Global cases of groundwater recovery after interventions - Science | AAAS

A conceptual figure from the study showing how researchers used InSAR deformation data to create a permeability map of the aquifer after about six months of groundwater pumping. The bottom layer is InSAR deformation data from remote sensing satellites laid over Google Earth images of the aquifer site. The middle layer is the inferred permeability map created using the Bayesian inversion framework. The top layer shows a view of vertical deformation experienced in the aquifer based on the permeability map, with peaks exaggerated to highlight changes. Credit: Alghamdi et al Groundwater in many areas of the U. S. and across the globe is being depleted as pumping for drinking water and agriculture outpaces nature's ability to refill aquifers. In the most severe cases, this could lead to a point of no return, where an aquifer's physical structure collapses and it cannot be refilled.

IntroductionOffshore freshened groundwater (OFG) is subsurface porewater with salinity below that of ambient seawater, occurring in sediments and rocks beneath or seaward of the shoreline. The definition refers to a salinity state rather than to a process and this distinction led to a recent proposal to rename the phenomenon Offshore Relatively Fresh Groundwater (ORFG), since "freshened" can be read as implying ongoing change1. OFG has emerged as a significant yet poorly constrained part of the global hydrological cycle, with reservoirs identified along continental margins worldwide2,3. Global water stress is growing, particularly in densely populated coastal regions. OFG is also of broader scientific importance for understanding geohazards, biogeochemical cycling, subseafloor microbiology, and the preservation of archaeological records. There is therefore an urgent need to better constrain the emplacement, stability, and distribution of OFG2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10.

A new study suggests that Jezero Crater's mysterious "Margin Unit" records a far more complicated history of water than scientists expected, involving ancient lakes, groundwater, and later hydrothermal activity. When NASA's Perseverance rover arrived at the inner rim of Mars' Jezero Crater in September 2023, researchers expected to encounter sedimentary rocks along what was once the shoreline of a Martian lake. Such rocks form as layers of material accumulate over long periods of time. On Earth, sedimentary rocks made from clay and silt can be especially valuable because they are capable of preserving evidence of ancient microbial life.

Groundwater is one of the world’s most important yet least visible water resources, supporting communities, ecosystems, agriculture, and economies worldwide. As climate change intensifies drought and increases pressure on surface-water supplies, understanding groundwater responses is essential to building resilient and sustainable water systems. In this UNU-INWEH Science Talk, Esther Oyedele will explore the connections between climate change, groundwater, and water security, using the Colorado River Basin as a case study. Drawing on recent research into groundwater responses to severe surface-water shortages in the Upper and Lower Colorado River Basins, she will examine how responses can differ within the same river system and what these differences reveal about the hidden dimensions of drought. She will also connect these findings to broader global challenges in sustainable water management, environmental resilience, and human and ecosystem well-being, highlighting why groundwater must be central to discussions on climate adaptation and water security. You may watch the talk on the UNU-INWEH YouTube channel (no registration required).

Illustration of the genetic link between stellar properties and planetary system architectures. Credit: INAF / Universitat de València / image generation. For most of human history, planetary systems were a sample size of one. Ours. Then people learned about Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn since antiquity, tracking their movements for generations. Uranus joined the planetary roster in 1781 thanks to the telescope, followed by Neptune in 1846, but every planet we discovered still belonged to the same family orbiting our Sun.

08:02CDTA study funded by NASA, and published in The Planetary Science Journal, has determined that the Moon's radius has decreased by about 45 meters. The scientists' analysis concluded that this reduction occurred over the last 400 to 800 million years. Every million years, according to the report's estimates, the Earth’s satellite’s radius would shrink by between 6 and 11 centimeters. In other words, 0.1 micrometers (0.0001 millimeters) per year. Aside from this fact, the research funded by the U. S. space agency has identified more than 10,000 faults on the Moon as a result of studying images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, in orbit since 2009. This finding could pose a setback for exploration of the satellite: NASA is considering establishing a lunar base with basic infrastructure in 2032. Until then, efforts are focused on determining possible locations for the installation. The large number of faults detected goes beyond mere scientific curiosity, as it could pose a setback for future crewed missions. The reason is that, unlike the Earth, with 15 major tectonic plates, the Moon has a single plate.