Can Diamond Dust Really Help Cool the Earth by Reflecting Sunlight?
A team of climate and earth scientists are exploring an idea that sounds almost unbelievable: using diamond dust to cool the planet. This approach aims to slow down global warming by reflecting sunlight back into space. The method they are considering is called solar geoengineering, which involves adding specific particles into the atmosphere to reduce heat reaching the Earth. The goal is to address climate change head-on, beyond the efforts of simply reducing greenhouse gases.
The most commonly studied material for this purpose has been sulphur dioxide. While it can reflect sunlight, it brings several risks, such as acid rain and damage to the ozone layer. To find a better alternative, scientists have been looking at other aerosols that could have the same reflective power but with fewer side effects.
The Diamond Dust Proposal
Researchers at ETH Zurich, including teams from the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, conducted a study testing various particles for their potential to cool the Earth. These included materials like calcite, aluminium, and even diamond dust. They used a complex climate model to understand how each substance would interact with heat and sunlight and how long the particles would stay in the air.
The results surprised them: diamond dust emerged as one of the best candidates. It reflects more light and heat than other materials and doesn’t carry the same environmental risks as sulphur dioxide. Since diamonds are chemically inert, they are less likely to cause issues like acid rain.
However, the costs are staggering. To achieve the necessary cooling effect, they estimate it would require around 5 million tonnes of synthetic diamond dust each year. The price tag? Approximately $200 trillion over several decades.
Challenges in Implementation
Even if money was no issue, there are other challenges. Producing diamond dust at such a scale requires technology we currently don’t have. Distributing it around the globe is another obstacle, as specialised aircraft would be needed to deploy it at the right altitude. This approach would also require international cooperation and thorough regulation to avoid geopolitical tensions.
While this proposal might not be viable right now, it represents the creative lengths scientists are exploring to combat the growing climate crisis.
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The Axiom-4 mission, which will carry Indian payload specialist Shubhanshu Shukla, was delayed yet again due to a propellant leak in the Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX, the company behind the mission, also confirmed that a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak was detected in post-static fire testing, which tests the rocket while it’s still attached to the launch pad. Initially targeted for May 29, the mission has faced successive delays, the latest pushing the launch further from its recent 11 June schedule. ISRO scientists have mentioned the issue may delay liftoff by “another few days” depending on repair progress and safety validations.
LOx Leak in Falcon 9 Forces Fourth Delay of Axiom-4 Mission with India’s Shubhanshu Shukla
As per a statement from SpaceX, the LOx leak was identified after the static fire booster test, prompting the team to stand down from the latest launch window. According to The Print, ISRO officials said that an LOx issue this close to launch generally requires the rocket to be pulled back for thorough inspection. However, the ISRO team, unfamiliar with SpaceX’s proprietary systems, refrained from commenting on specific technical procedures, the publication said. The first signs of the leak were reportedly detected on 8 June.
Falcon 9’s Merlin engines rely on LOx (liquid oxygen), along with RP-1 (rocket-grade kerosene), as an oxidiser to propel the vehicle. During static fire tests, the engines are briefly ignited to validate their performance. Detection systems, including oxygen sensors and thermal imaging, help identify leaks in these stages. The Ax-4 mission had already been rescheduled multiple times — initially from 29 May to 8 June, then to 10 June, and again to 11 June — due to weather concerns.
SpaceX vice president Bill Gerstenmaier told reporters during a pre-launch briefing that a solution was underway. “We’re putting in a purge that will stop the leak,” he mentioned, adding that the problem was under control. Still, the ultimate launch date is up in the air and will rely on the results of continuing safety assessments.
Axiom Space is in charge of the project, a major step for India’s human spaceflight program. It features Shubhanshu Shukla as part of a commercial crew going to the International Space Station. Technical problems are common in space operations, but this fourth delay shows how hard it is to make sure that everything is perfect for crewed missions to take off.
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In a landmark survey, University of Newcastle researchers mapped a previously hidden koala population on the outskirts of Newcastle, NSW. The study estimated about 4,357 koalas across roughly 67,300 hectares of bushland (208 sites). They also found more than 290 koalas in Sugarloaf State Conservation Area, a region with few prior records. Local researcher Daryn McKenny, who grew up nearby and first reported seeing a koala there years ago, contributed his knowledge and sightings to the project. The findings show koalas can survive – and even thrive – in peri-urban forests, underscoring the need to protect these fringe habitats.
Hidden Koalas on Newcastle’s Fringe
According to the study, the survey estimated 4,357 koalas in 208 bushland sites around Newcastle. Lead author Shelby Ryan said that the drone surveys allowed the team to find koalas within minutes in areas that had taken hours on foot. Seven national parks were sampled (about 10% of each) with multiple night surveys, and a statistical model extrapolated these counts across the landscape. Maria National Park had the highest density (about 521 koalas per 3,350 hectares), while fire-affected parks from the 2019-20 fires hosted roughly two-thirds fewer koalas.
Survey Methods and Conservation Implications
Thermal imaging revealed koalas as yellow hotspots, which were then confirmed by a spotlight to identify the animal. The team used a statistical model accounting for terrain slope, tree coverage, and soil moisture to extrapolate koala numbers across the landscape. University of Newcastle’s Dr. Ryan Witt said that this model can even extend estimates to private or otherwise inaccessible lands that were not directly surveyed.
WWF-Australia – which co-funded the work – hailed the findings as critical for its goal of doubling koala numbers by 2050, noting that accurate abundance estimates are the “holy grail” of koala conservation.
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