Narwhals and soil experiments provide new environmental insights

Scientists are utilizing narwhals as mobile research platforms to study the inaccessible waters beneath Greenland's glaciers. By equipping these whales with detachable sensors, researchers can measure water temperature and depth within Arctic fjords where ships and satellites face limitations. The data reveals that warm Atlantic water is penetrating deeper and closer to the Greenland ice sheet than previously measurable, a factor that could significantly accelerate ice melting from below.

In a separate biological study in Switzerland, researchers conducted an experiment involving the burial of 2,000 pairs of cotton underwear and 12,000 tea bags to assess soil health. The study, published in 'Plants, People, Planet', used the rate of decomposition to measure biological activity. Results showed that while soil in private gardens and agricultural areas was highly active, traditional manicured lawns exhibited the slowest decomposition rates, suggesting they may function as biologically impoverished monocultures.