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Fall in Love with Ancestral Favorites Like Congee, Grits, and Kheer *By Julie Peterson Nearly every country serves up a creamy, whole-grain porridge. It may be called grits, oatmeal, congee, okayu, jok, kheer, arroz caldo, chao ga, farina, or hares … the list almost has no end.   Porridge is a go-to dish when the air starts to chill and the windows are about to turn frosty, or when there is strenuous labor ahead and hours of sustained energy are needed. Sweet or savory, porridge has many wondrous aromas and tastes. Some say it even brings back memories of being nurtured as a child.   Commonly eaten for breakfast, porridge is easy to make by boiling ground, crushed, or chopped starchy plants—typically grain—in water or milk. Flavorings such as sugar, butter, honey, or fruit can be added for sweetness. However, porridge is just as often served as a savory dish topped with fish, meat, or vegetables. Sweet or savory, a hot bowl of porridge isn’t always for breakfast. It can satisfy any time of day as a snack or a meal.   History of Porridge Oatmeal is the most common porridge, and humanity’s paleolithic ancestors were making it 32,000 years ago, according to Marta Mariotti Lippi at the University of Florence in Italy. Lippi analyzed starch grains on an ancient stone grinding tool discovered in southern Italy and found processed oats . Many scientists believe that if grinding stones from elsewhere are similarly analyzed, additional evidence of ground grains will be discovered—perhaps even earlier than Lippi’s discovery. Humanity’s paleolithic ancestors were making [oatmeal] 32,000 years ago. Porridge made from ground wheat, barley, or rye is called farina and is thought to have originated thousands of years ago in ancient civilizations like Egypt and Mesopotamia (now Iraq, Kuwait, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey, and parts of Iran and Saudi Arabia).   Farina is cooked in water over low heat for about 15 minutes to produce a smooth consistency. Since it contains all parts of the grain, it offers  B vitamins, fiber, and protein along with many minerals including calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc. Although farina had been eaten for millennia, in 1893, Cream of Wheat cereal was “invented” in North Dakota in the United States. The boxed cereal continues to be popular  for its convenience and low cost and includes instant varieties that contain fortified pre-cooked cereal. Porridge made with more liquid such that it can be drunk from a mug is often called gruel. Grinding Grains Ancient peoples had to harvest wild grains and grind them with stones. They also had to build a fire and gather water before they could make a batch of porridge. Today, farmed grains can be purchased as ready-to-prepare instant cereals. However, some people like to mill (grind) grains at home to retain the highest level of nutrition and flavor. This could be an article unto itself: finding and choosing the whole grains, selecting a grain mill, and learning how to mill the grains into the desired coarseness. There are advantages (grain choice, nutrition, no additives, flavor profile) and disadvantages (time, storage, learning curve). Many bakers and cooks are happy to share their experiences and resources on milling grain at home .  Recipes for Grains, Roots, and Dal Oats are now cultivated and consumed worldwide. Nutritionally, oat porridge offers fiber, which has been proven to lower cholesterol and help prevent diabetes. Oats can  improve gut microbiota, have immune modulating properties, and assist in preventing some forms of cancer, atherosclerosis, and dermatitis.   Oats can improve gut microbiota, have immune modulating properties, and assist in preventing some forms of cancer, atherosclerosis, and dermatitis.   There is no shortage of recipes . From the most basic oatmeal to creative ingredients like miso, rhubarb, figs, pumpkin, goji berries, asparagus, matcha, and chocolate, one could prepare a different oat porridge every day for a year.   Rice porridge is also common in many cultures and has many names. Congee has been made for thousands of years in China. In Japan, it’s kayu.   In Bangkok, Thailand, travel blogger Preamtip Satasuk grew up eating a rice porridge called jok (pronounced “joke”). When asked for her “authentic family recipe,” she responded with a long pause, a funny face, and said: “There’s no recipe.” This is a common answer from people who grew up learning to cook from parents and grandparents. There is no written recipe; ingredients aren’t measured. It is just made, and those who are in the kitchen learn by watching and helping and tasting. Gradually, Satasuk wrote down her method for making jok.   Thai Jok By Preamtip Satasuk One serving   Ingredients: 1 cup leftover Jasmine rice (overnight or day-old) 3 cups water Marinated ground pork, formed into little balls Marinade: garlic soy sauce, oyster sauce, lots of black pepper Fresh ginger, chopped Fresh chives 1 egg Fish sauce (optional) Directions:   Cook the leftover rice in water for 30 minutes to an hour. The trick is to stir continuously. When the water has gone down, pour in more water and keep stirring until the rice grains have lost their shape. Start to add the pork balls to the pot. Stir and keep heating until it’s the desired consistency. Top with ginger and chives, and crack a fresh egg on top (the heat will soft cook the egg), and serve. For a saltier flavor, add some fish sauce. Rice porridge can also be made in a slow cooker or rice cooker. Heidi Langan, a food enthusiast and world traveler, loves to recreate recipes she has enjoyed at restaurants. She developed her rice cooker congee for convenience and adds savory or crunchy toppings she has on hand.   Rice Cooker Congee By Heidi Langan One serving   Ingredients: 1 cup white rice 5 cups water Soy sauce Black sesame seeds 1 egg, fried Smoked salmon (or any meat) Green onions, chopped (or any crunchy veggie)   Directions: Cook the rice and water in rice cooker for about 8 hours or until the porridge is gelatinous. Top with a drizzle of soy sauce, black sesame seeds, fried egg, meat, and vegetables, and serve.   More Classic Takes on Rice Porridge Going beyond rice and oats, one might choose chewier and denser whole grains. Deryn Macey provides a comprehensive guide to nutrition and flavor profiles, how to prepare, and what to mix in to her whole grain porridge recipes on Running on Real Food . She includes healthful whole grains such as buckwheat groats, barley, amaranth, sorghum, and cracked freekeh.   Busy people often gravitate toward quick foods but sacrifice nutrition. For healthful quick-cooking porridge options, an internet search for “porridge grains” will produce myriad hot cereal mixes that can be made in the microwave. There are single grains such as farro, millet, and oats. There are also blends that incorporate as many as 10 grains. Check out the nutrition profiles of blended grains that might include spelt, teff, rye, barley, brown rice, wheat, and more for the best balance of vitamins, fiber, and minerals. Toss a handful of berries and a spoonful of honey into the bowl before eating to boost flavor and nutrition. Check out the nutrition profiles of blended grains that might include spelt, teff, rye, barley, brown rice, wheat, and more for the best balance of vitamins, fiber, and minerals. Porridges in some cultures are made from root vegetables (arrowroot, cassava, sweet potato, parsnips, etc.) or with dal (lentils, peas, or beans). A combination of butternut squash, sweet potato, and parsnips make up this Curried Coconut Root Vegetable Porridge . For an Indian take on porridge that includes dal, see the author of India’s most popular vegetarian food blog, Dassana Amit. Her khichdi  with rice and yellow mung lentils has a plethora of options for flavor. In its simplest form, the classic Indian dish is recommended for anyone recovering from illness because it is nutrient-rich and easy to digest. And don’t forget porridges made with maize (corn), commonly referred to as grits or hominy. Porridge can also be made from cornmeal, but grits purists say that is not grits—true grits must start with stoneground corn. Try a classic grits recipe  made with stock and butter, and then venture into recipes for grits  with cheese, mushrooms, turnip greens, shrimp, pulled pork, along with a variety of cooking methods. Porridge can also be made from cornmeal, but grits purists say that is not grits—true grits must start with stoneground corn. Porridge is a Winner Passion for porridge turns serious when contenders vie for the trophy at the Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship . Both basic oats and specialty porridge competitions take place with some of the recipes posted online. While specialty dishes may be lazy weekend options, the time may be worth the flavor. Try porridges like Sacher Torte  or Blueberry Cheesecake . The 2020 Second Place winner, Lisa Williams, says her Pinoat Butter, Honey Bananas and Chocolate porridge is a favorite of kids and “a hug in a bowl.”                                                                                                                                                      Such a nutritious and versatile dish can easily become a diet staple. Since variety is the spice of life and one can always use a little more nutrition, give a new type of porridge a stir, add some healthy twists and create a family tradition with this timeless global comfort food. Go all in, get a spurtle (a Scottish wooden kitchen tool for stirring porridge), and be sure to mark the calendar to celebrate World Porridge Day, October 10, with a favorite bowl of “gruelly” goodness. *Julie Peterson writes science-based articles about holistic health, environmental issues, and sustainable living from her organic farm in Wisconsin .

Will  Recent Studies Renew Efforts to Link Humanity and the Planets?   Human beings have long been fascinated and motivated by the idea of planetary influences on their lives. From the creation of astrological charts to investigations of lunar impacts on female menstrual cycles and tides, when people look skyward today, they are often reminded of an extraordinary force at work in the universe and human affairs.   What do es Astrology   have to say about these phenomena? And does it deserve a seat at the scientific table as correlations suggest? And what do the latest discoveries of Planetary Science tell us about Earth’s unique role in the cosmos?   Dr. William Keepin, co-founder of the Satyana Institute in Seattle, and Dr. Takahiro Hiroi, planetary scientist at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, addressed these and other questions at the Second International Conference on Science and God (ICSG II) in 2021. They shared intriguing findings from the fields of astrology and planetary science, and called for a new scientific model that can accommodate unexpected (anomalous) phenomena—phenomena that continue to spark debate and inspire new research in each of these fields.   The following are edited excerpts of Dr. Keepin’s presentation, followed by Dr. Hiroi’s commentary, from ICSG II. The ICSG series is sponsored by the Hyo Jeong International Foundation for Environmental Peace, publisher of The Earth & I. Dr. Keepin : The French statisticians Michel and Francoise Gauquelin set out to disprove  astrology once and for all 70 years ago, using rigorous statistical analysis. Yet to their complete shock, they discovered several statistically significant correlations  linking the position of specific planets (relative to the Earth) at the birth times of eminent leaders in various fields: Mars for sports champions [the “Mars effect”], Saturn for scientists, Jupiter for actors and politicians, and the Moon for writers. Their data exhibited a relatively weak effect, yet it was highly significant with a probability of occurring by chance of less than 1 in 5 million. Since then, numerous scientific research studies utilizing greatly improved methods and superior computing power have unearthed many statistically significant correlations between planetary positions and human affairs. Taken together, these studies by mathematician Kyösti Tarvainen and several others provide strong statistical support  for nearly all constituents of traditional astrology. Of course, correlation does not imply causation, and these findings remain unexplained theoretically. A widely publicized study  published in Nature  by Shawn Carlson in 1985 reported that astrologers “failed to perform at better than chance levels” in matching horoscope charts with the biographies of human subjects (Carlson, 1985). However, this study was later re-analyzed by both Suitbert Ertel ( 2009 ) and Robert Currey ( 2011 ), both of whom found key errors in Carlson’s data analysis. When corrected, the study’s conclusions were overturned, and actually demonstrate modest statistical   support   for   astrology . Nevertheless, Nature  has yet to publish a retraction, and the Carlson study is still often erroneously cited  as the “definitive” study that supposedly refutes astrology. [A]utomated blind-matching studies conducted with 73 celebrities ... successfully matched astrological charts to their owners, using keywords from published biographies, with a probability by chance of 5 in 10,000.   The Carlson study in Nature was recently superceded altogether by an “expert system”   [an AI computer program designed to mimic human thought processes], which now simulates a full astrological chart reading, essentially replacing a human astrologer and thereby eliminating bias, intuition, psychic perception, or “cold reading.” This system  (called Mastro ) was applied in automated blind-matching studies conducted with 73 celebrities, and it successfully matched astrological horoscope charts to their owners, using keywords from published biographies, with a probability by chance of 5 in 10,000. Because “human intervention was eliminated from the match-making and the evidence far exceeds chance, this study suggests that there is an objective basis for astrology” (Godbout 2020 , 2021 ).   Extensive clinical research conducted by psychiatrist Stanislav Grof, Richard Tarnas , and others has shown that certain astrological indicators, known as planetary transits (defined as shifting angular relationships between planets over time), provide an extremely practical tool for accurate prediction of the precise timing and archetypal character of their clients’ psychological experiences in deep experiential psychotherapy sessions. These researchers found that different types of psychological experience are closely correlated  with specific positions and movements of the planets Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, in relation to the astrological birth charts of their clients. Difficult as it may be for some to believe, these astrological transits have proven to be far more accurate and valuable in the clinical practice of experiential psychotherapy than any of the standard psychological and personality profile tests. Taken together, these research findings could precipitate a new scientific revolution in our understanding of the cosmos and its relation to humanity.   Taken together, these research findings could precipitate a new scientific revolution in our understanding of the cosmos and its relation to humanity (Keepin, 2025).   Bohm’s Holomovement and Indra’s Net A key question arises here: how could planets or stars possibly have anything to do with human affairs? One plausible explanation of how astrology works begins with quantum theory.   Physicist David Bohm published a radical reformulation of quantum physics in 1952 based on nonlocality and entanglement, which Einstein famously rejected as “spooky action at a distance.” Bohm’s pioneering work led physicist John Bell to develop his famous Bell’s theorem, which in turn led to nearly 50 years of increasingly refined experimental tests that consistently upheld quantum mechanics and nonlocality. Seventy years after Bohm’s seminal paper, the 2022 Nobel prize in physics was awarded to three experimentalists who proved that nonlocal quantum entanglement —Einstein’s dreaded “spooky action at a distance”—is in fact real and forms the basis for today’s pioneering “second quantum revolution.” (As an aside, the term “quantum entanglement” seems a misnomer, because it suggests a disordered jumble or knot. If we may borrow from Thich Nhat Hanh, we might instead characterize this as “quantum interbeing.”) Bohm subsequently formulated his elegant “holomovement” theory, proposing that the cosmos is “a single undivided wholeness, in flowing movement,” in which “everything is connected to everything else” (Bohm, 1980 ). The holomovement embraces both known and unknown depths (of dark matter and dark energy), and seamlessly weaves together the physical (matter-energy) domain with the consciousness domain into a single unified holographic cosmos (Bohm and Hiley, 1993 ). Bohm’s holomovement was anticipated in an earlier era by Hindu and Buddhist mystics, as expressed in the ancient metaphor known as Indra’s Net: Reality is imaged as an infinite net of magnificent glistening jewels, such that if you look into the facets of any one jewel, you see all the other jewels reflected there. Furthermore, if you look into any of the reflected jewels, you see all the other jewels reflected in that reflection. It’s a vast fractal cosmos of worlds of infinities contained within worlds of infinities, representing a single holographic spiritual-material unity of cosmos and consciousness—at every scale from the infinitesimal to the Infinite.   When first encountering Indra’s Net, people generally visualize the jewels as all the same size, and stationary—as depicted in the representative image of Indra’s Net below. Let us now add space and time, which means we introduce both spatial and temporal variation into the net. This gets the jewels all swirling around, and they vary in size from tiny atoms to human-sized jewels, to planet- and star-sized jewels. Now  if you gaze into the facets of any one jewel as it moves through space, you will see the vast universe of whirling jewels, precisely replicated in dynamic miniature, inside that jewel. Each jewel thus “contains” the entire cosmic dynamism, which unfolds in holographic synchrony on multiple scales of space, time, and consciousness simultaneously. This gives rise to the observed correlations between celestial and terrestrial domains at all scales, right down to the individual human being, who is evidently a walking miniature cosmos.   As Rumi aptly sums it up, “the secret turning in your heart is the entire universe turning.”   In summary: take Indra’s Net, dip it into space-time, and you necessarily get an astrological hermeneutic. In my view, this is a deeper implication and practical application of David Bohm’s holomovement, which combines nonlocal quantum interbeing, known and unknown (dark) matter and energy, and fractal geometry—to holographically interweave all matter, energy, and consciousness into an intricate, undivided, cosmos of fractal interbeing at every level and scale of existence. As Rumi aptly sums it up, “the secret turning in your heart is the entire universe turning.”   Does Planetary Science Suggest   Metaphysical Implications? Dr. Hiroi’s commentary on Dr. Keepin’s address follows below, inspired by Keepin’s evidence from astrology suggesting planetary influences on human affairs. Dr. Hiroi : Thank you, Dr. Keepin, for your insightful presentation. As an example of the need for a new scientific model, I would like to share a few facts from my specialty, planetary science. The Significance of Earth’s Large Moon After Apollo 11 landed on the Moon in 1969 and returned to Earth with a collection of lunar samples, scientists discovered that the average oxygen isotope composition of lunar materials is identical to that of Earth’s materials. This finding allowed scientists to narrow down the available models for the origin of the Moon to the “giant impact hypothesis” that a Mars-sized body collided with early Earth at a slanted angle, dislodging and dispatching earthly material that would come to form the Moon.   The Apollo 11 team also left a device on the Moon called a laser ranging retroreflector to measure the precise distance between Earth and Moon, which is currently widening by 3.8 cm (nearly 1.5 in) per year. The Moon was once much closer to Earth, but it kept moving away from the Earth by the tidal effect that transferred Earth’s rotational momentum to the Moon while slowing down Earth’s spin. The existence of one large Moon kept Earth’s spin axis inclination highly stable, at 22–25 degrees, over the entire Earth-Moon history. This fact, along with the existence of ocean and an atmosphere, kept the temperature distribution on Earth more uniform, making its environment ideal for life over billions of years. Unique Characteristics of Earth Land and Ocean: Earth has both land and ocean, which is a unique combination of features among known planets. This feature can be indispensable for intelligent (science-capable) life to emerge. Without an ocean, life would not have been born at all, and without land, humankind would not have emerged. Magnetic Field:  Earth’s magnetic field is generated by molten iron spinning in the outer core, which protects life from harmful solar wind (energetic positive ions). To generate this strong magnetic field, the Earth needs a certain amount of iron and radioactive materials as a heat source to melt iron. Earth is the only planet known to have active plate tectonics. Plate Tectonics:  Earth is the only planet known to have active plate tectonics. This feature allows for the supply and circulation of necessary elements such as hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen to develop and sustain the atmosphere, ocean, and life. Earth-Moon System: Ideal for Scientific Exploration Solar System in the Milky Way: Earth’s atmosphere is transparent mostly over the visible and near-infrared wavelength range, allowing humans to observe celestial bodies. The Solar System is currently located between two major arms of a spiral galaxy called the Milky Way, and the Earth revolves around the Sun on a plane that is significantly inclined from the galactic plane. As a result, we are able to direct our telescopes in a dark sky in various orientations to study the galactic structure and farthest stars born in the early universe. Solar Eclipse:  The Moon has been moving away from Earth over the last 4.5 billion years, and its current size, as we perceive it from our perspective on Earth, coincides with that of the Sun. When the Sun is darkened by a solar eclipse (see video ), astronomers can observe the light of a star that is on the other side of the Sun. Through this, scientists were able to prove one feature of Einstein’s theory of general relativity, namely, that light can be bent by gravity.   Numerous craters on the Moon record the history of past impact events not only on the Moon but also on Earth where they have largely been lost. Lunar surface:  Numerous craters on the Moon record the history of past impact events not only on the Moon but also on Earth, where they have largely been lost. The lunar surface is an ideal classroom to study space weathering, which chemically or structurally alters materials via solar wind implantation and UV irradiation, and micrometeorite bombardments. Space Exploration:  The Moon is also a promising place for the expansion of human exploration into space, as a source of necessary materials such as water (ice) and oxygen, and nuclear energy through helium-3. In addition, the Earth-Moon orbit can be used by a relay station (such as NASA’s Gateway) for transportation between Earth, Moon, Mars, and beyond. Antarctica: Time Capsule of Earth and the Solar System Humanity’s knowledge of the Solar System’s history has been greatly enhanced by studying meteorites, which include fragments of leftover planetesimals, the building blocks of planets. Tens of thousands of meteorites have been found in Antarctica. Those meteorites fell and sank into Antarctic ice, remained frozen, moved with the ice, and accumulated at the feet of mountains, where they were exposed when surface ice was evaporated by the heat and light of the Sun. Antarctica has also retained ancient air and water, allowing scientists to derive the history of past atmospheric temperatures. However, Antarctica was not always in its current position on the planet. It moved from the north pole to the south pole and formed its icy layer only within the last 50 million years or so, and it may move away from there in the future. With this in mind, it is interesting that humankind emerged and explored Antarctica at just the right time to learn and benefit from its qualities and contributions. Dr. William Keepin  is co-founder of the Satyana Institute, Seattle, USA and Gender Equity and Reconciliation International. He is the author of Belonging to God and Divine Duality, and co-author of Song of the Earth and Gender Equity and Reconciliation. He holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics.   Dr. Takahiro Hiroi  is Senior Research Scientist at Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA. He specializes in spectroscopy of meteorites and asteroids and holds a PhD in Mineralogy, The University of Tokyo.   References Keepin, W. 2025. It’s About Time: Science is Finally Validating Traditional Astrology , in press, 2025.

June 2024 Progress Update on the Biden Administration’s Goals    The June 2024 report   of the Biden Administration’s Ocean Climate Action initiative highlighted progress in ocean-related enterprises, including expansion of offshore wind energy, reduction of plastic pollution, and the protection and restoration of blue carbon. This initiative is supported  by organizations such as the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification, National Wildlife Federation, and EarthEcho International.   In April 2024, the Department of Interior ( DOI) approved  projects totaling more than 10 GW of renewable offshore power.  The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management  issued leases totaling over 1 million acres in the New York Bight ( over 488,000 acres ), Carolina Long Bay ( ~110,000 acres ), Gulf of Mexico ( ~410,000 acres ), and California (Pacific Ocean, ~373,000 acres ) for offshore wind development.  DOI withdrew  2.8 million acres in the Beaufort Sea from oil and gas drilling and expanded protections  for 13 million acres of Special Areas in the Western Arctic from new oil and gas leasing.  The Environmental Protection Agency announced  $3 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding for the Clean Ports Program as part of the Administration’s goal to achieve zero-emission shipping and freight by 2050 and a 30% reduction by 2030.  As part of the Administration’s goal to eliminate the release of plastic into the environment by 2040, it allocated over $1.1 billion to combat plastic pollution and marine debris in 2020–2024.  The Administration allocated $30 million to support sanctuary designations, as well as $50 million to sanctuary infrastructures, as part of its “America the Beautiful” initiative. Its goal is to conserve and protect at least 30% of US lands and waters by 2030.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association allocated $349 million to support climate-ready fisheries, including $40 million for pilot projects.    Source:   Ocean Climate Action Report

Can Humans Overcome the Moon’s Harsh Conditions for Colonization?   According to NASA, the Moon likely formed upon a collision between a Mars-sized body with Earth billions of years ago. Despite the Moon’s not having an atmosphere like Earth (but a thin layer of gases forming an exosphere instead), NASA scientists believe there could be potential for human colonization because its poles contain water ice. However, there is no liquid water on the Moon. Below are some facts from NASA regarding the Moon, which greatly impacts life on Earth.  The Moon is about 27% the size of Earth with a radius of about 1,080 miles.   With no atmosphere to prevent extreme temperature changes, the Moon’s equator ranges from -208°F (-133°C) to 250°F (121°C). Its coldest spots—under -410°F (-246°C)—are located in deep craters near the Moon’s poles.  Despite not having traditional weather like on Earth, the Moon can be subjected to solar winds, galactic cosmic rays (releasing radiation), coronal mass ejections (shock waves from the Sun), and showers of small meteoroids.  On average, the Moon is 238,855 miles away from Earth, but for various reasons it is moving about 4 cm (~1.5 in) farther away from Earth every year.  Tidal locking makes it so the same side of the Moon faces the Earth at all times, resulting in the far side being perpetually hidden from Earth’s view.  In 50 billion years (if the Sun still exists), the Moon would be so far away from the Earth that the Earth would also tidally lock to the moon. This would result in one side of the Earth facing the moon at all times.  Astronauts from the Apollo missions of 1969–1972 brought back 382 kilograms (842 pounds) of rock and soil from the Moon for study.    Sources:   https://science.nasa.gov/moon/facts/    https://science.nasa.gov/moon/weather-on-the-moon/   https://science.nasa.gov/moon/tidal-locking/

Hybrid Tea Roses are the Most Popular Variety   The classic red rose—expressing passion, love, and desire—is among hundreds of species and thousands of hybrids of roses. Whether as gifts, additions to one’s garden, or a source of vitamin C (from rose hips), roses can be just what one needs to feel love, inspiration, and passion.  President Ronald Reagan declared  the rose as the National Floral Emblem of the United States of America on November 20, 1986. The rose represents the US as a whole, while each state, province, and territory has its own flower .   Although roses are associated with love and romance, other feelings can be conveyed  through their various colors. For example, white roses are associated with purity and new beginnings (such as for weddings), yellow roses convey a platonic friendship, and peach roses convey gratitude and sympathy (such as to someone in mourning).   Many species of roses, particularly the rugosa rose , produce edible rose hips  (seed-filled bulbs) that are high in antioxidants such as vitamin C, with tablet and powdered forms available.  It is said that about 80% of all roses  that people see today (such as those sold in florist shops) are of the “modern” variety, including one of the most popular varieties, the hybrid tea rose.   Hybrid tea roses come in various colors , such as red, orange, pink, yellow, and white. Examples include Mister Lincoln (crimson), Royal Highness (light pink), and Pope John Paul II (white).  When planting roses, stakes should be placed at least 18 inches to 2 feet  deep in the soil to anchor the plants. Roses should also be soaked once a week instead of lightly watering more often.    Sources:   36 USC 303: National floral emblem ( house.gov )   11 Rose Color Meanings to Help You Pick the Perfect Bouquet · PrepScholar   Rose Hips: Benefits, Forms, Uses, and Side Effects ( healthline.com )   Various Types of Roses: An Ultimate Guide (With Pictures) - FloraLiving   What Are Hybrid Tea Roses: Everything You Need to Know ( rosehow.com )   How to grow roses / RHS

Know-Hows from Forest Therapy Guides for an Immersive Nature Experience   *By Mal Cole It’s a bright summer morning at The New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill  in Boylston, Massachusetts. Nadine Mazzola, a certified forest therapy guide, gathers participants for a three-hour, meditative experience known as “forest bathing.”   Mazzola asks each person to introduce themselves and say what brought them to the class. Most of the participants describe how being in nature relaxes them and makes them happy, and how the pressures of life, desk jobs, and urban settings are dragging them down. One person mentions having tried forest bathing before and enjoying its positive effects long afterward. In short, they’ve all come to these woods to find even more peace and solace. Forest Bathing ( Shinrin-Yoku ) Rooted in Japan   The practice of forest bathing or shinrin-yoku  (see Nature Walks Improve Mental Health Outcomes , in The Earth & I )  has its roots in Japan and the nature-based religion of Shinto, but the term was not coined until 1982 . In its most basic form, forest bathing is being with nature and experiencing it through the five senses. Dr. Qing Li , a medical doctor and founding member of the Japanese Society for Forest Medicine, says in his book, Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness, that forest bathing is “not exercise, or hiking, or jogging. It is simply being with nature, connecting with it through our sense of hearing, taste, smell and touch.”   According to an explanation of forest bathing at Forestry England  in the United Kingdom, people are encouraged to silence their devices, move slowly through the forest, breathe deeply through the abdomen, and drink in the sights, smells, and sounds that are part of the forest.   In Massachusetts, Mazzola guides her forest bathing class through a series of “invitations” or optional prompts, such as to slow walk and to find a special “sit spot” to quietly reflect. These invitations are part of what M. Amos Clifford , founder of the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs ( ANFT ), calls an “optimal flow” of forest bathing. The flow includes a series of steps to build a framework for the experience. Guides like Mazzola are trained in an intensive, six-month certification process  to lead forest bathing retreats and workshops. [Masako Yotsugi] compares forest bathing to sunbathing, but instead of basking in the rays of the sun, one immerses in the presence of trees and nature.   Classes and guides are helpful to add forest bathing to one’s wellness routine, but for some people—like Masako Yotsugi, a pianist and teacher from Tokyo, Japan—it’s been a practice from childhood. “Some people travel to do [ shinrin-yoku ], but mostly it’s a part of daily life,” she said. She compares forest bathing to sunbathing, but instead of basking in the rays of the sun, one immerses oneself in the presence of trees and nature. Yotsugi explains that forest bathing requires the use of all the senses.   Yotsugi has studied meditation and trained as a yoga teacher, but she likes how forest bathing is deeply intuitive. “In yoga, you have to do the pose and focus on your breathing—you have to make an effort. But if you go into nature, you naturally focus on your breathing,” she says. “You don’t really need to do anything, you don’t need to do exercise, you don’t need to try.”   Positive Effects of Time Spent in Nature The positive effects of time spent in nature seem obvious to many who enjoy the sound of birds singing or what is called komorebi  in Japanese—gazing at the patterns of sunlight that “ leak ” through the leaves of a tree and leave dancing shadows on the forest floor. (See also People Have the Capacity to Love and Heal the Earth , in The Earth & I .) Jan Marry, a writer and award-winning librarian, had never heard of “forest bathing ” until the COVID-19 pandemic, but felt an instant affinity with the term. “I immediately knew what it meant, even though I was unfamiliar with those two words together.”   Marry relied on nature walks to cope with the stress of lockdown and other unknowns. “I’m lucky enough to live in a lovely forest. So, I was doing [forest bathing] a lot because my options were limited, and also it reduced my stress.”   Marry has a few designated areas near her home, where she has set up Adirondak chairs and cushions among the trees. Sometimes, she’ll bring a hot drink and a book to enhance the experience, but most of the time, she comes to the forest to use her senses to enjoy the sounds, the sensations, and the colors. At Forestry England,  forest bathers are encouraged to look for blues and greens, as research has shown that those colors inspire feelings of relaxation.   Marry’s affinity for nature is rooted in her childhood in New Zealand, “I used to go into the ‘bush,’ the native forest, and the pine trees where I lived.” Now she spends time among the cypress trees, poplars, and black walnuts in her home in Southeast Virginia. When asked how her forest bathing practice impacts the rest of her life, Marry replied, “It washes away my grumpies.” The studies found that cortisol and adrenaline were lowered by forest bathing practice, and subjects also experienced a drop in blood pressure. The positive effects of forest bathing on mental health and mood are genuine. In 2004, Dr. Li helped found the Forest Therapy Study group to compile scientific data to support what many have known since childhood: trees make people feel better. Dr. Li and his group found that forest bathing has a host of physiological benefits. The studies found that cortisol and adrenaline were lowered by forest bathing practice, and subjects also experienced a drop in blood pressure.   Li also used the POMS (Profile of Mood States ) test to determine shinrin-yoku ’s effect on mood and emotions. Dr. Li’s team found that walking anywhere can decrease anxiety, depression, anger, and confusion, but walking in a forest environment  had the added benefit of increasing vigor and decreasing fatigue. One of the most compelling benefits of time spent in nature is the effect of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—or phytoncides from plants and trees—on the human immune system.   These VOCs have “natural antimicrobial and insecticidal qualities that protect the tree from germs and parasites,” according to Forest Bathing Center  website.   Phytoncides from trees, called terpenes, are what give forest trees their familiar scents. For example, Alpha-pinene  is what gives an evergreen forest its piney smell. Li found that terpenes increased the number and activity of white blood cells called NK (natural killer) cells by about 50%. These are the cells that help destroy viruses and cancer cells.   It was this immunological research that originally intrigued and inspired Mazzola to become an ANFT certified forest therapy guide. She went on to found the consultancy New England Nature and Forest Therapy , where she hosts guided events and does consulting to help incorporate nature into workplaces. She is also the multiple award-winning author of Forest Bathing with Your Dog.     “[Forest bathing] has roots in science, and it also has roots in our way of being human in relationship to being alive on this planet.”   In 2015, Mazzola was recovering from chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. Forest bathing “talked about phytoncides, and that was really relevant to me and my health at the time,” she said. But forest bathing had more than physiological benefits. “It has roots in science, and it also has roots in our way of being human in relationship to being alive on this planet. And it’s a whole lot of fun.” Forest Bathing in Groups Forest bathing doesn’t have to be a solitary experience. Part of the fun of forest bathing in a group is that it offers opportunities for community building with fellow participants .   Tam Willey, an ANFT certified guide , trainer, mentor, educator, and founder of Toadstool Walks in Boston , sees forest bathing with others as a truly enriching part of the practice. “At the time, I was seeking a way to weave the different interests in my life and find more community around nature and meditation,” Willey said. Forest bathing is easy in that it doesn’t require special gear or even a distant forest—one can do it locally in an urban park. Moreover, although forest bathing guides issue invitations, nothing is mandatory. “We’re non-dogmatic, non-prescriptive, non-directive,” Willey said.   As a guide and guide trainer, Willey has seen forest bathing bring people together amid diverse political and religious beliefs, and nature therapy as providing “an antidote to stress, anxiety, and the state of the world, and the fears that many of us carry about climate change, and political unrest.” This desire to experience nature in one’s community also inspired Willey to co-found International Forest Therapy Day , which invites participants to share the practice of forest bathing globally.   Mazzola’s forest therapy workshop ended with a simple tea ceremony and an offering of thanks to the land. She had led the group with admirable aplomb—and without the use of her right arm, which was covered in a green cast and held in a sling. In the final round of sharing, many participants spoke with gratitude about their dedicated guide and the now-revealed deeper beauty of the forest. *Mal Cole is a freelance science and nature writer based in Massachusetts.  Links to Interviewees: Masako Yotsugi https://youtube.com/@madame-piano  / https://instagram.com/mmepiano Jan Marry https://janmarrywriter.com Nadine Mazzola https://www.nenft.com/ https://www.forestbathingwithyourdog.com/ Tam Willey https://www.toadstoolwalks.com/ https://www.forestbathingday.com/

Can New Desalination Techniques Help Alleviate Water Scarcity? * By Gordon Cairns The Yoruba people of Nigeria have an old saying, “Water has no enemy,” which means living in harmony with nature leads to a long and wise life. This message has been spread in and beyond Africa through the music of Nigerian superstar Fela Kuti and his 1975 song, “ Water No Get Enemy .” Unfortunately, in Nigeria the warning hasn’t been heeded. Different factions have used violence to gain access to this precious resource, adding to the number of “water wars” (or water-related conflicts) taking place across the globe. Water Wars in Africa In certain regions of Africa, people have always struggled to get their share of water, and this has only been made worse due to climate change. The World Bank  has calculated that climate change has contributed to over three-quarters of the Sahel region becoming too dry for livestock herders to settle in one place. Several years ago, when the water level of the world’s 11th largest lake— Lake Chad , situated in the Sahel region—drastically fell, the nomadic Fulani herdsmen , who used its waters and the surrounding grasslands for their livestock, had no choice but to migrate to the fertile plains of the Benue River. Unsurprisingly, the resident farmers didn’t take too kindly to the arrival of herds of cattle that are reducing their water supply, contaminating it with their waste , and eating their crops. The locals tried to drive out the unwelcome newcomers, but the herdsmen had access to automatic rifles and powerful political support. This escalated the conflict and caused death and chaos in the troubled region. For instance, in just three months  during 2022, 92 people were killed in 10 incidents. As of 2021, an estimated 357,000 people  have been displaced from their homes in Benue State due to the fight over water. While water wars  in Nigeria, defined as a violent conflict over a “threat of depletion of water resource in a region or the actual struggle over water resources,” are triggered by a fight over lack of water, in Burkina Faso , water has become a deliberate “weapon of war.” In Burkina Faso, which is also situated in the drought-stricken Sahel region, local war lords are deliberately terrorizing local populations by destroying water trucks, contaminating the supply, and sabotaging the generators needed to deliver water to the public. In 2022, it was estimated that 300,000 people had been adversely affected, while the city of Djibo has had to accommodate most of the country’s displaced people. The citizens have been forced to survive on only three liters (about 0.8 gallons) of water a day for all of their basic needs: drinking, cooking, and hygiene. This is less than half of the 7.5 liters (2 gallons) absolute minimum per day recommended by the World Health Organization  to survive in an emergency situation. The citizens have been forced to survive on only three liters (about 0.8 gallons) of water a day for all of their basic needs: drinking, cooking, and hygiene. This is less than half of the 7.5 liters (2 gallons) absolute minimum per day recommended by the World Health Organization to survive in an emergency situation. Negative Environmental Impacts of Water Wars It is not only the lives of civilians that are disrupted by water wars. These conflicts also have negative environmental impacts, ironically reducing the availability of the water they are fighting over. Water wars can deplete the number of aquifers  (the layer of rock needed to extract water from the ground), as well as reduce groundwater itself in the long term. As in the Benue River, the water at the conflict site can become polluted. Furthermore, such conflicts can contribute to biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. Water Wars in California Today, the California water war continues—in courtrooms—between policymakers, environmental groups, municipalities, and agricultural groups. The Bay-Delta Plan  (with a 6,000-page report ) is an example. Initiated in 2018, the stated goal is to conserve and protect wildlife, including trout and salmon, in the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin River watershed by managing water flow into the Sacramento River and Lower San Joaquin River. In a May 2024 update , the goal is to have 55% (45% to 65% adaptive range) and 40% (30% to 50% for February to June) unimpaired tributary flow into the Sacramento River and Lower San Joaquin River, respectively, going into effect by early 2026. This would result in up to a 75% reduction in water  supply for Solano County—which gravely threatens local agricultural operations and local neighborhood availability of water, opponents say. A final decision on the latest Bay-Delta plan update is not expected until 2025 , according to the North Bay Business Journal . [The Bay-Delta Plan] would result in up to a 75% reduction in water supply for Solano County, threatening its agricultural operations. Potential Solutions to Water Wars Although there is no one-size-fits-all solution for each water-related conflict, the World Resources Institute (WRI) in their 2020 report  recommended solutions based on six case studies in Iraq, Iran, India, the African Sahel (spanning Senegal to Eritrea), Central American Dry Corridor (southern Mexico to Panama), and Yemen. Solutions are based on four broad categories: 1) natural resources, science, and engineering approaches; 2) political and legal tools; 3) economic and financial tools; and 4) policy and governance strategies.   Natural resources, science, and engineering approaches involve the expansion of existing infrastructure and development of new water sources. Political and legal tools include the establishment of transboundary water-sharing agreements, enactment of environmental laws, and improvement of human rights and humanitarian laws. Economic and financial tools include agricultural improvements, reducing food waste, and removing subsidies for water, food, and agriculture. Policy and governance strategies include improved governance and collaboration over water management.   WRI recommended the implementation of transboundary water-sharing agreements in Iran and Iraq, given how both countries share the Tigris-Euphrates Basin. Iran has also been facing severe droughts , thereby also warranting agricultural improvements to improve water use. Solutions for India, given its large population, were focused on improving water-use efficiency and water management. In the African Sahel, WRI indicated the need to reduce inequitable water and land rights. In the Central American Dry Corridor, facing climate-related migration , agricultural extension was recommended, while taking “aggressive measures” to curb gang violence. Finally, the WRI recommended implementing international laws of war and hardening water systems in Yemen, given the ongoing civil war .  Development of Desalination with Renewable Energy Due to technological advances, creating abundant freshwater from seawater is no longer an impossible dream. Desalination has been considered to be too energy inefficient and costly to be a viable solution to water scarcity. Now a number of innovative desalination systems  are being developed to reduce the costs needed to operate them. One such advancement has been developed by Oneka Technologies , a Canadian-based desalination company using wave energy to power their systems. Each of the company's floating buoys contains a strainer that intakes seawater, and the seawater passes through filters. The pump, powered through the oscillation of the waves, then moves the water into reverse osmosis membranes. 25% of the resulting water is desalinated, while the remaining 75% is low salinity brine (about 30% saltier than seawater) that is discharged back into the ocean. The desalinated water flows into a pipeline that goes from the buoy to the ocean floor and water storage tank. ( See video for details .) Each buoy is tethered to the bottom of the ocean to keep it in place, and it can provide enough water for as many as 3,000 people daily.  Solar power has also been used to power desalination plants. Dutch company Desolenator  has a solar thermal desalination solution that can produce 250,000 liters (about 66,000 gallons) of fresh drinking water daily. Each plant is powered by a PVT (photovoltaic-thermal) array on the top, which also heats up the cold seawater feed on the bottom. The seawater is then fed into MED (multiple-effect distillation) components in the middle, distilling it into clean water. Given this method, there are no filters, membranes, or harmful chemicals involved.  Domestic Solutions to Water Scarcity Research conducted by the Irrigation Association and the International Center for Water Technology at California State University in Fresno suggests that up to 20 percent of water can be saved by farmers and householders using this technology in comparison with traditional irrigation methods. There are also wins that can be achieved on a much smaller scale but which can still increase the overall availability of water on Earth, reducing the need to fight over it. For example, a smart irrigation system adjusts watering schedules to deliver only what is needed by using technology to monitor weather and soil conditions and check evaporation. This can not only be used in agriculture, but also in our domestic gardens. Research conducted by the Irrigation Association  and the International Center for Water Technology at California State University in Fresno suggests that up to 20 percent of water can be saved by farmers and householders using this technology in comparison with traditional irrigation methods. Another water saving method is drip irrigation , a low pressure water system delivering hydration to the root of the plant rather than using a sprinkler system which soaks the leaves and surrounding area, potentially saving 30 to 50 percent of water usage. Forgoing a lush, green garden for a trendy arid alternative will make one’s own front yard stand out and make a positive impact on water usage. Arid gardens  grow hardy plants from dry and desert regions that can survive on very little water, such as Old-man Saltbush and Eremophila. It is not only in gardens but also in homes, where water can be conserved. Switching from a bath to a shower and reducing it to four minutes can make a big reduction in water usage, as can turning the faucet off when brushing one’s teeth. A running faucet pours away six liters of water  per minute. If left on for only two and a half minutes, this loss accumulates to the same amount needed to provide the liquid needs of a person in an emergency situation . Small changes such as these that all people can make in areas where water is plentiful can have a big impact where it is not. Bringing an abundance of water where there is scarcity or reducing our usage elsewhere in the world would surely help end this ancient source of conflict, improve the quality of life for humans whose lives are blighted by thirst, and reap all of the environmental benefits to be had by living in harmony with nature. *Gordon Cairns  is a freelance journalist and teacher of English and Forest Schools based in Scotland.

Iconic, Orange-Black-Winged Butterflies Rely on Milkweeds for Food and Growth     Monarch butterflies are among the most easily recognizable butterfly species in North America, with their deep orange wings with black borders and veins, along with white spots along the wings’ edges. Below are some facts on these widely known pollinators.  According to World Wildlife’s Monarch Butterfly Survey Report  for the 2023–2024 winter season, monarchs occupied only 2.2 acres during that season, which is 59% less than the 5.5 acres observed last year.  Meanwhile, monarch populations in California have been declining at about 5%  per year since 1997, when there were “low millions” in the 1980s, according to the Xerces Society.   Despite declining populations, the monarch is currently listed as “least concern” in the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) Red List of Threatened Species .  Monarch larvae only eat milkweed leaves , but adult monarchs can drink nectar from several kinds of flowers, including milkweed.  Male monarchs have two black spots  near the center of their hind wings, which females lack.  Monarchs migrate distances of more than 3,000 km  (~1860 miles) to their overwintering sites during their suspended reproduction (diapause) state.    Sources:   Monarch Life Cycle | Ask A Biologist ( asu.edu )   Monarch Butterfly | National Wildlife Federation ( nwf.org )   Danaus plexippus (Monarch) ( iucnredlist.org )   Monarch_Butterfly_Survey_Report_Feb_7_2024_.pdf ( worldwildlife.org )   The Current Status of Western Monarch Butterflies, By the Numbers | Xerces Society   Monarch (Danaus plexippus) | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service ( fws.gov )

*By David Dodge Geothermal energy has long been viewed as an ideal source of free energy from the Earth. In the Stone Age,  geothermal heating  was used for bathing in hot springs, and in ancient Rome, it was used for space heating. Now, it may be poised to revolutionize how the world heats their homes. In 1904, Prince Piero Ginori Conti  of Italy first tested a geothermal electric power generator and then built a small power plant in 1911. Decades later, in 1960, Pacific Gas and Electric built the first geothermal power plant in the US at The Geysers in California. Today, 22 operational power stations  sit on the world’s largest geothermal field with a capacity of 1,517 megawatts and an average production of about 835 megawatts of electricity . Indeed, naturally occurring heat sources have been easily tapped for geothermal power generation around the world. Iceland gets about 25% of its electricity  from its abundant thermal geysers and hot springs. Types of Geothermal Technologies For most people, the term “geothermal” simply means harvesting free heat energy from the Earth to heat a home or building. According to Bryant Jones of Geothermal Rising, a US-based industry trade organization, there are broadly three kinds of geothermal technologies. The first, he says, is the use of geothermal ground source heat pumps  to upgrade low temperatures of around 4–12 °C (39–55°F) using the shallow heat of the Earth. This is often called “geoexchange.” The second type of use is often referred to as direct use  applications in which the heat of the Earth is used in industrial processes and even in district heating systems. The third application is the use of higher-temperature resources  from geysers, hot springs, or deeper thermal reservoirs to generate electricity. Popular, In-Ground Geoexchange Systems Geoexchange is the most common type of geothermal project in the world. It involves burying loops of pipes in the ground, horizontally or vertically to harvest low temperatures of between 4°C and 12°C (39°F–55°F). A heat pump is then used to upgrade this to around 50°C (122°F), and it is then used to heat the home or building. Darren and Darcy Crichton’s accidental journey to their net-zero home in North Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, used a geoexchange system dug right in their front yard. The decision to use geoexchange came in 2021 during an intense heat wave: the in-ground heat pump system provides very energy-efficient air conditioning as well as heat. (See video: https://youtu.be/9CruVmn097w ). There are hundreds of thousands of geoexchange systems installed across North America to heat buildings and even groups of buildings through district heating systems. Geoexchange is probably the best way to heat a home. Compared to electric heaters—which are considered 100% efficient  (in that all the electrical energy is converted to heat)— heat pumps connected to geoexchange systems are up to 400% efficient for heating . (In other words, for every one unit of energy needed to run the heat pump, up to five units of free energy come out of the ground). These systems are also up to 700% efficient for cooling. With predictions of rising heat waves … super-energy efficient air conditioning is becoming more important. With predictions of rising heat waves, thanks to a climate-changing world, super-energy efficient air conditioning is becoming more important. People who have geoexchange systems often talk about their very comfortable homes and low energy bills. The hitch is that installing a geoexchange system is expensive for a single-family home, costing about $30,000 to $40,000. But the economics really look good when it’s used to heat groups of homes, multifamily buildings, or single-family homes through a district heating system. Air Source Heat Pumps Another simpler and inexpensive approach is to use an air source heat pump mounted on the outside of one’s home. It takes heat from the air, no matter what temperature the air is. These systems are much cheaper, but the efficiency goes down with the temperature of the air. Air source heat pumps must be able to deal with air temperatures ranging from -30°C to +30°C (-22°F to 86°F or higher). This means they will work extra hard when it’s very cold or very hot. Their efficiency can be as high as 300% and as low as 100%, about the same as a space heater. The big breakthrough in recent years is that air source heat pumps have improved dramatically and are now rated for temperatures as frigid as -35°C (-31°F). Air source heat pumps are very affordable and a very energy-efficient way to both heat and cool one’s home. Air source heat pumps are now used around the world. In 2022, more than 400,000 air source heat pumps were installed in the Nordic countries of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. The reason is simple: Air source heat pumps are very affordable and a very energy-efficient way to both heat and cool one’s home. Geoexchange District Heating Systems While air source heat pumps seem to be dominating the single-family home market, geothermal finds its economic sweet spot in almost any buildings that house more than one family. For example, the Salvation Army has built a 175-unit supportive housing  complex in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It secured quotes to build net-zero ready using geothermal heating and cooling that were only slightly more costly than conventional code-built quotes. They built super energy-efficient R40 walls and installed a geothermal system for heating and cooling and expect to save $6 million on heating costs in the first 25 years of operation . In another example in Edmonton, geothermal was used to heat a 15-unit social housing complex  and a church, helping the facilities become the first net-zero complex of its kind. Geothermal has been used in district heating systems in the US starting as early as 1892. A system in Boise, Idaho, heats more than 80 buildings  for about the cost of natural gas heating. There are about 20 such systems in the US and others in Paris, Munich, and other places around the world. Geothermal district heating makes emissions-free heating affordable and reliable, and it's one of the few proven ways of decarbonizing building heating. Geothermal district heating makes emissions-free heating affordable and reliable, and it's one of the few proven ways of decarbonizing building heating. “We're starting to see companies being founded that are wanting to partner with municipalities to create those district heating systems,” says Bryant Jones of Geothermal Rising. In Europe, about a dozen countries have already or are in the process of banning fossil fuel heating systems . Air source heat pumps sales have skyrocketed, and many are looking at geothermal district heating as well. Geothermal Energy In 1911, Italian Prince Conti built the first geothermal power plant  at the massive Larderello steam field where temperatures of 202°C (396°F) were found close to the surface. The second geothermal plant followed decades later, in 1958 in New Zealand. Two years later, Pacific Gas and Electric built the first plant in the US at The Geysers in California. The Geysers development expanded to a complex of 22 operational power plants capable of producing 1,517 megawatts , making it the largest in the world today. As of December 2022, there is 14,877 megawatts  of geothermal electricity capacity around the world, which is still a nearly invisible blip in charts showing global electricity production. Most of the geothermal energy plants rely on naturally occurring geysers, hot springs, or liquid-dominated reservoirs that are relatively close to the surface in large, easy-to-find resources. Most of the geothermal energy plants rely on naturally occurring geysers, hot springs, or liquid-dominated reservoirs that are relatively close to the surface in large, easy-to-find resources such as The Geysers in California. Less commonly, deeper reservoirs are found from which brine liquid is harvested and recirculated. In recent years, enhanced geothermal systems are using hydraulic fracturing where they inject water to expand fissures in the rock to enhance the flow and improve productivity. Most of these methods require prospecting to find a viable resource, which is easier if there are geysers or hot springs (think of Iceland or California) and harder in other cases. Cracking the Geothermal Nut In recent years, companies began using closed-loop systems and the natural propensity of the Earth to warm about 30°C (86°F) for every kilometer (0.6 miles) one goes beneath the surface. The idea is to drill down 4–7 km (2.5–4.3 miles) and then horizontally another 4 km (2.5 miles) and install a dozen or more loops of pipe at this depth. This is done using horizontal drilling and magnetic ranging, a technology used to connect pipes deep under the Earth developed by the oil industry. If this sounds familiar, it should. This very closely mimics the geoexchange systems that use closed loops but at shallow depths in the Earth. EAVOR, a company out of Calgary, Alberta, thinks they have perfected the process of using closed loops deep into the Earth. After building a pilot project in Alberta that has operated for five years with very reliable production, they are now building a full-scale plant in Geretsried, Germany . EAVOR’s geothermal project will produce 64 megawatts of heat, enough to heat 120,000 homes in a district heating system. It will also produce 8 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 8,000 homes. This idea has already attracted interest on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. “We have follow-on projects in Germany that are other heat projects. We have another project in the design phase in the Netherlands. And we have a portfolio here in North America that we're working through,” says Jeanine Vany, a geoscientists at EAVOR. Geothermal Breakthrough? The big advantage of this closed-loop technology is that no one has to search for an elusive thermal reservoir; they are simply using the Earth’s natural levels of heat that occur almost everywhere on the planet. Jones believes geothermal is about to become a mainstream technology for providing a low-carbon source of baseload electricity and heat. And indeed, with record installations of solar and wind power around the world, there is a lot of demand for baseload electricity that does not produce emissions—and geothermal just might be the missing link. “Geothermal is a bipartisan technology. Republicans like it, Democrats like it, conservatives, and liberals like that geothermal is a clean renewable energy. It has the lowest environmental footprint of all energy technologies,” says Jones. *David Dodge is an environmental journalist, photojournalist, and the host and producer of GreenEnergyFutures.ca , a series of micro-documentaries on clean energy, transportation, and buildings. He’s worked for newspapers and published magazines and produced more than 350 award-winning EcoFile radio programs on sustainability for CKUA Radio. Additional Sources: Heat Pumps 101: Jean-Marie of NAIT Polytechnique explains how a heat pump works and where one can use them: https://youtu.be/IyV452N9GAQ Geothermal 101: Devon Winczura of Envirotech Geothermal explains how geoexchange systems work in northern climates and how to heat a home with 400% efficiency: https://youtu.be/5gmFk_TgLrw

Data from 2000 to 2023 Highlights Gradual Net Loss of Tree Cover Worldwide   The nonprofit Global Forest Watch  (GFW) was established by the World Resources Institute in 1997 to provide reports on forests in Cameroon, Canada, Gabon, and Indonesia. Today, it provides data on forests worldwide, with diverse funding sources such as the Earth Bezos Fund, Cargill, and the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment. Below are recent data highlights.  In 2010, the world had 3.92 Gha (giga hectares) of tree cover.  From 2000 to 2020, there was 3.58 Gha of stable forests, 131 Mha (mega hectares) of tree cover gained, and 231 Mha of tree cover lost. This resulted in a net of 100 Mha of tree cover lost.  From 2002 to 2023, 76.3 Mha of humid primary forests (in the tropics) were lost globally, or 7.4% of the total.  From 2001 to 2023, there was 488 Mha of tree cover loss globally, or 12% of the tree cover globally in 2000. This released 201 Gt (gigatons) of carbon dioxide emissions.  Total tree cover losses were 13.8 Mha in 2001, rising to 28.2 Mha in 2023. This increased loss was mostly due to wildfires (from 6.92 Mha to 9.00 Mha), shifting agriculture (from 2.97 Mha to 6.60 Mha), forestry (from 4.96 Mha to 6.60 Mha), and commodity-driven deforestation (3.08 Mha to 4.46 Mha).   From 2001 to 2023, Russia had the highest relative tree cover loss of 83.7 Mha, followed by Brazil (68.9 Mha), Canada (57.5 Mha), the United States (47.9 Mha), and Indonesia (30.8 Mha).  Within that time frame, from 2000 to 2020, Russia also had the highest tree cover gain of 37.2 Mha, followed by Canada (17.0 Mha), the United States (14.0 Mha), Brazil (8.06 Mha), and China (6.69 Mha).    Source:   https://www.globalforestwatch.org/

Almost 7 Million Deaths in 2019 Attributed to Air Pollution   In its second World Heart Report  released in May ,  the World Heart Federation (WHF) highlights the effects of air pollution on cardiovascular health worldwide, with a focus on data from 2010 to 2019 by the World Health Organization (WHO).   Global average concentration levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) were at about 31.7 µg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter) in 2019, more than six times WHO’s 2021 recommended level of 5 µg/m3. However, PM2.5 concentrations have been trending lower by about 1% annually from about 35.3 µg/m3 in 2010.  In 2019, the three countries with the highest estimated annual average PM2.5 concentrations were Kuwait (64.1 µg/m3), Egypt (63.2 µg/m3), and Afghanistan (62.5 µg/m3). Meanwhile, the three countries with the lowest concentrations were the Bahamas (5.2 µg/m3), Finland (5.5 µg/m3), and Iceland (5.8 µg/m3).  Over 2 billion people worldwide rely on polluting fuels such as coal, crop waste, and charcoal for cooking.  In 2019, ambient air pollution caused 4.2 million deaths and over 100.4 million DALYs*. Of the 4.2 million deaths, almost half (1.9 million) were from ischemic heart disease (IHD), which stems from narrowed arteries. Another 900,000 deaths were due to stroke.  Meanwhile, household air pollution (such as from gas cooking) contributed to 3.2 million deaths, with 1 million from IHD and 700,000 from stroke.  The WHF report focused on five common respiratory-related illnesses— IHD, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute lower respiratory infections, and lung cancer.  Although the number of total deaths from these five causes increased from 2010 to 2019, the age-standardized mortality rate decreased globally from about 70.7 deaths per 100,000 people to about 59.7 deaths per 100,000 people.  To mitigate the harms of air pollution, WHF recommends nations agree to a global fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty and follow WHO guidelines to combat air pollution, such as avoiding tobacco use and indoor and outdoor smoke. It urges individuals to maintain a healthy weight and diet, exercise daily, and use helpful supplements and medications.    *Note: DALY = disability-adjusted life years. This represents the loss of the equivalent of one year of full health and is the sum of the years of life lost due to premature mortality and the years lived with a disability.    Sources:   https://world-heart-federation.org/wp-content/uploads/20240502_World-Heart-Report_240628.pdf

*By Robert Selle In the 1600s, Spanish fishermen hunting for mackerel and tuna in the cold Pacific waters off what is present-day Ecuador and Colombia noticed a surprising warming of the sea. It happened in only some years but always in the weeks near Christmas time. They named this rise in water temperature, El Niño de Navidad , literally The Little Boy of Christmas  or Christ Child . Contemporary scientists have shortened the term to El Niño .   Modern scientists know that this ocean warming  occurs when the trade winds that ordinarily blow east to west across the broad expanse of the Pacific weaken, stop, or even reverse. The winds normally drive warm surface water west, allowing cold water to upwell in the “ equatorial cold tongue ” that generally stretches in a strip along the Equator from western South America to the International Date Line. Such a warming episode has been also occurring since the spring of 2023.   The seventeenth-century Spaniards didn’t realize it at the time, but this ocean anomaly actually affects weather all around the world, like a series of dominoes falling—as does El Niño’s sister phenomenon, La Niña (literally The Little Girl ). Enter La Niña La Niña wasn’t named  till the 1980s, when climate scientists coined the term to describe the Pacific cold-water phenomenon that sometimes follows an El Niño—especially after an exceptionally strong El Niño. With La Niña, stronger-than-normal easterly trade winds blow above-normal amounts of surface water west, allowing frigid water to rise from far deeper in the ocean. This also shakes up global weather—again producing the meteorological version of dominoes falling. An El Niño usually starts  in the Northern Hemisphere’s spring and crescendos in November to February. It occurs every two to seven years through an elaborate interaction among prevailing winds, sea surface temperatures, the deep ocean, and perhaps unknown factors. It lasts nine to 12 months—and sometimes even for a year or two. When the equatorial Pacific Ocean grows unusually warm, as it does during an El Niño, rapidly rising warm air disrupts the jet stream —the fierce rivers of wind that flow several miles up at 100–275 mph in a generally eastward direction—which rejiggers patterns of high and low pressure, wet and dry, and hot and cold literally all over the world. Influence on Hurricanes Among its multitude of global weather effects, an El Niño can weaken hurricanes, which are what these giant windstorms  are called when they form in the North Atlantic or Caribbean Sea. (When they’re in the Western Pacific, they’re called typhoons , and in the Indian Ocean area, cyclones .)   A La Niña brings with it weather variations as diverse as those wrought by an El Niño, including more frequent and severe hurricanes in the Atlantic. The annual hurricane season generally lasts from April through November, with 60% of hurricanes forming in August and September.   The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the US agency that monitors global weather, is predicting a 70%–79% chance of a La Niña formation in late 2024 or early 2025.   This summer in 2024, according to the National Weather Service, an El Niño from the spring of 2023 (from a Northern Hemisphere point of view) is subsiding. It “has more or less shut off,” the agency reported , adding that a La Niña is likely to form this summer or fall, and influence the weather for the coming autumn and winter months. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the US agency that monitors global weather, is predicting a 70%–79% chance of a La Niña formation in late 2024 or early 2025.   Hurricanes Looming Speaking of hurricanes, a study in 2022 in Nature Climate Change  found that the number of these storms fell 13% from 1900–2000, decreasing by 23% after 1950. However, the intensity of hurricanes has been strengthening over the same period. Since 2000, the number of hurricanes making landfall in the US has been relatively stable  even while their intensity has been rising , according to NOAA.   The warm-water-born El Niño has a paradoxical effect on hurricanes, causing them to lose force. This is due to the upper-atmosphere wind shear that El Niño produces, shredding  the rising vortex required for a superstorm to develop.   Some scientists  expect global warming to produce stronger and more frequent El Niños, which could actually weaken hurricanes. But other observers expect the opposite to be true—that rising surface temperatures in the Atlantic will feed burgeoning hurricanes with increased quantities of warm water vapor.   NOAA administrator Rick Spinrad said in May [of 2024], “There's an 85% chance of an above-normal [hurricane] season” this year .   As one can see, climate science can be inexact and contradictory. Predictions can be highly dependent on computer models, which depend on the variables—and the assumptions and perhaps biases—that are built into them. Nonetheless, NOAA administrator Rick Spinrad said in May, “There's an 85% chance of an above-normal [hurricane] season” this year . This assessment for 2024 was seconded by forecasters at Colorado State University, who said, “We anticipate a well-above-average probability for major hurricane landfalls along the continental United States coastline and in the Caribbean.”   Atlantic Storms and the Sahara Adding a wild card to the hurricane prediction mix is the so-called Saharan Air Layer, a vast area of dry, hot, dusty air that wafts from Africa over the Atlantic. Some of the dust has even reached Florida . The hot dust plumes inhibit cloud and rain formation, and in 2024 there are “ dust levels  not seen in years across parts of the [Atlantic] basin,” according to Andrew Wulfeck of FOX Weather. Not surprisingly, he says, “Years with significant dust often experience reduced [hurricane] activity.” The upshot, then, is that it’s anyone’s guess how strong and active this year’s hurricane season will be.   While the response to [hurricane] Katrina, especially in the New Orleans area, was widely criticized, the forecasting of the storm’s intensity and path was remarkably accurate.   Despite the uncertainty, the work of storm forecasters can be lifesaving. The infamous Hurricane Katrina of 2005 is just one example. While the response to Katrina, especially in the New Orleans area, was widely criticized, the forecasting of the storm’s intensity and path was remarkably accurate. Meteorologists predicted days in advance the catastrophic potential of the hurricane, leading to mandatory evacuations for millions of people in the US Gulf Coast region. Though the evacuation process was fraught with challenges, the accurate forecasting undoubtedly saved countless lives. In the short term, weather prognostications can also help in the smart prepositioning of disaster relief resources. In the longer term, meteorological predictions on sea-level rise can help in developing coastal protection strategies. Rainfall extrapolations can help municipalities and states to make decisions on construction of dams and irrigation systems and can aid farmers in choosing what crops to plant. As climate predictions are aired in the media, people can be educated about where to live or how to better prepare for punishing weather.   The future of weather forecasting is promising; with advancements in computer modeling, atmospheric sensors, artificial intelligence, and understanding of atmospheric processes, forecasters are getting better at predicting extreme weather events. As weather scientists hone their technological ability to predict the path and intensity of storms, it will become ever more possible to shield human beings from their destruction.   Earth is always restless, never static. Its aqueous and atmospheric exterior is always on the move, boisterously and unpredictably flowing. But if technological trends continue, one day humankind might be able to live successfully with Earth’s complex meteorological patterns. *Robert R. Selle is a freelance writer and editor, based in Bowie, Maryland.