Single-Point In Situ Measurements of Thermal Ions During the Kinet-X Ionospheric Sounding Rocket Mission

Academic Background The Earth’s magnetosphere and ionosphere are crucial areas of study in space physics, particularly the processes of energy and momentum transport within the ionosphere. The behavior of ions and electrons in the ionosphere is influenced by the Earth’s magnetic field and the solar wind, which are significant for understanding spac...

Economic Costs of Wind Erosion in the United States

Wind erosion and the resulting dust issues have profound impacts on the environment and human society. Since the 1990s, despite significant changes in climate and socioeconomic conditions, the United States has not conducted a comprehensive assessment of the economic costs of wind erosion. In recent years, with global warming, increasing droughts, ...

Alarming Patterns of Mature Forest Loss in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Academic Background The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, harboring a high number of endemic species and providing critical ecosystem services. However, a long history of deforestation has reduced its original forest cover to just 24%. Despite existing legal protections, the rate of forest loss remains alarming....

Blue Carbon Cycling in the Coastal Areas of Qatar

Research Background Global climate change, particularly global warming, has exerted immense pressure on the global carbon cycle. As a significant carbon sink, the ocean absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂), leading to ocean acidification, which adversely affects marine organisms reliant on carbonate minerals. Coastal wetlands, such as inte...

The Crucial and Versatile Roles of Bacteria in Global Biogeochemical Cycling of Iodine

Iodine (I) is a trace element of significant importance to human health and the environment. It is a major component of human thyroid hormones, such as thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), directly influencing thyroid function. However, approximately 1.9 billion people worldwide are affected by Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD), with symptoms i...