Some species of fig trees store calcium carbonate in their trunks – essentially turning themselves (partially) into stone, new research has found. The team of Kenyan, U.S., Austrian, and Swiss scientists found that the trees could draw carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere and store it as calcium carbonate ‘rocks’ in the surrounding soil. 

In a study published in National Science Review, researchers present multiple lines of observational and modeling evidence for a ~4% decline in global atmospheric oxidation capacity in 2020, reflected by a drop in hydroxyl radical (OH) concentrations. Using satellite-based carbon monoxide data, as well as methane and methyl chloroform observations, the study reveals that this OH reduction occurred in both hemispheres—approximately 2.4% in the Northern Hemisphere and 5.7% in the Southern Hemisphere—driven by distinct mechanisms. In the Northern Hemisphere, reduced NO_x emissions due to COVID-19 lockdowns led to lower OH and tropospheric ozone levels, while in the Southern Hemisphere, massive emissions of reactive carbon from unprecedented Australian wildfires caused OH depletion but tropospheric ozone increases. This contrast in tropospheric ozone anomalies is further corroborated by satellite data. The findings help explain one of the record-breaking rises in atmospheric methane in 2020 and underscore the critical role of both natural and anthropogenic factors in shaping Earth’s atmospheric chemistry and global methane budget.

Forests are falling behind in the race against climate change, with new research revealing it takes centuries for tree populations to adapt—far too slow to keep pace with today’s rapidly warming world.

Scientists have conducted a study of the predatory behavior of sharks in deep-sea ecosystems. This research provides insights into the behavior and distribution range of Pacific sleeper sharks. The research is published in the journal Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Research on June 1, 2025.

The origin of life is one of the most fundamental and enduring questions of mankind and one of the three greatest Origin Questions in the natural sciences.  Recently, China has officially launched its Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission, Tianwen-3, marking a significant step forward in planetary exploration. The mission aims to bring Martian samples back to Earth, where advanced laboratory instruments will be employed to conduct comprehensive analyses, seeking to determine whether life ever existed—or may still exist—on Mars. Professor Yiliang LI, an astrobiologist from the Department of Earth Sciences at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), serves as a core member of the Tianwen-3 scientific team and a co-author of a recently published perspective article in Nature Astronomy outlining the mission’s objectives. His role mainly involves leading an HKU group that is working on the selection of the landing site for the Tianwen-3 MSR mission.