The Atlantic ocean is changing to brown

Something Huge and Brown is taking over the Atlantic Ocean : Record 37.5 Million tons of toxic seaweed suffocates Caribbean beaches 

Since 2011, a monstrous structure has taken shape in the Atlantic Ocean almost every year, sprawling from the West African coast to the Gulf of Mexico. It’s the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt, a gargantuan bloom of a brown free-floating seaweed. In May, the seaweed belt hit a record biomass of 37.5 million tons. In a study, researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s (FAU) Harbour Branch Oceanographic Institute outline the rapidly growing seaweed’s development during the last four decades. Unsurprisingly, human activity is involved in a widespread ecological change. A vast and perplexing brown tide is sweeping across the Atlantic Ocean, alarming scientists as it disrupts ecosystems and threatens coastal communities from Africa to the Americas. Some of the important points are as follows:-

 A massive brown tide known as the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt is spreading across the Atlantic Ocean.

The phenomenon highlights the interconnectedness of global ecosystems and the impact of human actions.

Coastal communities face economic and health risks as the seaweed clogs beaches and releases harmful gases.

Scientists link the growth to human activities which introduce excessive nutrients into the ocean.

A peculiar ecological phenomenon is sweeping across the Atlantic Ocean, drawing the attention of scientists and policymakers alike. This vast expanse of floating seaweed, known as the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt, is not merely a natural curiosity but a potent indicator of the profound ways human activities are reshaping marine environments. The bloom, which now stretches from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico, has reached unprecedented levels, posing significant challenges to coastal communities and ecosystems. As researchers strive to understand this phenomenon, the implications for our oceans, and the people who rely on them, are becoming increasingly urgent. The influx of nutrients from major rivers, including the Mississippi and the Amazon, acts as a catalyst for this growth. Researchers have identified these rivers as key drivers of the bloom’s expansion, providing the necessary nutrients which allow sargassum to thrive. The scale of this bloom is unprecedented, with the biomass reaching a record 37.5 million tons recorded recently. This massive accumulation of seaweed is reshaping entire ocean basins and challenging our understanding of marine ecosystems.

The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt has been expanding dramatically, transforming from a localized phenomenon into a massive oceanic bloom. This belt of floating sargassum has spread from its traditional habitat in the Sargasso Sea to encompass a vast swath of the Atlantic Ocean. Ocean currents like the Loop Current and the Gulf Stream play a crucial role in this expansion, distributing nutrient-rich waters which fuel the seaweed’s growth. Satellite imagery has captured the rapid increase in sargassum biomass, doubling in just days under optimal conditions. “The expansion of sargassum isn’t just an ecological curiosity, it has real impacts on coastal communities. The massive blooms can clog beaches, affect fisheries and tourism, and pose health risks,” Brian Lapointe, lead author of the study and a marine scientist at FAU Harbor Branch, said. “Understanding why sargassum is growing so much is crucial for managing these impacts,” he added. “Our review helps to connect the dots between land-based nutrient pollution, ocean circulation, and the unprecedented expansion of sargassum across an entire ocean basin.”

The surge in sargassum biomass can be traced back to human activities which introduce excessive nutrients into the ocean. According to Brian Lapointe, land-based nutrient inputs are the primary drivers of this growth. Agricultural runoff, wastewater discharge and atmospheric deposition contribute to the nutrient-rich conditions which favour sargassum blooms. The chemical composition of sargassum has changed over the years, with nitrogen levels increasing significantly while phosphorus has declined. This shift indicates the profound impact of terrestrial processes on marine ecosystems. By altering the nutrient balance in the ocean, human activities are reshaping the growth patterns of marine species, with sargassum being a prime example. The seaweed’s ability to thrive in nutrient-poor waters by recycling marine waste further complicates management efforts and underscores the interconnectedness of terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Scientists previously believed that sargassum was mostly limited to the Sargasso Sea’s nutrient-poor waters. More recent research, however, has revealed the organism to be quite the traveller, tracing sargassum’s movement from nutrient-rich coastal areas, such as the western Gulf of Mexico, to the open ocean, hitching a ride on the Loop Current (one of the fastest currents in the Atlantic) and the Gulf Stream. In the open ocean, nutrients are usually concentrated at great depth.

The spread of the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt has far-reaching consequences for coastal communities. The dense mats of seaweed can clog beaches, disrupt fisheries and pose health risks to local populations. Popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico and Florida have experienced significant economic losses due to emergency clean-ups and decreased tourism revenue. Sargassum blooms also create oxygen-depleted zones beneath the dense mats, affecting marine life and fisheries. The decomposing seaweed releases hydrogen sulfide gas, which can cause respiratory problems for nearby residents. In extreme cases, such as the 1991 shutdown of a Florida nuclear power plant, the impacts of these blooms have disrupted critical infrastructure. As the belt continues to expand, these disruptions are likely to become more frequent, posing on going challenges to coastal economies and public health. In 2004 and 2005, satellite imagery revealed massive sargassum windrows, long bands of floating sargassum, in the western Gulf of Mexico, a region where rivers, including the Mississippi and Atchafalaya, are increasingly dumping nutrients. 

Understanding the dynamics of sargassum growth requires an examination of its nutrient composition over time. Researchers have studied the changes in nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon levels across different regions of the Atlantic to identify the environmental forces driving this phenomenon. Factors such as river flows, rainfall and Amazon basin floods play a significant role in influencing the bloom’s biomass. In fact, research since the 1980s revealed that the seaweed grows faster and is more productive in shallow nutrient-rich waters than nutrient-poor open ocean waters. In other words, more nutrients mean more sargassum. In certain conditions, the biomass of Sargassum natans and Sargassum fluitans can increase twofold within few days. By analysing the nutrient composition of sargassum, scientists are gaining insights into the complex interactions between terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The seaweed’s ability to adapt to varying nutrient levels and recycle marine waste highlights its resilience and complicates management strategies. As researchers continue to investigate the factors driving sargassum growth, the findings hold important implications for understanding how human activities influence marine environments on a global scale.

Phosphorus and nitrogen are crucial nutrients for sargassum. From the 1980s to the 2020s, while the seaweed’s nitrogen content rose by over 50%, its phosphorus declined. “These changes reflect a shift away from natural oceanic nutrient sources like upwelling and vertical mixing, and toward land-based inputs such as agricultural runoff, wastewater discharge and atmospheric deposition,” Lapointe explained. In other words, human activity. Carbon levels in sargassum are creeping upwards, demonstrating how outside nutrients are changing its makeup and affecting ocean plant life, he added. The team also highlights, however, that sargassum windrows are able to also grow in nutrient-poor waters by recycling nutrients in marine animal poop, among other methods. The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt serves as a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of global ecosystems. The bloom’s expansion reflects how human activities, such as nutrient pollution from agriculture and urban development, can have far-reaching impacts on marine environments. As scientists work to unravel the complexities of this ecological phenomenon, the broader implications for ocean health and coastal communities remain a pressing concern. 

“Our review takes a deep dive into the changing story of sargassum, how it’s growing, what’s fuelling that growth, and why we’re seeing such a dramatic increase in biomass across the North Atlantic,” Lapointe explained. “By examining shifts in its nutrient composition, particularly nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon, and how those elements vary over time and space, we’re beginning to understand the larger environmental forces at play.” The study is just one more example of how human activity is driving deeply rooted ecological changes, with the extent of its farthest-reaching consequences still terrifyingly unknown to the world around us.

The lowest point on earth

            Earth's lowest point on dry land   

Dead Sea, the warm home away from home, one of the most spectacular natural and spiritual landscapes in the whole world, the lowest body of water on earth, the lowest point on earth and the world’s richest source of natural salts, hiding wonderful treasures which accumulated throughout thousands of years. At 431 m below sea level, the Dead Sea is a body of intense blue water, polished smooth like oiled skin on a windless day in winter and ruffled into whitecaps by the summer winds. Salt-encrusted rocks at the surface of the Dead Sea, whose banks are Earth's lowest place on dry land. The highest point on Earth's surface is the top of Mount Everest, which towers more than 29,000 feet (8,800 meters) above sea level. But the lowest spot on dry land are the banks of the Dead Sea in the Middle East. These lie about 1,300 feet below sea level, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

To reach this unique spot, the visitor enjoys a short 30 minutes drive from Amman, surrounded by a landscape and arid hills, which could be from another planet. En route a stone marker indicates “Sea Level”, but the Dead Sea itself is not reached before descending another 400 meters below this sign. The banks of the Dead Sea are the lowest point on dry land but not the deepest point on Earth's surface. That distinction belongs to the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, a point in the Pacific Ocean which is about 35,876 feet [10,935 m] below the planet's surface. The precise depth of the Dead Sea's surface can vary daily. According to NASA, on a hot, dry summer day, the water level can drop as much as 1 inch (2 to 3 cm's) because of evaporation. During most of the days, however, the water shimmers under a beating sun, Where rocks meet its lapping edges, they become snow-like, covered with a thick, gleaming white deposit which gives the area a strange and surreal sense. As its name evokes, the Dead Sea Jordan is devoid of life due to an extremely high content of salts and minerals which gives its waters the renowned curative powers, therapeutic qualities, and its buoyancy, recognized since the days of Herod the Great, more than 2000 years ago.

The Dead Sea, which is not really a sea but a large saltwater lake, is 47 miles (76 km's) long and up to 11 miles (18 km) wide. The "Dead Sea" was named by monks, who noticed that life seemed to be absent from the salty water, NOAA noted. And because the salt content is four times that of most world’s oceans, you can float in the Dead Sea Jordan without even trying, which makes swimming here a truly unique experience not to be missed: here is the only place in the world where you can recline on the water to read a newspaper. Scientifically speaking, its water contains more than 35 different types of minerals which are essential for the health and care of the body skin including Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium, Bromine, Sulphur and Iodine. They are well known for relieving pains and sufferings caused by arthritis, rheumatism, psoriasis, eczema, headache and foot-ache, while nourishing and softening the skin. They also provide the raw materials for the renowned Jordanian Dead Sea bath salts and cosmetic products marketed worldwide. 

The Dead Sea lies along the Dead Sea Fault, which spans about 600 miles (1,000 km) from the Red Sea to the Taurus Mountains in Turkey and started forming nearly 20 million years ago, according to a 2006 study. The fault helps form the boundary between the African tectonic plate to the west and the Arabian one to the east. NASA notes that the Dead Sea lies in the Great Rift Valley, which is currently ripping the African continent apart. A unique combination of several factors makes Dead Sea Jordan’s total attraction: the chemical composition of its water, the filtered sunrays and oxygen-rich air, the mineral-rich black mud along the shoreline, and the adjacent fresh water and thermal mineral springs. Although sparsely populated and serenely quiet now, the area has a historical and spiritual legacy of its own. It is believed to be the site of five biblical cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zebouin and Zoar. "The Dead Sea fault is primarily a transform fault, similar to the San Andreas Fault in California, where two plates are moving next to each other," Rob Pockalny, an associate marine research scientist at the University of Rhode Island, said.

The Dead Sea northern and larger part is very deep, reaching at one point a depth of 430m (1320 feet). The southern bay is, on the contrary, very shallow, averaging hardly a depth of 4m (13 feet). The water level of the Dead Sea is dropping by about a 30cm. (1 foot) per year. It is being diverted by Israel and Jordan for industry, agriculture and household use. Scientists predict that the sea may be dried up by the year 2050. Both sides of the fault are moving northward, "but the eastern side moves a bit faster, about 5 millimeters [0.19 inches] per year," marine geophysicist Zvi Ben-Avraham, director of the Minerva Dead Sea Research Centre at Tel Aviv University in Israel, said. In comparison, "the San Andreas Fault moves 10 times faster." Never attempt to swim stomach-first. Your feet will be higher than usual and your head will be lower than usual. Never let the water touch your lips, nose or ears. There will be extreme pain which could cause you to panic and attempt to swim naturally, and dead sea will not allow you to swim normally. Enter the sea within a controlled environment, better with a lifeguard watching within a hotel’s restricted area. Nestled high above the shimmering waters of the Dead Sea, the Jordan Panorama Complex offers visitors an unparalleled view of one of the world’s natural wonders. Managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), this extraordinary destination combines breath taking landscapes with rich cultural heritage, making it a must-visit for nature enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

The complex isn’t just about the views. It houses a well-curated museum which delves into the geological and ecological significance of the Dead Sea region. Visitors can explore interactive exhibits which give details about the formation of this unique body of water, its historical significance and the diverse flora and fauna that inhabit the area. Previously, researchers suggested the Dead Sea formed essentially because of a zigzag in the Dead Sea Fault. If the Dead Sea Fault was perfectly straight, one side could slide relatively smoothly next to the other. However, if the fault had a zigzag in it, then as one side slid past the other, a gap would form in the zigzag area where both sides of the fault were pulling apart. Such a "pull-apart basin" could have steep walls, helping to explain why the Dead Sea is so low in elevation. However, the standard model of pull-apart basins suggest they become long before they become deep. In contrast, the basin of the Dead Sea is significantly wider than it is deep, Ben-Avraham said. The sediment which makes up the floor of the southern Dead Sea "extends down close to 15 km's [9.3 miles], and that part of the basin is only about 10 km's [6 miles] wide."  Instead, Ben-Avraham and his colleagues suggest the Dead Sea is a "drop down basin." As both sides of the fault slid past each other, they spread apart a bit, "but then an isolated chunk of basalt detached from them and dropped down starting about 4 million years ago," Ben-Avraham said. "So the Dead Sea basin became deeper while its other dimensions stayed fixed."

The Dead Sea Panorama Complex was developed with the support of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). The JBIC provided financial assistance through loans, which played a crucial role in the establishment of this impressive facility. The collaboration between JBIC and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) helped bring this project to fruition, enhancing tourism infrastructure and promoting environmental conservation in the Dead Sea region. Determining which model of the Dead Sea's formation might be correct is challenging "because these motions are very slow," Ben-Avraham said. "Understanding what is going on in this part of the crust in real time is very, very difficult and expensive." If you are looking for an educational adventure, the Dead Sea Panorama Complex promises a memorable experience. Open year-round, it’s an accessible gem which invites you to discover the wonders of Jordan’s natural and cultural heritage.

Rare species discovered

 Camera traps discovered Rare animals creeping within remote Cambodian mountains       

The rugged Annamite Mountains, which stretch across Laos, Vietnam and northeast Cambodia, are renowned for their rich biodiversity. Nestled in the southwest of the range lies Virachey, Cambodia’s largest national park. The remote region is vast, covering more than 3,000 square km's, yet despite it being a protected area, it is largely unexplored and understudied. The first comprehensive biodiversity survey of the park was published on Tuesday, revealing the rare and threatened species that live there, including the Sunda pangolin, the clouded leopard and the sun bear. Led by conservation organization Fauna & Flora, which describes the Annamites as the “Amazon of Asia,” the survey also documented nine species that have never been recorded in Cambodia before, such as the critically endangered large-antlered muntjac, Sokolov’s glass lizard and the Vietnamese leaf-toed gecko.

The large-antlered muntjac was one of a number of species recorded for the first time ever in a recent survey of Cambodia’s Virachey National Park. The critically endangered large-antlered muntjac was photographed by camera trap in Virachey National Park. “The area had been virtually unexplored and there was almost no information about the biodiversity of Virachey National Park,” Pablo Sinovas, country director of Fauna & Flora’s Cambodia program, said. “We found several threatened species that, by definition, are not doing very well globally or within the country. This park has the potential to provide a good stronghold to make sure that they don’t go extinct. In a way, it’s kind of a Noah’s Ark of wildlife,” he added. Nine species have been recorded in Cambodia for the first time during the first ever comprehensive biodiversity survey of Virachey National Park. They include the critically endangered large-antlered muntjac, a species of glass lizard, a gecko, two bat species, an edible mushroom and three other plant species (an orchid, an arum and a ginger). Large-antlered muntjac are commonly found in evergreen forests and can weigh up to 50kgs, they are  the oldest known deer, appearing 15-35 million years ago/Fauna & Flora. “Discovering nine species that were not previously recorded in the country is incredibly exciting,” says Pablo Sinovas, Country Director for Fauna & Flora’s Cambodia Programme. "It reaffirms just how special this landscape is and how much there is still to uncover and protect. For me, the most exciting find was the large-antlered muntjac, one of the rarest and most threatened deer species. The fact that the camera trap photographing this species was in the most remote, hardest-to-reach corner of the national park made the huge logistical and physical effort to get there absolutely worth it.”

But the park faces a range of threats including deforestation, forest degradation, habitat fragmentation and snaring (using thin wire nooses to catch animals). Over the past three decades, Cambodia has lost more than 30% of its primary forest cover, and despite being established as a national park in 1993, investigations by non-profits claim to have uncovered large-scale illegal logging within Virachey. Sinovas hopes that the biodiversity data will help to strengthen the management of the park and conservation strategies. “(The survey) confirmed the relevance of the area as a biodiversity hotspot and put some of these species on the map, so to speak, which means we can conserve them in a more targeted way,” he said. “It’s the first step: knowing what is present is necessary to be able to protect it.” Common jays are a species of colourful swallowtail butterflies. Here, a group is pictured mud-puddling, a behaviour where butterflies take up essential nutrients from fluid deposits on rocks, soil or dung, for example. The species are living in the rugged and remote mountains of Cambodia. The camera traps filmed numerous other species, too, including the sambar deer/Fauna & Flora. Led by Fauna & Flora, in collaboration with Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment and local communities, the survey’s findings highlight the importance of Virachey National Park, a south-western extension of the Annamite Mountain range - a relatively untouched haven for biodiversity that stretches around 1,100 kilometres through Laos, Vietnam and northeast Cambodia.

The remoteness of the park made gathering data a challenge, so the team used a range of methods over several years, compiling multiple studies. It worked closely with local indigenous communities, who Sinovas said “know the forest best,” but even they had never set foot in some of the areas that were being surveyed. More than 150 camera traps were deployed to record elusive species, such as the large-antlered muntjac, which was caught on camera in 2021. While the deer species was first described in 1994, it had previously only been documented in Laos and Vietnam. “To find a large mammal in a country for the first time is really quite rare and exciting,” said Sinovas.

Referred to by Fauna & Flora as the ‘Amazon of Asia’, the Annamites is home to a vast array of species found nowhere else in the world. Researchers believe there are likely to be many more species present that are yet to be discovered. Located at the point where the Annamite Mountains and Cambodia’s lowlands meet, Virachey National Park is part of one of the largest expanses of forest in mainland Southeast Asia. The survey also confirmed the presence of many threatened species, such as the red-shanked douc langur, Sunda pangolin, clouded leopard, dhole and sun bear. The camera traps also helped identify threats, for instance the presence of domestic dogs in some areas and the use of snare traps; some threatened species, like the Asiatic black bear and the northern pig-tailed macaque, were photographed with missing limbs. 

Three species of frog recorded during the survey had only been seen in Cambodia once, two of which had never been seen as adults. As well as serving as a sanctuary for iconic wildlife, the park sustains Indigenous communities who have relied on its resources for generations. While Virachey is officially a protected area and one of only two Cambodian ASEAN Heritage Parks, its vast expanse, covering 4,057 km2, is still largely unexplored and understudied, largely due to the difficulty of accessing much of the park’s remote, challenging terrain, including steep slopes, thick vegetation and rivers. The team extracted DNA from water samples and tested it to reveal the presence of 161 species, including the dwarf loach (an endangered freshwater fish), the Asiatic softshell turtle and the Asian black bear. It also carried out specific population assessments for some species, such as the northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbon, an endangered primate only found in forested areas of southern Laos, northern Cambodia and central Vietnam. The new survey used a range of techniques and technology to overcome the challenges, including camera traps and eDNA (environmental DNA sampling). E. denticulus, one of the two bat species recorded for the first time in Cambodia, seem to be relatively common within the park. There also appear to be around 2,000 groups of the endangered northern yellow-cheeked gibbon in Virachey National Park, confirming the park as the most significant stronghold for the species globally. The park remains the only location in Cambodia where many regionally endemic reptiles and amphibians exist. The tree-focused section of the survey also identified at least eight rare tree species. 

Sinovas also highlighted the park’s value in providing a livelihood to local people and as a carbon sink. “This park sits at the core of one of the largest forests in mainland Southeast Asia: that’s important for biodiversity, but also for climate in terms of carbon absorption,” he said. “It’s also important from a human perspective, around the borders of the park, there are indigenous communities that had been relying on the natural resources from the area for a long time. It is essential that those resources are preserved and continue to be managed sustainably.” With threats to the park’s wildlife including hunting, including snares, habitat loss, and the presence of domestic dogs, data from the new survey is critical in “strengthening the case for protecting the park,” says Sinovas. “We’re working with the Ministry of Environment and local communities to translate the data into action, to identify and implement the best possible outcomes for the park’s biodiversity and for the people who depend on it. By knowing what’s at stake, we’re better equipped to highlight the park’s values and to define suitable management options that will secure the park’s future.” 

World's biggest man-made lake

 Lake Kariba : World's biggest man-made lake

Lake Kariba is the world’s largest man-made lake and reservoir by volume. It lies approximately 1 300 km's upstream from the Indian Ocean, along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The lake was filled following the completion of the Kariba Dam wall at its northeastern end, flooding the Kariba Gorge on the Zambezi River. The town of Kariba was built for construction workers on the lake’s dam in the late 1950’s. Lake Kariba is Zambia’s undiscovered Riviera! It offers spectacular views, stunning sunsets, great fishing, boating opportunities, water sports, safari on the shoreline and wonderful relaxing holidays just soaking up the sunshine.

World's biggest man-made lake that took five years to be filled and spans across 2 nations. Covering 2,150 square miles, this is the world's largest artificial lake and reservoir by volume, filled over a span of five years . Lake Kariba was formed following the damming of the Zambezi River in the Kariba Gorge, where the river narrows between hills of hard rock 250 miles below Victoria Falls. The weather is mostly sunny and fine. It can get quite hot in mid-summer (about January and February), but even mid-winter days (about July) are warm and the nights are balmy. This is the planet’s largest man-made dam: 226km / 140mi long and in places up to 40km / 25mi wide. It is also the world’s largest water reservoir by volume. It provides considerable electric power to both Zambia and Zimbabwe and supports a thriving commercial fishing industry.

Lake Kariba covers an area of 2,150 square miles, and its storage capacity is 44 cubic miles. The mean depth of the lake is 95 feet, with a maximum of 318 feet. As a result, it took five years to fill, between 1958 and 1963. It is the world’s largest man-made reservoir by volume, four times as large as the Three Gorges Dam in China. The sheer size of it makes you forget it’s a dam and in certain places it almost feels like an ocean! There are islands with wildlife sprinkled around (Chete and Chinanka are among the largest) and access from the Zambian side is fairly limited, the Zimbabwean side offers more facilities. Chinanka is privately owned and open to guests of the fishing lodge only.

The major towns are Sinazongwe and Siavonga, with the latter being more developed and offering more ways of accessing the dam. The main focus of Kariba is houseboating and fishing, which is permitted year-round rather than seasonally like other lakes and rivers in Zambia. One notable aspect of the lake is its diverse wildlife. The lake and its surrounding shores are home to a variety of bird species, including fish eagles and cormorants. These majestic birds can often be seen soaring through the skies or perched along the shorelines, hunting for fish. In addition to the birdlife, Lake Kariba attracts large numbers of elephants and other big game species. The presence of water draws these animals to the lake’s shores, providing them with a vital source of hydration in the arid landscape. It is a truly remarkable sight to witness herds of elephants gathering near the water’s edge or bathing in the shallows of the lake.

Experience the untamed beauty of Lake Kariba through a range of activities. Set sail on the pristine waters of this colossal man-made lake, where boat safaris offer breathtaking sunsets and wildlife encounters along the shoreline. Explore the terrain on game drives, encountering Africa’s Big Five and an array of other creatures. Enter the wilderness on guided walking safaris, forging a deep connection with nature as you soak in the sounds and scents of the bushveld. Birdwatchers will be in paradise, as Lake Kariba is home to a diverse avian population. Dive into local culture with visits to nearby villages, and try your hand at fishing, aiming for the legendary tigerfish. Lake Kariba offers the ultimate African adventure for all nature enthusiasts. You can explore the waters and island of Lake Kariba, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, where you can witness breathtaking sunsets and observe the wildlife that thrives along the lake’s shoreline.

Today, the Kariba Dam hydroelectric power station, situated on the lake, serves as a vital source of electricity for both Zimbabwe and Zambia. The dam harnesses the power of the Zambezi River, generating substantial amounts of electricity that contribute to the energy needs of the two countries. This hydroelectric power station has become a significant cornerstone of the region’s power infrastructure, supporting economic development and improving the quality of life for local communities.

Newly developed battery hits 850 cycles, retains 99.95% capacity

 China scientists’ breakthrough organic flow battery, remains at 99.95% capacity after 850 Cycles

Chinese researchers achieved a breakthrough in their development of organic flow batteries, creating novel ORAMs which helped them achieve significant numbers in aqueous flow batteries. In the recent findings by researchers from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, they were able to retain as much as 99.95% capacity even after running 850 cycles with their new cell. This latest development is novel naphthalene derivative-based electrolytes which are air-stable, overcoming the challenges and effects of not using inert gases. With new organic molecules, the organic flow battery performed well for 600 cycles without a drop in capacity. This new breakthrough in battery technology is promising. Researchers at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics have developed novel naphthalene-based organic redox-active molecules (ORAMs) for aqueous organic flow batteries. The newly developed ORAMs demonstrate that they can achieve stable cycling in normal ait-atmosphere conditions, a press release said. A redox flow battery is a type of electrochemical cell in which electric current is generated by components dissolved in liquids stored on opposite sites of a membrane. Advantages of redox flow batteries include their ability to scale power and low cost of ownership. However, low cycle energy and the use of rare metals like vanadium have limited their use. 

According to the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics' press release, organic redox-active molecules (ORAMs) now bring promising developments for aqueous organic flow batteries (AOFBs), centring on air-stable naphthalene-based organic materials. The researchers focused on chemical and in-situ electrochemical methods to synthesize active naphthalene derivatives to purify the ORAMs and make them cost-effective and scalable. In their tests, its naphthalene flow batteries using 1.5 mol/L electrolytes produce a stable performance that reached up to 850 cycles or around 40 days while retaining 99.95% capacity. Notably, its battery performed up to 600 cycles or as much as 22 cycles and remained at full capacity while being exposed to air. Research is on going to develop organic redox flow batteries, in which organic materials are used, which are widely available and easier to produce. Depending on the solvent used for the electrolyte, organic redox batteries can be classified into two major categories: aqueous and non-aqueous. An aqueous organic flow battery (AOFB) uses water as an electrolyte, whereas a non-aqueous organic flow battery (NAOFB) uses an organic solvent. 

Breakthroughs and Developments

Batteries are best known for being the top power source for devices or electronics which are not connected to a direct plug, but it is notorious for their planet-exhaustive development, particularly as they require rare Earth metals. Many companies have since looked for alternative components that would make it cost-effective and less harmful through mining, centring on lithium-free power cells. The current main source of alternative energy sources target on lithium-ion batteries, and it is known for its typical use of fossil fuels, which are ironically, harmful to the environment. Murdoch University researchers have since found a suitable electrode alternative that is abundant in bio-waste products, as chicken eggshells were found to be capable of powering batteries. While there are many already looking into new power cell developments, organic flow batteries are among those which are promising in today's day and age, meant for large-capacity applications. China's Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics has discovered a breakthrough for AOFBs with the new ORAMs, centring on air-stable energy storage for future applications.

Challenges

Various types of AOFBs are in the works, classified based on the pH of the electrolyte, neutral and acid, and offer cost and scale benefits. However, the organic redox-active molecules (ORAMs) used in the batteries are prone to deactivation due to side reactions if not used with an inert gas. This can increase the cost of battery maintenance since the capacity loss is irreversible and severely degrades the battery’s lifespan as well. A team led by Zhang Changkun and Li Xianfeng, both professors at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, developed novel naphthalene-based derivatives with active hydroxyls and dimethylamine scaffolds which provide stability in air and can, therefore, be used in AOFBs. 

What was Achieved? 

The researchers used a combination of chemical and in situ electrochemical methods to synthesize the active naphthalene derivatives. This approach not only made it easier to purify the ORAMs but is also scalable and cost-effective. The electrochemical step added another advantage since the researchers could now introduce hydrophilic alkylamine scaffolds into the naphthalene derivatives. This serves as protection from unintended side reactions while also improving the solubility of the molecules in the water-based electrolyte. In their tests, the researchers found that the naphthalene flow battery, when used with a 1.5 mol/L electrolyte, has stable cycling performance for up to 850 cycles (approximately 40 days). The capacity of the battery was recorded at 50 Ah per liter. The researchers introduced a continuous air flow in the catholyte to test whether the AOFB could work with air exposure. They found that the battery performed well for 600 cycles (approximately 22 days) without a drop in performance or capacity. The researchers designed pilot-scale battery packs with their new synthesis and operation procedures. They tested them for stability and performance in the lab. With a capacity of 330 Ah, the pilot battery packs demonstrated cycling stability for 270 cycles (27 days) and capacity retention of 99.95% per cycle. In addition to the performance improvements, the researchers also worked on the scalability of naphthalene derivatives production and achieved outputs of 11 pounds (five kg) per pot, the press release added. 

Application in the Future

ORAMs were infamous for their renowned instability as well as high costs, but the researchers were able to synthesize active naphthalene derivatives which helped reduce the cost of molecular synthesis. In their study, the team's as-prepared naphthalene derivatives were able to deliver a "multisubstituted framework with hydrophilic alkylamine scaffolds" that help protect against possible reactions. This outcome was said to improve its solubility in aqueous electrolytes, opening up the future for its AOFB applications. According to Professor Li Xianfeng, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), “This study is expected to open a new field in the design of air-stable molecular for sustainable and air-stable electrochemical energy storage”. 

Climate change effects

 Climate change effects on Winters 

What comes to mind when you think about winter? Snowflakes? Mittens? Reindeer? In much of the Northern Hemisphere, winter means colder temperatures, shorter days and year-end holidays. Along with these changes, a growing body of research in psychology and related fields suggests that winter also brings some profound changes in how people think, feel and behave. Some of winter’s effects have been tied to cultural norms and practices, while others likely reflect our bodies’ innate biological responses to changing meteorological and ecological conditions. The natural and cultural changes which come with winter often occur simultaneously, making it challenging to tease apart the causes underlying these seasonal swings. 

Although climate change is largely bringing a rise in global average temperatures, it also makes local weather patterns, including winter weather, more erratic. Though this past winter was unusually warm, climate change, in some areas, is and will continue to bring more frequent and severe snowfall and extreme temperatures. In order to protect residents, especially historically marginalized communities which often bear the brunt of the effects of climate change, it’s important for urban, suburban and rural communities alike to adapt to and mitigate the effects of these changes.

In winters we observe a day when earth’s Northern Hemisphere will be at its greatest tilt from the sun, marking the winter solstice: the shortest day of the year and the official start of the coldest season. But winter is warming rapidly because of human-caused climate change and it’s having an impact on snow, tourism, winter sports, local economies, dinner plates and even allergies. The winter period from December to February is now the fastest-warming of the three-month seasons for nearly 75% of the US, according to NOAA temperature data by Climate Central. The analysis looked at average winter temperatures for 240 locations across the US and found the winter warming trend covers every corner of the map — temperatures had warmed in 97%, or 233, of the spots since 1970. 

Climate change’s disruptions of local weather patterns in the winter can result in heavy snowfall and bitter cold snaps in many areas of the US. These conditions present dangers to public health, even beyond hypothermia rates; a study found that, between 1985 and 2006, over 5% of temperature-related deaths in the US were due to winter weather, compared to less than 0.5% for extreme heat events. Historically marginalized communities are much more likely to experience the most severe impacts of climate change in winter weather, due to a legacy of systemic inequities. For example, during the polar vortex that Texas experienced in 2021, Black and Latino communities were the first to be afflicted by the rolling blackouts that affected the state. Additionally, they were more likely to be located in close proximity to polluting industrial sites, which emitted air pollutants in bursts as power returned.

Winter temperatures increased by 3.8 degrees Fahrenheit on average since 1970. Winters in the fastest-warming cities have warmed by as much as 7 degrees. The Northeast and Upper Midwest are the regions warming fastest, and are running a nearly 5-degree winter fever. This includes some ski towns like Burlington, Vermont, (7.7 degree increase) and Concord, New Hampshire (6.6 degree increase). Winter in notoriously cold Milwaukee is now 6.7 degrees warmer on average. 

For many, a little extra winter warmth may sound nice. But milder winters come with consequences. Humans, special as we may be, are not unique in showing some of these seasonally linked changes. For instance, our primate relative the Rhesus macaque shows seasonal declines in mood. “Wintertime plays important roles in the life cycles of plants, animals, and insects, the recharging of freshwater supplies, and sustaining snow and ice for winter recreation, which supports local economies. A warmer winter doesn’t mean it’s sweltering like summer all season long, there will still be cold days in a warmer climate. But the cold of winter will become less frequent and less extreme. As average temperatures rise, it will leave less room for extreme cold swings. Plus, because marginalized communities often live in energy-inefficient housing (where physical infrastructure like insulation is lacking) due to practices like redlining, they tend to experience disproportionately high energy burdens and are forced to spend significant portions of their income on energy bills.

 Cold snaps across the US are now an average of six days shorter than they were in 1970, Climate Central’s data shows. And though cold temperatures will still occasionally set records, they are far more likely to be outpaced by warm records. Overnight minimum temperatures are warming faster in winter than in any other season since records began in 1896. Winter’s overnight temperatures have been warming at a rate of 1.78 degrees per century since 1900, 25% faster than the rate for winter’s daytime highs, according to reports. The smart growth movement helps to create communities that are equitable, connected, and resilient. By promoting dense, mixed-use, walkable, and transit-oriented development patterns, smart growth preserves green space and natural areas that can help filter out pollutants like those released during the Texas blackouts. Smart growth can also alleviate some of the chronic health problems that disproportionately impact different communities and are exacerbated by winter conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular issues, by promoting active transportation. This both directly improves physical health at an individual level and improves ambient air quality by reducing automobile use.

The effects of harsher winters can be exacerbated by some communities’ land use policies. Restrictive zoning regulations that create and maintain sprawling, low-density land use centered on detached single-family housing force people to travel farther to reach daily needs and amenities. In the winter, that means people are exposed to winter weather conditions for longer. And, because these pro-sprawl policies have made and continue to make housing unaffordable, more people end up without access to safe, quality housing. These groups are among the most vulnerable to the effects of winter weather, especially because adequate shelter and resources are not universally available, particularly in rural areas.

 Reno, Nevada, now has 91 fewer freezing nights each year on average, losing more than any other location the list. Cities in Nevada, Arizona, California and Florida that used to see an occasional night below freezing no longer feel the chill at all. There are double the warm temperature records as cold ones in 2023. At night, the discrepancy grows, and there is triple the number of record warm low temperatures compared to record cold ones. A separate Climate Central analysis of overnight low temperatures at 231 US locations found 88%, or 204 cities, experienced a long-term decrease in the average number of freezing nights each year since 1970. To protect residents, zoning codes can be reformed to encourage dense, mixed-use, and multi-family communities. When friends, family, jobs, and amenities are located nearer to where people live, they spend less time exposed to winter conditions when traveling to them. And, because housing units in multifamily buildings tend to be smaller and share walls, ceilings and floors, they have less space requiring heating and are better insulated from the cold air outside.

Even cities known for cold outbreaks, like Buffalo, New York, Chicago, New York City, Boston and Detroit, now no longer experience two-to-three weeks’ worth of freezing nights each year. These changes are bad news for several industries that rely on a predictable chill. A study by the International Olympic Committee found rising temperatures may cause ski season to “start up to a month later and finish up to three months earlier,” a finding that threatens to take $1 billion out of the US economy, according to a 2018 study by the climate advocacy group POW and REI. For example, viable chill time in California’s fertile Central Valley, where 40% of the US’ fruits and nuts are grown, could drop by 25% by the end of the 21st century. On US farms, the $27 billion fruit and nut industry is losing out on chilling time as winters warm, a necessary exposure for the crops to chilly temperatures which allows them to properly bloom in the spring, another Climate Central analysis found. With less chill time, there could be less produce like walnuts, pistachios, and cherries to go around, and what’s left is more likely to be of poorer quality, the USDA said. 

Winter weather already impacts many communities’ transportation infrastructure. In some areas, car-centric transport systems are justified partly due to the notion that driving in the winter is safer than walking, biking, or using public transit. However, traveling by active and public transportation is usually dangerous because of inadequate infrastructure, not because of winter conditions. For example, small sidewalks and a lack of bike lanes force people walking or biking into close proximity with vehicles, which, although dangerous year round, is especially hazardous in the winter when visibility may be limited. Infrequent or non existent public transit and unsheltered transit stops expose users to winter weather for long, potentially dangerous periods of time. These dangers are amplified by policies which prioritize the clearing of snow from roads while leaving sidewalks, transit stops, and micromobility stations covered. 

That, of course, could lead to impacts for food companies, as well as increased food prices which can contribute to or worsen food insecurity. The warmer, longer growing season also increases exposure to pests and pollen, worsening allergies. Worse yet, for winter lovers: The season of sniffles and sneezes will also be here sooner than you might expect, warming winters are causing spring to start weeks ahead of schedule. Like many other animals, we too are seasonal creatures. In the winter, people eat more, move less and mate more. You may feel a bit more glum, while also being kinder to others and having an easier time paying attention. As per research these kinds of seasonal effects, might change with rise in temperatures. Some scientists have noted that there are many parallels to hibernation, the long snooze during which brown bears, ground squirrels and many other species turn down their metabolism and skip out on the worst of winter. Seasonal affective disorder might have its affects on the wild life also.

The mystery of Egypt’s pyramids seems solved

 How Egypt’s pyramids were built? : The mystery finally appears Solved  

People have long been fascinated with how the Egyptian pyramids were built, floating theories from the construction of expansive causeways to extra terrestrial assistance. Now scientists have evidence to support another theory, centred around the discovery of a long-lost branch of the Nile that would have run alongside 31 ancient pyramids built between the 27th and 18th centuries BC. Scientists have discovered a lost river branch of the Nile, now named Ahramat, that they believe may have been used to transport building materials and massive stone blocks to pyramid construction sites in ancient Egypt.          

Scientists have discovered a long-buried branch of the Nile river that once flowed alongside more than 30 pyramids in Egypt, potentially solving the mystery of how ancient Egyptians transported the massive stone blocks to build the famous monuments. The 64-kilometre-long river branch, which ran by the iconic Giza pyramid complex among other wonders, was hidden under desert and farmland for millennia, according to a study. Though the pyramids today sit on a sandy, desert plateau near the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis, a newly published study maintains the region was once home to a bustling river branch which was likely a vital means of transportation. Researchers named the 64-kilometre river branch Ahramat (the Arabic word for “pyramids”) and said it was likely used to float large stone blocks for the construction of the pyramids. Many of the stones originated from hundreds of kilometres south of where the pyramids stand today, with some weighing more than a ton.

The existence of the river would explain why the 31 pyramids were built in a chain along a now inhospitable desert strip in the Nile Valley between 4,700 and 3,700 years ago. The strip near the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis includes the Great Pyramid of Giza, the only surviving structure of the seven wonders of the ancient world, as well as the Khafre, Cheops and Mykerinos pyramids. The Giza Pyramids Necropolis on the outskirts of Giza. The river likely also transported other equipment and people.

Geomorphologist Eman Ghoneim, the study’s lead researcher, told National Geographic she and her team from the University of North Carolina Wilmington believe the lost river “was a superhighway for ancient Egypt.” The water course of the ancient Ahramat Branch borders a large number of pyramids dating from the Old Kingdom to the Second Intermediate Period, spanning between the Third Dynasty and the Thirteenth Dynasty.  Archaeologists had long thought that ancient Egyptians must have used a nearby waterway to move the giant materials used to build the pyramids. "But nobody was certain of the location, the shape, the size or proximity of this mega waterway to the actual pyramids site," lead study author Eman Ghoneim of the University of North Carolina Wilmington in US said.

The lost waterway was discovered using radar satellite imagery. The technology allowed scientists to identify buried rivers and ancient structures under the sand. Soil and sediment samples were also analyzed. Researchers involved in the study, published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, are the first to map the ancient waterway’s course. They claim Ahramat would have been just short of a kilometre wide in places, and more than 24 metres deep in others. By this logic, scientists have added fuel to the theory that ancient Egyptians could have used boats to ferry the pyramid’s construction materials and workmen along the river branch. Radar gave them the "unique ability to penetrate the sand surface and produce images of hidden features including buried rivers and ancient structures," Ghoneim said. Surveys in the field and cores of sediment from the site confirmed the presence of the river, according to the study in the journal Communications Earth & Environment.

Today, where the waterway would have been is covered with desert terrain and farmland. Ahramat’s discovery may also explain why some of the pyramids are situated farther east than others. Scientists said pyramids constructed during Egypt’s Middle Kingdom (about 2030 to 1650 BC) era were built eastward because the waterway had migrated since the Old Kingdom era (about 2650 to 2130 BC). Many of the pyramids have causeways which pointed to the Ahramat branch, causing scientists to believe they likely led to since-vanished harbours. The once mighty river was increasingly covered in sand, potentially starting during a major drought around 4,200 years ago, the scientists suggested.

The Giza pyramids stood on a plateau roughly a kilometre from the banks of the river. Many of the pyramids had a "ceremonial raised walkway" which ran alongside the river before ending at the Valley Temples which served as harbours, Ghoneim said. This indicates that the river played "a key role in the transportation of the enormous building materials and workmen needed for the pyramid's construction," she added. Exactly how ancient Egyptians managed to build such huge and long-standing structures has been one of history's great mysteries. These heavy materials, most of which were from the south, "would have been much easier to float down the river" than transport over land, study co-author Suzanne Onstine of the University of Memphis in the US state of Tennessee said.

The waterway may have later filled with silt during a major drought and sandstorms in the region about 4,200 years ago. The theory that ancient Egyptians may have used a waterway to transport building materials is one that has persisted among archaeologists for years now, though evidence such as this had never been discovered. Researchers had, however, already identified evidence of water channels at different sites in the Memphis region. The banks of the rivers could have been where the funeral entourages of pharaohs were received before their bodies were moved to their "final burial place within the pyramid," she suggested. The river may also indicate why the pyramids were built in different spots. "The water's course and its volume changed over time, so fourth dynasty kings had to make different choices than 12th dynasty kings," she said. "The discovery reminded me about the intimate connection between geography, climate, environment and human behaviour."

The study mapped Ahramat from the town of Lisht, around 50 kilometres south of Cairo, to the Pyramids of Giza site. Scientists now plan to continue their mapping north and south of the pyramids and will radiocarbon date plant and seashell remains buried in the region to attempt to determine the age of Ahramat. Researchers said understanding the historical layout and evolution of the Nile is vital to comprehend how changes in the landscape influenced human activities and settlement in Egypt. Today, only small remnants of the Ahramat branch remain, namely the Bahr el-Libeini canal.