A recent study published in National Science Review, based on Chang'e-6 (CE6) farside samples, has shown that the lunar mantle lacks a clear compositional dichotomy. The farside anorthositic crust is more magnesian, whereas late-stage products of the lunar magma ocean appear thinner on the farside. To reconcile these hemispheric variations spanning from the mantle to the crust, a coherent model of lateral thermal convection within the magma ocean of the tidally-locked Moon has been proposed.

A new spatial assessment across 21 seagrass meadows in Indonesia – a world seagrass hotspot – has revealed not just hotspots but also degraded coldspots and vulnerable outliers. The research team, led by Professor Rohani Ambo-Rappe from Hasanuddin University, used the Seagrass Ecological Quality Index (SEQI), integrating five ecological indicators, to map this ecological mosaic. These findings provide a spatial framework to guide seagrass conservation and restoration and protect Indonesia’s important blue carbon ecosystems.

Earth's inner core, composed primarily of iron with a small percentage of light elements, may enter a superionic state at extreme pressure and temperature, according to experimental results from researchers at Science Tokyo. Using laser-heated and electrically wired diamond-anvil cells, the researchers identified experimental signatures of superionic iron hydride at conditions relevant to Earth’s core. These findings provide new insights into the composition and dynamics of Earth's deep interior.

Young Bewick's swans only survive their first spring migration if they stay with their parents long enough. If they lose their parents in winter, they leave later and are unable to keep up with the rest of the population. As a result, there is a greater chance that they will die in their first year of life. This is shown in new research by biologists from the UvA and NIOO-KNAW, together with American and German colleagues, which was published on Aug. 20 in the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.

Offshore wind farms are a key pillar of the energy transition. The European Union plans to massively expand offshore wind capacity in the North Sea by 2050. A new study by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon indicates that a very extensive expansion could influence regional precipitation patterns: while precipitation over the sea could increase, it could decrease in coastal regions. The research provides comprehensive insights into the potential regional climate impacts of future offshore wind farms, which, the researchers emphasize, must always be planned in harmony with the environment. The study was published in the scientific journal Communications Earth & Environment.

Researchers of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) have discovered that fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) significantly impairs the ability of plants to efficiently use water and absorb carbon dioxide. The findings reveal that PM2.5 pollution weakens the vital carbon-water coupling of vegetation, highlighting that mitigating air pollution is not only a public health priority but also a critical climate action imperative.