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The Earth’s freshwater reserves experienced a sudden decline starting in May 2014 and have remained persistently low, according to findings by an international team of scientists utilising NASA-German satellites. Observations from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission revealed a significant reduction in freshwater stored on land, including lakes, rivers, and underground aquifers. The study, published in Surveys in Geophysics, suggests this shift may indicate a transition to drier conditions across the continents.
Freshwater Reduction Quantified
Between 2015 and 2023, terrestrial freshwater levels were found to be 290 cubic miles below the average recorded from 2002 to 2014, according to Matthew Rodell, a hydrologist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. This equates to over twice the volume of Lake Erie. Contributing factors include droughts and increased reliance on groundwater for agriculture and urban needs, which depletes reserves faster than they can be replenished. A 2024 United Nations report on water stress highlighted the societal risks of diminished water supplies, including famine, poverty, and reliance on unsafe water sources.
Impact of Global Warming on Water Cycles
Research indicates that rising global temperatures may be exacerbating freshwater loss. Michael Bosilovich, a meteorologist at NASA Goddard, explained that warming intensifies evaporation and increases the atmosphere’s capacity to retain moisture, leading to extreme rainfall events. While total annual precipitation remains steady, prolonged dry spells between these events reduce soil absorption, worsening drought conditions.
Persistent Trends Raise Concerns
Satellite data showed that global freshwater did not recover after a significant El Niño event between 2014 and 2016, which had caused shifts in atmospheric patterns and widespread droughts. Rodell noted that 13 of the 30 most severe droughts since 2002 occurred after 2015. Although the link to climate change is not definitive, the concurrent timing with record-high global temperatures has raised concerns about the future stability of freshwater resources.
Hydrologist Susanna Werth from Virginia Tech, unaffiliated with the study, emphasised the challenges in predicting long-term outcomes due to uncertainties in climate models. However, the current trends are being closely monitored for further implications.
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Researchers have uncovered traces of a hallucinogenic beverage in a 2,200-year-old Egyptian vase depicting Bes, a dwarf deity associated with childbirth and merriment. The findings, detailed in Scientific Reports on November 13, suggest the vessel was used during rituals to recreate a mythical tale involving the calming of a sky goddess. The vase, held at the Tampa Museum of Art, was analysed using advanced chemical techniques, including ancient DNA extraction and infrared spectroscopy.
Chemical Composition Indicates Ritual Use
Traces of wild rue, Egyptian lotus, and Cleome plant were detected in the vase, all known for their psychotropic properties, as per a report by University of South Florida. Ingredients like sesame seeds, pine nuts, and grapes were also found, which researchers believe may have been used to mimic the appearance of blood. Human bodily fluids, including saliva and blood, were identified, hinting at ritualistic consumption or deliberate inclusion in the concoction. These findings point towards the use of the drink in reenactments of the “Myth of the Solar Eye,” where Bes pacifies the bloodthirsty goddess Hathor with a spiked, blood-like drink.
Potential Link to Oracular Practices
The vase may also have been linked to prophetic rituals. Researchers suggest the drink could have been consumed in practices related to the cult of Bes, especially in the Bes-Chambers at Saqqara, where individuals sought dream-induced prophecies. According to Branko van Oppen, curator at the Tampa Museum of Art and co-author of the study, the combination of ingredients might have been used during childbirth-related rituals to predict pregnancy outcomes.
Provenance and Future Studies
The vase, acquired by the museum in 1984, came from a private collection but lacks precise archaeological context. The researchers believe the analysis provides critical insights into ancient Egyptian mythological and ritual practices, potentially shedding light on broader cultural beliefs surrounding childbirth and divination. Further studies are expected to explore the significance of such rituals in Greco-Roman Egypt.
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