June 25, 2024: Today we're covering gendered expectations for emotions, the potential pros of giant viruses in Arctic ice and the cons of mega constellations of satellites. —Robin Lloyd, Contributing Editor | | | Giant Viruses Could Affect Sea Level | Hordes of giant viruses discovered in Arctic ice could slow sea-level rise, scientists now theorize. The newly identified viruses have infected dark-hued microalgae living on the Greenland ice sheet, thereby potentially killing them and thus limiting their absorption of sunlight and melting effect on ice. As the climate warms, algal blooms are getting bigger. But giant viruses infecting the algae might be keeping blooms in check and indirectly mitigating ice melt and the threat of rising seas.
How they did it: The giant viruses, or nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses, were known to occur in rivers, soil and seas worldwide, inspiring researchers to look for them in Greenland's ice. An analysis confirmed the presence of the viral genes in the DNA of algae found there. The finding suggests that the viruses have been infecting Greenland algae populations for hundreds of years.
Why it matters: Greenland is just one of Earth's ice sheets but it happens to be "the largest single contributor to global sea level rise," write Francisco "A.J." Camacho and Chelsea Harvey. | | | Several areas in Greenland are covered with black algae, which could speed ice melt by absorbing sunlight. Laura Perini | | | Metal Threat to Ozone Layer | More and more abandoned satellites are re-entering Earth's atmosphere and burning up there, yielding a growing garbage patch in the sky. The accumulation of vaporized metals, such as aluminum, copper and lithium, could degrade the planet's ozone "shield," which is concentrated in the stratosphere's lower layer, scientists now warn. Ozone is a highly reactive molecule made of three oxygen atoms. The gaseous ozone layer protects Earth's surface, and us, from ultraviolet radiation that constantly streams in from space. This metal threat is expected to increase with the anticipated launch of tens of thousands of satellites, including some arrayed in "mega constellations," such as SpaceX's Starlink system for global Internet service. The quantity of atmospheric aluminum-oxide pollution from burnt-up satellite trash already increased eightfold between 2016 and 2022, according to recent findings covered by AAAS Mass Media Fellow Max Springer.
How it works: A simulation revealed that "flash-heated aluminum" resulting from a re-entering satellite would erode rapidly and interact with oxygen atoms in Earth's atmosphere, forming aluminum oxide, Springer reports. Even small quantities of aluminum oxide can persist and potentially speed up a reaction that splits ozone molecules, thereby weakening the shield.
What the experts say: Governments have yet to take action to mitigate this growing threat to life on Earth. "While [the pollutant] accumulates in the atmosphere, it's time that we are losing. By the time we see the results, it may be too late," says study author José Ferreira. | | | Light trails from satellites in low-Earth orbit fill the sky in this composite long-exposure photograph, which was captured over a 30-minute period. Alan Dyer/VWPics/Alamy Stock Photo | | | • A Supreme Court ruling may make it harder for government agencies to use good science. | 6 min read | | | • Girls and boys learn early who is expected to look serious and who is expected to smile and appear serene at all times. Those gendered and racialized social norms, communicated by peers, pop culture and people in positions of authority, can be harmful if they regularly stifle our emotions and affect our health. It's also true that emotional regulation is a valuable skill; conformity can help avoid bullying and worse, writes behavioral and data scientist Pragya Agarwal. The solution is to teach children to accept and name their emotions, including the negative ones that are an inevitable part of life. Parents also can help kids "learn strategies to tackle such emotions," Agarwal writes. | 6 min read | | | Long ago, my parents had planned an epic summer vacation that involved our family of six traveling in an ample station wagon through New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. However, days before departure, the big car broke down. A family meeting was held. We voted to take the two-week trip in Dad's commuting car: a VW bug. Parents in the front, four daughters strategically packed into the back seat and rear "well," a single suitcase under the hood and a train case of toiletries at Mom's feet. It was a great trip, one that has sparked hundreds of retold stories. With warmer summers, road-trip considerations nowadays can include increased risks from buckled asphalt, tire failures and smoke-impaired visibility. Whether you bike, fly, drive or ride the rails, you'll likely want some good road tunes. I recommend the new "Petty Country," a collection of country music all-stars (e.g. Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Steve Earle, Rhiannon Giddens, Wynonna Judd, Chris Stapleton, Lady A) covering a selection of Tom Petty's classic, relatable catalog. | —Robin Lloyd, Contributing Editor | | Subscribe to this and all of our newsletters . | | | | Scientific American
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