data on fish species caught by local residents through nets has been pivotal in securing funding for conservation efforts in the Klamath region.
Hunter Mattz’ portrait, who is also collecting data on fish species caught by local residents
Vivian Wan
All winners of the Earth Photography Competition were chosen by a panel including New Scientist photo editor Tim Bodhuis and David Stock, director of editorial videos. Before touring the UK, make sure to visit the Earth Photo 2025 exhibition at London’s Royal Geographical Society until August 20th.
The preservation of ancient stones is illustrated in the context of Ashurbanipal. A team of archaeologists from the University of Heidelberg has discovered depictions of two gods and other figures representing the rulers of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, spanning from 699 to 631 BC.
A fragment of a 2,600-year-old stone relief from the archaeological site of Nineveh. Image credit: Aaron Schmidt.
Two artifacts, dating back 2,600 years, were unearthed at the archaeological site of Nineveh, located in modern-day Mosul, northern Iraq.
Nineveh served as the capital and largest city of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, and for almost 50 years, it was the largest city in the world.
“The ancient city of Nineveh is recognized as one of the most significant cities in North Mesopotamia. King Sennacherib established it as the capital of the Assyrian Empire in the 8th century BC,” stated Professor Aaron Schmidt from the University of Heidelberg and his team.
The recently unearthed relief from the throne room of King Ashurbanipal’s North Palace stands out not only for its dimensions but also for the intricate scenes it portrays.
This enormous stone slab measures 5.5 m (18 feet) long and 3 m (10 feet) tall, weighing approximately 12 tons.
3D model of stone relief from the archaeological site of Nineveh: dark gray marks the fragments, while light gray areas indicate reconstructions based on findings. King Ashurbanipal is depicted in the center, flanked by the god Ashur (left) and the guardian goddess of Nineveh (right), followed by fish spirits and skilled attendants. Image credit: Michael Rummel.
“Among the various reliefs found in the Assyrian palace, this is the first to prominently feature the major gods,” commented Professor Schmidt.
“At the center of the newly uncovered relief is King Ashurbanipal, the last major ruler of the Assyrian Empire.”
“He is positioned next to the two greatest deities: Assur and Ishtar, along with the guardian goddess of Nineveh.”
“Surrounding them are fish spirits, symbolizing divine life and sovereignty, as well as armed supporters, potentially depicted as scorpions.”
“The evidence implies that a large winged solar disk may have originally adorned the relief.”
Researchers will continue to analyze the depictions meticulously and aim to publish their findings in an academic journal.
“This relief was originally located in a niche opposite the front entrance of the throne room, indicating its significance within the palace,” Professor Schmidt elaborated.
“We discovered a fragment of the relief in an earth-filled hole behind this niche.”
“It’s possible it was buried during the Hellenistic period around the 3rd or 2nd century BC.”
The burial of these fragments is likely one reason why British archaeologists failed to locate them over a century ago.
wImmersive Sims are a unique realm in gaming, often subjected to gamer gatekeeping. From the classic PC title System Shock to the Dickensian world of Dishonored 2, this genre is akin to avant-garde electronica or Darren Aronofsky films—beloved by critics and genre enthusiasts, yet somewhat alienating to the broader audience. Like similar fandoms, the most ardent fans of immersive sims often regard linear blockbusters with disdain. So, sorry Assassin’s Creed players, this is a club you can’t join.
While larger games like Tears of the Kingdom have recently experimented with genre elements, truly accessible, immersive sims are still scarce. Enter Deep Skin by Blendo Games—an attempt to cozy up the genre. With a premise lifted straight from a 2000s web comic, you take on the role of Nina Pasadena, an insurance commando determined to protect a kitty fleet from a pirate siege. Responding to the increasingly urgent distress signals from the anxious Tabby, Nina stealthily approaches the besieged vessel, strategizing to save the feline clientele.
Steal your prey with anything at hand: books and writers? …Deep Skin. Photo: Annapurna Interactive
The narrative is delightfully absurd, but the intriguing mechanics of the collision system deserve recognition. While pilfering supplies with unconventional items, I release a cloud of sanitizers, then knock out a pirate using a hefty novel. Before he can retaliate, I swiftly maneuver away, blending into a shimmering cloud to engulf adversaries in a spectacular explosion. This whimsical, slapstick style truly shines in Deep Skin, presenting a playground that revels in the absurdity of simulation.
However, not all aspects are flawless; Blendo Games introduces its own quirky gameplay twists. Pirates can respawn after being incapacitated, their “skull saber” desperately hovering back to their lifeless bodies. Nina must act quickly to dispose of the screaming heads before they seek revenge. One creative solution involves launching the skulls into space through shattered windows, while flushing the screams down a space toilet—an inventive way to bin each nuisance. The Duper Gun replicas allow players to sneak up on guards and instantly copy items in their possession, whether weapons or keys—vital for those kittens.
A manga-like playground… Deep Skin. Photo: Annapurna Interactive
With fully detailed ship environments, players can exit through airlocks and scale the exteriors, searching for sneaky entry points. In one mission, I crash through an exterior window, landing dramatically and removing a shard of bloody glass from my foot before tossing it into a pirate’s face, channeling my inner cat-loving John McClane.
Blendo Games recognizes that the finest immersive Sims often function as whimsical playgrounds. Every element feels like a sandbox, a tool for mischief. From tossing a pepper at a guard to watch him sneeze uncontrollably, to riding on a pirate’s back and charging into a wall, the delightful chaos of Deep Skin truly embraces its playful nature.
Unfortunately, I hoped for a more serious narrative tone. The liberated cube cat bursts from its cage with sparkling flair, prompting me to respond to Paw-Penned’s request for an elusive VHS tape. Although the humor of Skin Deep may appeal to some, the incessant cat puns and overly zany tone became exhausting, eliciting more grimaces than laughs.
If the cat-centric concept appeals, be mindful that Skin Deep utilizes Doom 3’s 2004 ID Tech Engine. Picture your nostalgic PC classic’s dimly lit corridors replaced with vibrant colors. Aimed deliberately at hardcore gamers, it sounds great on paper, but the outdated aesthetic doesn’t quite deliver the intended retro-chic vibe, often appearing quite primitive.
Nevertheless, if you’re a fan of quirky experiences, this colorful and refreshing entry into a notoriously challenging genre is worth your time. Ultimately, it offers a unique simulator filled with slapstick humor, although it may not cater to seasoned genre aficionados or entice complete newcomers. Perhaps not a breakthrough title, but if you can appreciate the whimsy of Deep Skin, you may find 10 hours of futuristic cat-themed fun ahead.
aIn recent years, affordable new electric family cars have become scarce in Europe, particularly those manufactured in the EU. Campaign group Transport and Environment reports that no electric models produced domestically and priced below €25,000 (£20,740) will be available for sale across the EU in 2022-23.
However, the landscape has shifted in recent months with the introduction of new cars like the Fiat Grande Panda, Citroën ë-C3, Hyundai Instar, Dacia Spring, and Renault 5. This sudden influx has provided buyers with more options.
This change is not coincidental. As stricter EU carbon emissions targets take effect on January 1, car manufacturers are facing the need to sell more electric vehicles to avoid fines. The industry is pushing for relaxed rules, while environmentalists are advocating for a firm stance from the EU.
Globally, automakers are grappling with weak demand for both battery-powered and internal combustion engine models. This profit decline occurs at a challenging time as the industry seeks funding for the costly shift to electric vehicles (EVs).
While 2024 saw record-breaking electric vehicle sales worldwide, driven by China’s growing industry, European markets are experiencing a slowdown. Analyst Matthias Schmidt predicts a 1.4% sales decrease in the 18 largest Western and Northern European markets over the past year.
The decline can be attributed to the cessation of generous subsidies for new EVs in Germany, the largest EV market in Europe. The end of a €5,000 incentive per car has posed challenges, impacting EV sales not only in Germany but also in other countries like France.
Some automakers are faring better than others in meeting emissions targets. While Ford struggles with Cologne-made electric car sales, BMW, Stellantis, Tesla, Polestar, and Volvo are ahead of their targets, allowing them to sell “credits” to competitors.
The sales dip has put political leaders on alert, as automakers blame regulations for potential factory closures. Volkswagen announced plans to close up to three factories in Germany, while Ford is cutting jobs in Europe. This has led industry associations to lobby for relaxed emissions standards to protect jobs.
In the UK, manufacturers have successfully argued against fines, leading to calls for a unified approach. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association is urging the European Commission to provide clarity on emissions standards to safeguard jobs.
fiat grande panda. Stellantis has repeatedly halted assembly operations at its headquarters factory in Mirafiori, Italy. Photo: LaPresse/Alamy
European policymakers may consider easing emissions regulations, with discussions set to begin in January. Efforts to relax rules are being led by some EU governments.
However, concerns persist about the long-term impact of deregulation. Analysts and activists warn that relaxing targets could jeopardize European industry, allowing Chinese EV startups to gain ground in the market.
Burning buildings, collapsing tunnels, sinking ships… wherever you're trapped and in danger, there's a robot designed to come to your rescue. Here are nine of the best.
trail blazers
Firefighting robot, Anshan Hengye Special Vehicle Manufacturing Co.
Photo credit: Getty
Firefighters are testing a fire extinguishing robot here at Bajiao Fire Station in Yantai, northeast China. The Chinese government has been promoting the technology for several years, allowing human firefighters to control robotic fire extinguishers while remaining safely outside fire danger zones.
Back in 2020, the city of Tongliao in northern China announced a firefighting mechanical unit. This 10-strong unit of his, known as the “Blade Formation”, includes robots, drones, and transport units. In other regions, ground-based robotic firefighters are being employed to fight fires in chemical plants and subways.
One of the big advantages of this approach is fire resistance. The robot can operate at temperatures of 1,000°C (1,800°F) for more than 30 minutes. Sensors can also be used to detect heat sources, difficult terrain, and flammable gases.
In the future, it may be possible to replace residential fire alarms and fire extinguishers. In 2022, Chinese researchers published the following paper: Compact and lightweight “home firefighting robot”.
go underground
Team Explorer, Carnegie Mellon University, Oregon State University
Photo courtesy of Carnegie Mellon University
Searching for people trapped in dark underground tunnels and cave complexes isn't fun for most people, but in 2017 the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) turned it into a game. There may not have been any survivors, but there was a huge underground space.
Players are tasked with developing and using an autonomous robot system to search for mannequins and other objects to earn points. DARPA designed this competition to foster innovation in autonomous subsurface mapping and navigation. This could benefit rescue workers working after mine collapses or in cave rescue operations.
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