Whispering Earth

Source: Aerosol and Air Quality Research article page image (shows fibers with a scale bar). License: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) , 1) Microplastics in the air: what are we talking about? Microplastics are plastic fragments and fibers typically smaller than 5 mm . In air, the most common forms are tiny fibers (from textiles) and irregular fragments (from wear-and-tear) . They can float in outdoor air, but many studies find indoor air and house dust can be especially important because we spend most of our time inside. 2) Where airborne microplastics come from Airborne microplastics are usually “made” by friction and shedding: Clothing and home textiles (synthetic fibers released during wearing, drying, and movement) Furniture and carpets (fiber shedding into dust) Paints and coatings (tiny flakes over time) Outdoor sources like tire/road wear , packaging debris, and construction dust that can enter buildings via ventilation or open windows 3) The ...

  Methane “super-emitters” and the satellites catching them By Whispering Earth Methane (CH₄) is a greenhouse gas that heats the planet very strongly in the short term—about 82.5× stronger than CO₂ over 20 years . That’s why cutting methane can slow warming faster than many other actions. What are “super-emitters”? Methane doesn’t leak evenly. Often, a small number of big releases (like equipment failures or venting) create a large share of total emissions. In the U.S. oil and gas sector, EPA defines a methane “super-emitter event” as ≥100 kg/hour (measured by approved third-party methods). A region of enhanced methane is visible near Modesto, California. Credit:  NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio Why satellites matter Ground inspections are important, but they can miss leaks that start and stop quickly. Satellites help because they: Cover huge areas (including remote places) Revisit regularly (so leaks can be caught sooner) Create accountability (det...