Leipzig. There are fewer ice nuclei in the air above the large ice surfaces of Antarctica than anywhere else in the world. This is the conclusion reached by an international research team led by the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) based on filter measurements of cloud particles at three locations in Antarctica. These are the first of their kind on the continent. The data now published fills a knowledge gap and could explain the large proportion of supercooled liquid water in the clouds of the southern polar region. Clouds containing liquid water droplets reflect sunlight more strongly than clouds containing ice. Fewer ice nuclei and less ice in the clouds could contribute to the southern hemisphere not warming as much as the northern hemisphere, the researchers write in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

 

It has long been known that the clouds over the Southern Ocean around Antarctica contain more water and less ice than comparable clouds in the Northern Hemisphere. However, without details on the causes and measurement series, climate models based on data from the Northern Hemisphere cannot be adjusted. The measurements of ice nuclei now provide an important detail for this. Further data will be provided by flights of the German research aircraft HALO, whose HALO-South mission ended in New Zealand in mid-October, as well as a series of Antarctic expeditions planned for 2026-2030 as part of the major international research project "Antarctica InSync".

The Galapagos and other oceanic islands and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) may be "critical" refuges for sharks in the Tropical Eastern Pacific, as predatory fish appear depleted in more coastal MPAs through fishing pressure

A new study published in Nature on November 26 has shed light on the origins, population structures, and kinship systems of the people of Shimao—one of China's most significant late Neolithic settlements. Analyses of ancient DNA from individuals who inhabited the site reveal genetic links to southern settlements, while also providing evidence of male mass burials associated with human sacrifice.

Flight is a rare skill in the animal world. Among vertebrates, it evolved only three times: in bats, birds, and the long-extinct pterosaurs. Pterosaurs were the pioneers, taking to the skies more than 220 million years ago, long before early bird relatives such as Archaeopteryx appeared, around 150 million years ago. While scientists have a detailed fossil record that sheds light on how birds’ brains evolved for flight, the same story for pterosaurs has been far less clear. Until now. In a new study published in Current Biology, an international team now reveals how pterosaurs evolved the neurological structures required for powered flight. 

In an exciting exploration of environmental sustainability, researchers at Zhaoqing University, China, have uncovered groundbreaking insights into the carbon dynamics of waterlogged pond fields. Led by Dr. Guodong Yuan from the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-Environmental Studies and Low-Carbon Agriculture in Peri-Urban Areas and the Guangdong Technology and Equipment Research Center for Soil and Water Pollution Control, this study, titled "Unveiling Carbon Dynamics in Year-Round Waterlogged Pond Fields: Insights into Soil Organic Carbon Accumulation and Sustainable Management," offers a fresh perspective on how these unique ecosystems can contribute to carbon sequestration and sustainable land management.

The Soils for Europe conference will bring together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and Living Labs from across Europe to share knowledge, showcase innovations, and strengthen collaboration toward achieving the EU’s Soil Mission objectives.