Underground saltwater intrusion is expected to severely affect three out of every four coastal regions globally by the year 2100, according to findings published in Geophysical Research Letters. The research, a collaboration between NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the U.S. Department of Defense, highlights significant risks to freshwater resources in coastal aquifers due to rising sea levels and reduced groundwater recharge. The U.S. Eastern Seaboard and other low-lying regions have been identified as some of the most vulnerable areas.
Saltwater Intrusion and Its Mechanisms
The phenomenon, known as saltwater intrusion, occurs beneath coastlines, where freshwater from aquifers and seawater naturally balance each other. Sea level rise, driven by climate change, is increasing the pressure of seawater against land, while slower groundwater recharge due to reduced rainfall weakens the inland flow of fresh water. This shift disrupts the delicate balance, allowing seawater to move further inland, threatening water quality and ecosystem health.
Global Impact and Key Findings
As per the study, saltwater intrusion is projected to occur in 77 percent of the coastal watersheds examined. Rising sea levels alone are expected to influence 82 percent of these areas, causing the transition zone between fresh and salt water to move up to 200 metres inland. Conversely, decreased groundwater recharge will impact 45 percent of regions, with the transition zone extending as far as 1,200 metres inland in some cases, particularly in arid regions such as the Arabian Peninsula and Western Australia.
Lead author Kyra Adams, a groundwater scientist at JPL, explained in a press release by NASA that the primary driver of intrusion—whether sea level rise or reduced recharge—varies by location, influencing management strategies. For instance, areas impacted by low recharge may benefit from protective measures for groundwater resources, while regions facing sea level-induced risks may consider redirecting groundwater supplies.
Implications for Vulnerable Regions
The research used data from the HydroSHEDS database and incorporated a model accounting for groundwater dynamics and sea level rise. Co-author Ben Hamlington of NASA’s Sea Level Change Team noted that the findings align with global coastal flooding patterns, underscoring the compounded risks posed by rising sea levels and changing climatic conditions.
Hamlington told NASA that nations with limited resources face the highest risks, highlighting the importance of global frameworks to address these challenges.
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Three live dire wolf pups have been born using reconstructed DNA. The extinct species had last roamed North America around 12,500 years ago. The milestone was reached by a Dallas-based biotech firm that focuses on genetic conservation. Ancient DNA samples from fossilised remains were analysed. Modern gene-editing tools were used to mimic key characteristics of the extinct predator. These pups were brought to life by implanting modified embryos into domestic dog surrogates. The young wolves have been named Romulus, Remus and Khaleesi.
Ancient DNA edited in lab to recreate species
According to a study shared by Colossal Biosciences, DNA samples had been collected from two ancient dire wolf fossils. One was a 13,000-year-old tooth, while the other was a 72,000-year-old skull fragment. These fragments were compared to modern wolf relatives and grey wolves were chosen for DNA alteration because of their evolutionary proximity. Gene sequences that were found only in dire wolves were isolated. These were introduced into the DNA of grey wolves through targeted editing.
Cloning technique used to implant embryos
The altered genetic material was inserted into grey wolf egg cells after removing their original nuclei. These prepared cells were placed inside domestic dogs. Each surrogate received multiple embryos. Interestingly, only one embryo survived in each of the first two dogs. Both gave birth by caesarean section, while the third pup was born in a second round of implantation.
Physical traits match fossil record
The new pups have been observed to develop features consistent with known dire wolf fossils. Thick white coats, larger teeth and body structure have been reported. These results came from identifying changes in 14 genes. The gene edits were introduced using CRISPR technology.
The same company had previously cloned red wolves. The team had also created “woolly mice” as part of a mammoth revival effort. The successful dire wolf birth marks a new phase in gene-driven species restoration.
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Lightning is commonly considered a sign of disaster in the forest, as lightning kills or damages trees. On the lowlands of Panama, the tonka bean tree (Dipteryx oleifera) might have evolved to capitalize on this natural occurrence. New research suggests that lightning strikes could help the tonka bean tree (Dipteryx oleifera). According to Live Science research, these trees not only survive these electrical interactions unharmed, but the lightning also harms their competitors and the parasitic vines that cling to the tonka bean plants.
The researchers published their findings on March 26 in the journal New Phytologist. Lightning is a major cause of tree mortality in tropical forests, particularly among the largest and oldest trees, which play important roles in carbon storage and biodiversity.
Lightning as a Canopy Weapon
On average, each lightning hit destroyed over 2.4 tons (2 metric tons) of adjacent tree biomass and approximately 80 percent of the lianas (parasitic vines) that plagued the tonka bean canopy. As per Gora’s assumption, the key to these trees’ lightning resistance comes from their physical structure.
A few studies describe the tree as having strong internal conductivity, letting lightning current flow through without building up damaging heat like a well-insulated wire. Because they tend to grow large — up to 130 feet (40 meters)—and live for centuries, a single tonka bean tree is estimated to be struck at least five times after reaching maturity. Each strike helps to clear out vines and competitors, opening up the canopy to help it thrive.
Ecological Impact and Evolutionary Marvel
Gregory Moore, a horticulturalist from the University of Melbourne who was not involved in the study, thinks the results will apply to other species. “The sort of work could also apply to other tree-dominated plant communities, such as woodlands or low woodlands where trees are widely separated, so it’s nothing like a tropical forest,” he said, adding that other tall trees are also possible targets of lightning strikes.
More Than Just a Tree
“We have long known that some trees can withstand multiple lightning strikes,” Moore said, noting that some tall trees survive Australian bushfires and grow up towering over their neighbors, making them prime targets for lightning strikes. “They are often referred to as stags because the top of the crown has been blown out, but they can survive for centuries after being hit by lightning,” he added.
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On April 8, 2025, an American-Russian crew launched a combined spaceflight mission early Tuesday. The Soyuz MS-27 was launched from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome. NASA astronaut Dr. Jonny Kim, a former U.S. Navy SEAL and doctor, along with Russian cosmonauts Alexey Zubritsky and Sergey Ryzhikov are the part of the crew. In what will be Kim’s maiden voyage, the spacecraft blasted off on a Soyuz 2.1a rocket at 1:47 a.m. EDT and will spend eight months on board the ISS.
Soyuz MS-27 docks after brief orbital journey
According to NASA’s official launch briefing, the Soyuz MS-27 capsule is scheduled to finish a two-orbit approach before docking with the ISS’s Prichal module at around 5:04 a.m. EDT. The crew will join Commander Alexey Ovchinin’s Expedition 72 after a successful docking and hatch opening. Currently, a combination of Japanese, American and Russian astronauts are stationed there.
Expanded crew to support multiple mission objectives
As outlined by Roscosmos and NASA mission updates, the three new arrivals, namely, Ryzhikov, Zubritsky, and Kim, will support various science experiments, maintenance tasks, and visiting vehicle operations. There are many spacewalks that are also planned. Kim had expressed his desire to participate in a spacewalk in an interview with NASA TV before launch. He described the physical and mental challenges as taxing.
Background of the crew and symbolic mission details
According to statements made to collect, Kim, aged 41, credited his diverse career path to opportunity and timing. He becomes the third U.S. Navy SEAL to enter orbit. Ryzhikov, a 50-year-old veteran cosmonaut, begins his third mission, while 32-year-old Zubritsky embarks on his first. The mission’s call sign is “Favour,” and the crew’s patch honours two key milestones in space history: the 60th anniversary of the first spacewalk and 50 years since the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.
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