Airborne technology brings new hope to map shallow aquifers in Earth's most arid deserts The new technique will map the top of the aquifer, called the 'water table,' spanning areas as large as hundreds of kilometers using a radar mounted on a high-altitude aircraft. According to the researchers, Desert-SEA will measure the variabilities in the depth of the water table on a large scale, allowing water scientists to assess the sustainability of these aquifers without the limitations associated with in-situ mapping in harsh and inaccessible environments.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/r....eleases/2024/05/2405

Zombie cells in the sea: Viruses keep the most common marine bacteria in check Marine microbes control the flux of matter and energy essential for life in the oceans. Among them, the bacterial group SAR11 accounts for about a third of all the bacteria found in surface ocean waters. A study now reveals that at times nearly 20% of SAR11 cells are infected by viruses, significantly reducing total cell numbers. The viruses can also transform these once thriving bacteria into zombies, a phenomenon observed for the first time and widespread in the oceans.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/r....eleases/2024/05/2405

Copper can't be mined fast enough to electrify the US Copper cannot be mined quickly enough to keep up with current U.S. policy guidelines to transition the country's electricity and vehicle infrastructure to renewable energy, according to a new study.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/r....eleases/2024/05/2405

Jet-propelled sea creatures could improve ocean robotics Scientists have discovered that colonies of gelatinous sea animals swim through the ocean in giant corkscrew shapes using coordinated jet propulsion, an unusual kind of locomotion that could inspire new designs for efficient underwater vehicles.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/r....eleases/2024/05/2405

'Forever chemicals' found to rain down on all five Great Lakes Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS or 'forever chemicals,' have become persistent pollutants in the air, water and soil. Because they are so stable, they can be transported throughout the water cycle, making their way into drinking water sources and precipitation. Precipitation introduces similar amounts of PFAS into each of the Great Lakes; however, the lakes eliminate the chemicals at different rates.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/r....eleases/2024/05/2405