Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) have been heralded as a beacon of hope for economic growth in developing tropical countries. However, a critical examination of this optimism reveals a troubling narrative—many FDIs, particularly in sectors like agriculture, exacerbate environmental degradation and significantly contribute to deforestation. Traditionally, FDI has been synonymous with extractive industries like mining or
Earth
The tragic demise of Pompeii in 79 CE has echoed through history as one of humanity’s most poignant reminders of nature’s untamed power. Almost two millennia ago, the astute observations of Pliny the Younger chronicled the residents’ horror as volcanic eruptions rattled the very earth beneath their feet. Today, a new collaborative study spearheaded by
Phosphorus is a cornerstone of agricultural success and ecological health, forming an integral part of fertilizers essential for enhancing crop yields and sustaining plant growth. As one of the key macronutrients required by living organisms, phosphorus has garnered significant attention, particularly given the looming concerns over its finite availability. The revelations about its cycling in
Deep within the Earth’s crust lies a complex web of geological processes that govern not just the creation of mountains and volcanoes, but also play a pivotal role in regulating water cycles through intricate subduction zones. Unlike superficial water reservoirs like oceans and rivers, the water involved in these geological phenomena is often overlooked, yet
Volcano monitoring is a complex and incredibly demanding task, especially in regions like Alaska, where the seismic activity is both frequent and diverse. With a total of 54 volcanoes recognized as historically active, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) plays a crucial role in ensuring safety and understanding potential eruption events. The current manual processes employed
Recent research spearheaded by Curtin University has profoundly reshaped our understanding of the iron ore deposits located in the Hamersley Province of Western Australia. For decades, the age of these deposits was estimated to be around 2.2 billion years, but groundbreaking advancements in geochronology have revealed that they are, in fact, approximately 1.4 to 1.1
In the intricate web of Earth’s water systems, mountainous regions serve as crucial reservoirs, often termed “water towers.” This terminology emerges from their ability to supply vast quantities of fresh water to ecosystems and populations living downstream across various geographies. The nuanced relationship between glacial and snow melt and groundwater recharge, however, remains predominantly overlooked
The wildfire season of 2023 has etched its name into the annals of history as the most devastating Canada has ever experienced. As the flames raged, a startling revelation emerged from a ground-breaking study conducted by researchers from the University of Waterloo and Nipissing University: wildfires in the mine-impacted areas around Yellowknife may have unleashed
In the face of a changing climate, it is alarming that the flood risk models currently used by government agencies and private insurance companies fall short of accurately addressing vulnerabilities at the community level. According to recent research from the University of California, Irvine, these models often rely on broad, national data that fails to
Recent scientific advancements have unveiled a remarkable climate pattern lurking in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, particularly close to New Zealand and Australia. This new phenomenon, dubbed the Southern Hemisphere Circumpolar Wavenumber-4 Pattern, reveals a complex interaction between the ocean and atmospheric conditions that could reshape our understanding of global climate dynamics. Unlike the often-discussed El