Why older people are some of those worst affected by climate change

by Gary Haq, The Conversation

Credit: shutterstock

While we are all affected to some extent by extreme weather, it is older adults, especially older women and those with disabilities, who tend to be the most vulnerable. Who struggles most is partly determined by age but also pre-existing health conditions, mental well-being, and social and economic circumstances.As weather extremes are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, the world's population is getting older. This poses a significant global challenge. In 2030, around one out of every six people worldwide will be 60 or older. By that time, this age group is expected to number 1.4 billion and will increase to 2.1 billion by 2050.

Unfortunately, many older people lack the physical, mental, social, and financial resources needed to avoid or minimize the effects of extreme weather, especially in the global south. We know heat waves can be deadly for older people due to a reduced ability to regulate body temperature in old age, for instance. This is made worse by chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory disease, diabetes and susceptibility to dehydration.

In the past two decades, heat-related deaths among people aged 65 and above have almost doubled globally, reaching approximately 300,000 deaths in 2018. The 2022 European summer resulted in 9,226 heat-related deaths among people aged 65–79 years, with a significant increase to 36,848 deaths for those aged 80 and over.

It's not just heat waves. Flooding for instance can also cause immediate injury and death to older adults. The 2022 Pakistan floods affected around 2.3 million older people. Many of them weren't mobile enough to escape or were particularly vulnerable to diarrhea, malaria and other diseases that spread quickly in flooded areas.

With wildfires, older people are less likely to receive timely warnings because of poor access to phones and other digital communication technologies. As a result, they can remain unaware and ill prepared to confront impending danger making evacuation difficult. They are also more likely to suffer significant financial losses as they lose their own homes and may struggle to recover with limited incomes.

Tropical cyclones such as hurricanes have been linked to increased hospitalizations among older adults. In early 2023, Cyclone Freddy struck several countries across southern Africa. Malawi was worst affected, and though older adults suffered the most they were the last to be helped.

Older people have a lot to contribute

Heat-related deaths in Europe during summer 2022 were concentrated among older people. Credit: Ballester et al / Nature Medicine, CC BY-SA

The UN has acknowledged the threat climate change poses to the human rights of older people. Ageism, which can cause older people to be neglected or ignored, makes the impact of climate change worse. The marginalization of older individuals is reinforced by biased assumptions they are frail, sick and dependent, which further justifies exclusionary practices.

When it comes to climate action, older people often face stereotypes of being "passive, incapable and withdrawn." However, they have a lot to contribute to addressing this global issue.

As society ages, there are a growing number of retired people who are educated, active and enjoying longer lives. They possess unique economic and social resources that can be extremely valuable in tackling climate change.

They also wield significant voting power and economic influence, which can be harnessed to promote climate policies. Climate action is often associated with young people. Around 70% of under 18s who responded to a major UN worldwide survey believed climate change is a global emergency. But their older counterparts are not far behind—58% of those aged 60-plus feel the same. Getting older people involved and empowering them to take action in tackling the climate crisis can help build even more support for the climate movement.

Older adults often hold indigenous and local knowledge of the place where they live. Their memories of past events and disasters provide valuable insights which can be crucial in adapting to and reducing the impact of climate change.

For example, in Bolivia, HelpAge International used the wisdom of older people to implement a traditional technique called camellones or "camel humps" to adapt to climate challenges. These raised beds protected crops during floods, improved water retention during droughts and also helped maintain soil health and diverse crop production, ensuring better food security.

Many older people also aspire to leave a legacy, passing on their values and a preserved planet to future generations. This desire drives them to take part in climate action, ensuring a better world for future generations. Engaging and empowering older people therefore in climate action not only provides an opportunity to address the climate emergency, but can contribute to building local community resilience.

To make this happen, we need to overcome obstacles such as access to technology, or buildings that are not easily accessible, so that older people can contribute their skills and abilities. There are already various initiatives around the world, such as The Elders and Senior Environment Corps, as well as specific groups like Elders for Climate Action in the US and Seniors for Climate Action in Canada, which involve older people in climate-related efforts.

It is crucial now, more than ever, that we reach old age in good health to have the resilience to deal with extreme weather events. This not only requires climate-proofing cities and other communities but recognizing and using the valuable knowledge and experience of older people in tackling the climate crisis.

Provided by The Conversation 

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Millennials and Gen-Z have higher rates of climate worry, finds study

 

Helicopter, drones bomb Colorado's 3,378-acre Little Mesa fire with igniting ping pong balls

by Bruce Finley, The Denver Post

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A lightning-sparked fire southwest of Delta was burning on 3,378 acres Tuesday morning after firefighters deployed a helicopter and drones to drop hundreds of ping-pong balls filled with glycol chemicals that ignite on impact to create backfires on mesas and clear unburned dead trees

This Little Mesa fire, discovered on July 31, has been burning in pinon, juniper, and sage forest about 15 miles southwest of Delta in the Dominguez Escalante National Conservation Area. The aerial ignition of backfires fits into a "confine and contain" strategy that federal Bureau of Land Management officials have adopted in trying to control the fire—one of multiple fires burning on more than 6,700 acres around western Colorado.

A bit of rain Monday helped control flames on the south side of the fire. Firefighters on Tuesday were focused on the north side area from Black Point to Dry Mesa.

"There's just a lot of dead and downed trees. They are trying to burn those out," BLM spokeswoman Deana Harms said. "They are working at the natural barriers."

The fire also was burning on Uncompaghre National Forest terrain. Smoke from the fire spread eastward Monday evening into the North Fork Valley and around Delta and Hotchkiss. Federal officials advised precautions for residents in the area with respiratory sensitivity to stay indoors and use air filters.

The ping pong balls dropped from a helicopter and drone aircraft, which ignite, kicking out smoke as they hit, create deliberate backfires across wide areas as part of efforts to deny fuel for fires.

"It is safer. You don't have to put as many firefighters into dangerous situations," BLM spokeswoman Niki Carpenter said. "We also use the drones for recond on the fire."

2023 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Lowline fire expanding north of Gunnison as firefighters retreat and set backfires

 

Giant old trees are still being logged in Tasmanian forests. We must find ways of better protecting them

by Jamie Kirkpatrick, The Conversation

Credit: Bob Brown Foundation, CC BY-ND

The photo said it all. On the back of a logging truck, a tree so large it could barely fit. It was cut down in Tasmania's Florentine Valley, not far from Mount Field, where it had started life as a seedling over a century ago.

The photo triggered outrage from conservationists and the public. Greens founder Bob Brown called the felling "a national disgrace" and urged a halt to the felling of old growth giants.

Giant trees are supposed to be protected as a matter of normal process. Trees over 85 meters high or with a trunk volume of 280 cubic meters should be retained with a 100 meters radius of uncleared bush around them. The loggers say this one was cut down for "safety reasons". We don't know if this one met those criteria.

Whether or not that's true, the felling has sparked a new battle in Tasmania's long-running forest wars. Unlike in Victoria, old growth logging in Tasmania doesn't look like ending any time soon. But we must find ways to better protect these giants of nature, the tallest flowering trees in the world. They store huge amounts of carbon in their trunks and in the soil, provide habitat for many forest creatures and produce awe in humans who see them.

Why was this giant logged?

The truck transporting the trunk of the tree was seen exiting Tasmania's Florentine Valley. This valley has been the site of many protests over the years. Part of it is in the World Heritage Area, but logging is still allowed in other parts of it.

Why was a tree this size cut down? Safety.

"On occasion, it may be necessary for Sustainable Timber Tasmania to remove a large tree where it presents an access or safety risk," a spokeswoman told news.com.au.

That is possible. Giant old trees can hollow out as they age and become a safety risk if people are allowed near them. But the trunk in the published photo shows no sign of hollowing out. If it was a giant, the mandatory 100 meter protection zone would eliminate almost all risk.

At the very least, the felling suggests not all of Tasmania's ancient trees are adequately protected. What it shows is the need for independent assessment of areas slated for logging likely to be home to giants—and to ensure trees felled for "safety" reasons" genuinely need to be removed.

And what about trees that are not quite big enough to be protected? As ecologist and tall-tree expert Dr. Jennifer Sanger has observed, the 85-meter figure is arbitrary. We need to plan for the giant trees of the future by keeping the almost giant trees of now.

Ancient giants matter

Mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) is the world's largest flowering plant. The trees can live up to 700 years and reach over 100 meters in height.

Do they matter more than other trees? Yes. That's because big old trees begin to decay in interesting ways, creating hollows for possums and birds to nest in, and even hollowing out inside the trunk, which makes habitat for bats. They play an outsized role in ecosystems in providing shelter, hollows and food.

Ironically, these processes of decay can make these giants all but useless for timber. If you're logging a giant to turn it into large structural beams, you might find it's hollow inside and all but useless.

The sheer size of these trees also means they have more habitat to offer for other forms of life. Native animals, birds and invertebrates rely on these trees. Plus, they store massive amounts of carbon, both above ground and in the soil. Cutting down the old growth forests of which these trees are a part and turning them into production forests results in a substantial ongoing leakage of soil carbon for many generations.

The trees induce awe and wonder in most who see them. People are passionate about keeping them on the planet—one of the reasons for the forest wars in the first place. These huge trees attract tourists to walk beneath them or up in their canopies.

Haven't Tasmania's forest wars stopped?

Sadly, no. The decades-long battle between loggers and conservationists in Tasmania has certainly become less intense after many old growth forests such as the Weld, Styx, Florentine and Great Western Tiers gained World Heritage protection in 2013.

But native forest logging in Tasmania shows no sign of stopping entirely. Old-growth logging continues around the state, including in the Florentine Valley where this giant tree was felled. Rainforest trees in some reserves are available for logging.

In May, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced his state would this year end native forest logging, which has long been a loss-making industry. Instead, plantation logging will be expanded.

Why can't Tasmania do this? It mostly comes down to politics. Tasmania is the poorest state in Australia, and the few jobs logging native forests are politically important.

Also, the wood from larger trees are better for ends such as veneer, exposed beams and furniture than most plantation-sourced wood. Their felling can be rewarding financially for the companies that do it, as no-one has to pay to grow them and they can contain large volumes of high quality wood.

But overall, cutting down old growth forests may not stack up economically, with the quasi-government enterprises managing production forests often making losses. It didn't make much financial sense in Victoria, and may not in Tasmania.

Will the felling of this giant bring change? Don't bet on it. Probably the best we can hope for is to preserve as many giants—and near-giants—as we can. And to do that, we'll need independent assessments of old growth forest slated for logging to double-check measurements of these precious trees.

Provided by The Conversation 

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Old-growth trees more drought tolerant than younger ones, providing a buffer against climate change

 

Researchers develop a sustainable gel film to capture carbon dioxide with reduced energy cost

by Dr. Youhong Guo

Fig 1. Schematic of the sustainable carbon capture hydrogels. Credit: Youhong Guo

Global CO2 emissions for 2022 reached 36.1 gigatons, and this consumed 13–36% of the remaining carbon budget to limit warming to 1.5°C, which means our permissible emissions could be depleted within two years.

Direct air capture (DAC) technologies extract CO2 directly from the atmosphere at any location, but their practicality is limited by the higher energy needs and overall costs. In particular, most solid-sorbent-based systems cannot function well in humid conditions and have high regeneration temperatures or require vacuum conditions.

Design of sustainable carbon capture hydrogels (SCCH)

To overcome these challenges, we developed sustainable carbon-capture hydrogels (SCCH) as a step-change material for CO2 capture with high uptake and exceptionally low regeneration energy (Figure 1). The study is published in the journal Nano Letters.

In contrast to other sorbent materials where the inert water leads to energy-intensive thermal regeneration, water in hydrogels has a reduced evaporation enthalpy that can contribute to a lowered regeneration energy. The SCCH consists of low-cost biomass konjac gum, thermo-responsive cellulose, and uniformly dispersed polyethylenimine (PEI). Another advantage of this SCCH is its unique hierarchical structure. The micro- and nanoscale pores enable CO2 transport and easy access to active amine sites.

Fig 2. (left) moisture-enhanced carbon dioxide capture and (right) low regeneration temperature at ~60 degrees Celsius. Credit: Youhong Guo

Carbon dioxide capture performance

The precaptured water vapor enhances the CO2 binding with PEI, which leads to a much higher capture capacity under humid conditions (Figure 2, left). In addition, the captured CO2 releases at a low energy supply (Figure 2, right), which can be achieved by mild electric heating or solar irradiation without vacuum, as long as the temperature reaches ~60°C. This is assisted by reduced evaporation enthalpy of water in hydrophilic hydrogels and the thermo-responsiveness of cellulose.

We also highlight another advantage of our SCCH, which is the ease of preparation. The gel can be made with commercially available materials, dissolved in water, poured into a mold, and followed by a freeze-drying process. This is scalable and durable in ambient air, which benefits practical application. With such a low regeneration temperature, our new hydrogels can be a game-changing materials platform for more sustainable air quality management and DAC technologies.

This story is part of Science X Dialog, where researchers can report findings from their published research articles. Visit this page for information about ScienceX Dialog and how to participate.

More information: Youhong Guo et al, Scalable Biomass-Derived Hydrogels for Sustainable Carbon Dioxide Capture, Nano Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c02157

Journal information: Nano Letters 

Youhong Guo is a Postdoc in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, working with Prof. T. Alan Hatton. Her research interests are developing polymer materials for applications in energy and environmental sustainability.

Researchers report a temperature-responsive gel that absorbs and releases moisture

 

Non-toxic, sustainable cleaning agent developed for paintings

by Technical University Munich

The SANS-1 instrument reveals the nanostructure of the polymers. Credit: Bernhard Ludewig, FRM II / TUM

The restoration of artworks often involves solvents which have toxic properties. Now researchers have succeeded for the first time in creating a non-toxic and sustainable cleaning agent for paintings.

Scientists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) Research Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) investigated the structure of the agent, referred to as an organogel. The paper is published in the Journal of Colloid and Interface Science.

Artistically valuable paintings are irreplaceable, unique works which should be preserved for future generations. However, with the passing of the years they tend to become dull. The reason: A patina of dust, soot, aggressive air pollutants and microorganisms makes the surfaces of the painting look dark and muted.

"In order to remove the patina from water-sensitive surfaces, restorers usually use liquid organic solvents which are however hazardous to humans and are also a burden on the environment," says Prof. Piero Baglioni, chemist at the University of Florence. Ever since beginning his studies he has worked on the restauration of artworks.

Together with an international research team, the scientist has now developed a cleaning agent for paintings which is non-toxic, environmentally friendly and sustainable. The main component of the cleaning agent is castor oil, a natural product which is inexpensive to obtain. Stiff gels can be made from castor oil using certain synthesis processes.

Gels can carry solvents

These organogels have the special property of being able to integrate organic solvents in their molecular networks. "The gels carrying the solvent can be used to clean works of art without further protective measures: The restorer can apply the organogels and then, after letting them work for a while, can remove them again together with the dust and dirt which has accumulated on the surface. The procedure is very low-impact, since the solvents remain in the gels and are not able to penetrate surface structures," Baglioni explains.

But, how are the organogels structured and how does this structure change when they carry solvents? This question can't be answered using classical investigative methods.

Neutrons render the structure of the organogels visible

The answer to this question comes from the Research Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) at the TUM Garching campus. Neutrons, whose wavelengths are shorter than the wavelengths of light, can be used to reveal structures of only a few nanometers in size. "Neutrons are absolutely necessary in order to understand the structure and dynamics of the organogels," Baglioni points out.

His team used the SANS-1 instrument, a special measuring device for Small-Angle Neutron Scattering" (SANS). "Until now there has been little research on organogels. The investigations at FRM II reveal for the first time their nanostructure and provide information on how the structure changes when the polymers are charged with organic solvents," says Baglioni.

The team used the results of the investigation to optimize the new cleaning agent. In a practical test, restorers at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice were given a stiff organogel as well as a container full of the solvent. The components are easy to store, can be mixed as needed and applied to paintings. The new cleaning agent was recently used to successfully restore a painting by Giorgio de Chirico which had been difficult to clean using conventional methods.  A SURREALIST OF COURSE

More information: Giovanna Poggi et al, Nanostructured bio-based castor oil organogels for the cleaning of artworks, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.01.119

Provided by Technical University Munich

Rescuing street art from vandals' graffiti

 

Study provides insight to early establishment of agroforestry systems in tropical areas

by Zhang Nannan, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Land use change alters carbon and nitrogen dynamics mediated by fungal functional 

guilds within soil aggregates. Credit: Liu Chenggang

Land use change is one of the greatest threats to soil biodiversity and ecological functions. Tropical deforestation to establish monoculture cash tree plantations poses the greatest threat to biodiversity. However, how such a transition affects soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics driven by fungal communities at the aggregate level remains unclear.

In a study published in Science of The Total Environment, researchers from the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences assessed the impact of tropical land use change on soil fungal functional guilds and the effects on soil C and N cycling processes at the aggregate level.

The researchers determined C and N fractions, fungal communities, enzymatic activities and chemical properties within three soil aggregates in a natural forest, 12- and 24-year-old rubber monocultures and corresponding agroforestry systems in Xishuangbanna, southwest China.

They found that the differential land use change on soil C and N dynamics were mediated by fungal functional guilds across aggregate sizes. The C and N pools in all aggregates were generally reduced when tropical forests were converted to rubber monocultures. Microbial C and N biomass decreased in agroforestry systems.

Carbon- and N-degrading enzyme activities responded differently to forest conversion and were increased in agroforestry systems. As the soil aggregate size decreased, the levels of C and N pools and associated enzyme activities increased.

In addition, pathogenic fungi increased at the expense of saprotrophic and symbiotic fungi with forest conversion. Soil aggregate size influenced fungal diversity rather than composition, with microaggregates having the highest diversity.

C and N pools within aggregates were variedly affected by fungal functional guilds, mainly driven by soil pH, regardless of land use type. According to the researchers, all the differences were attributed to changes in species diversity, soil properties and associated agroforestry management.

"Our study provides an important insight into the early establishment of agroforestry systems in tropical cash tree plantations due to the greater benefits in nutrient cycling and pathogen control," said Liu Chenggang of XTBG.

More information: Chenggang Liu et al, Land use change alters carbon and nitrogen dynamics mediated by fungal functional guilds within soil aggregates, Science of The Total Environment (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166080

Journal information: Science of the Total Environment 

Provided by Chinese Academy of Sciences Researchers advise limiting the number of intercropping species in rubber-based agroforestry

Study examines role of urban agriculture in food-energy-water nexus policies

by The City University of New York

Violin plots showing the range of responses (n=15) for each awareness-increasing policy. Median and interquartile ranges are shown with box plots within each violin plot. Credit: Landscape and Urban Planning (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2023.104848

A new paper in Landscape and Urban Planning examines policies to advance urban agriculture that address the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus, the complex relationships among the flows of food, energy and water in cities.

As urban agriculture becomes more prevalent, policies have been established to regulate and support the practice. In this study, a research team including Associate Professor Nevin Cohen and Adjunct Assistant Professor Rositsa T. Ilieva characterize existing FEW nexus policies based on policy data from five case study cities in Europe and the U.S. to analyze their relationships to urban agriculture and to identify policy types that support resource-efficient practices.

The researchers found that despite extensive evidence of the importance of the interconnections among resources, urban policies have seldom considered food, energy and water together, largely due to siloed decision-making bodies that lead to compartmentalized policies.

An analysis of policy data from Dortmund, Gorz´ow Wielkopolski, London, Nantes, and New York City found that the number, type and degree of support for nexus policies vary among the cities. Most urban agriculture policies are implemented at the local scale, and few incorporated all elements of the nexus.

However, many nexus policies indirectly include urban agriculture, such as policy in New York City requiring new buildings, or those undergoing major renovations, to have roofs covered by either solar panels or a green roof system. This regulation simultaneously addresses stormwater management, energy conservation and opportunities for rooftop food production where suitable.

"The study shows that urban policymakers ought to consider the FEW nexus to promote resource efficiency and sustainability as they try to support and expand urban farms and community gardens," says Dr. Cohen.

"Our paper highlights the importance of comparative cross-country research given the global nature of climate-related challenges affecting local communities," Dr. Ilieva emphasizes. "By highlighting pioneering urban agriculture strategies within municipal food-energy-water policies worldwide, we can help policymakers leverage the power of new and existing public policies to address these interconnected issues in tandem."

More information: Runrid Fox-Kämper et al, The role of urban agriculture in food-energy-water nexus policies: Insights from Europe and the U.S, Landscape and Urban Planning (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2023.104848

Provided by The City University of New York Gauging the environmental impact of urban farms and gardens

 

Q&A: Sustainability in space travel can aid efforts here on Earth

by Deborah Pirchner and Angelo Vermeulen, Frontiers

Artistic imagination of autonomous, long-duration space missions. Credit: E|A|S (Evolving 

Asteroid Starships)/Joris Putteneers

Dr. Angelo Vermeulen is a space systems researcher at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, where he explores advanced concepts for interstellar exploration. Over the past decade, he has collaborated closely with the European Space Agency's (ESA) MELiSSA program, developing concepts for bioregenerative life support systems for space. In such systems, a variety of microorganisms progressively break down human waste and the resulting compounds are harnessed by plants to produce oxygen and food for the crew.

Beyond his scientific pursuits, Dr Vermeulen is also an accomplished artist and a co-founder of the SEADS (Space Ecologies Art and Design) collective. SEADS creates artworks that seamlessly integrate concepts and technologies from a diverse array of scientific disciplines, including biology, neuroscience, computer science, and astrophysics.

He is the author of a recently published Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences article in which he and his co-authors describe a new model that theoretically produces all required food and oxygen during long-duration and remote space missions, removing the necessity for resupply from Earth. In this latest entry to the Frontier Scientists series, he has caught up with us on his current research.

What inspired you to become a researcher?

I've always been interested in science and exploration, for as long as I can remember. When I was eight, I knew I was going to become a biologist and I started building my own miniature home lab. I bought my own microscope (which is still sitting in my office) and that opened up a whole new world. By age twelve, a friend and I initiated our science magazine, 'Know,' selling copies at school. I predominantly covered biology and space exploration. Both fields were hugely fascinating for me, and it's essentially what I am currently doing as a researcher at TU Delft.

In my formative years, I also developed a profound interest in the arts, immersing myself in photography, cinema, and literature. During my biology Ph.D., I attended art school, completing a four-year photography program that naturally evolved into video and installation art. Currently I am combining practices, uniting scientific research with artistic creation.

Artistic imagination of bioregenerative systems and bio-inspired engineering for 

multigenerational deep space exploration. 

Credit: E|A|S (Evolving Asteroid Starships)/Arise Wan

Can you tell us about the research you're currently working on?

Together with my collaborators, I am developing computer models for systems for interstellar human exploration. Can we conceive a crewed spacecraft traveling in deep space for multiple decades without resupply possibilities? What would such systems need to be resilient enough to cope with the high degree of uncertainty experienced during a mission through unknown territories? What would the architecture of such systems look like?

One of the prerequisites will be to integrate a bioregenerative life support system (BLSS). This is an idea that can be traced back to Konstantin Tsiolkovsky who imagined plants growing inside a rocket-shaped spacecraft to sustain the astronauts.

In our current research we are developing an agent-based model (ABM) of the MELiSSA loop, ESA's version of a BLSS. This modeling approach is used to simulate the interactions of individual agents within a system to understand how they lead to emergent patterns at the collective level.

In our ABM, the agents represent crew, bioreactors, and plant plots, each with their own set of rules and behaviors. The foundation of the ABM is a detailed description of the major chemical pathways throughout the BLSS. Because we're interested in fully autonomous systems, the challenge consists in closing the loop and making sure that all oxygen and food needs for the crew are met.

This research is part of the E|A|S (Evolving Asteroid Starships) project that I initiated a few years ago. In this project we explore the usefulness of bioregenerative systems and bio-inspired engineering for multigenerational deep space exploration.

In your opinion, why is your research important?

Thinking about closed-loop systems is also extremely valuable for life on Earth. It is an approach that could radically reduce or even eliminate waste and fits entirely into the concept of the circular economy. I call this approach 'molecular sustainability.' It's a lens to look at sustainability at the smallest level: molecules and atoms. It creates a different sensitivity and enables us to look at the world and its material flow in a much more interconnected way.

MELiSSA Pilot Plant, Autonomous University of Barcelona. Credit: Dr Angelo Vermeulen

Are there any common misconceptions about this area of research? How would you address them?

One of the main misconceptions I often have to address is the perceived opposition between space exploration and climate change. Isn't it a waste to go to space while we have so many problems with our climate here on Earth? However, this is not a zero-sum game. On the contrary, it's actually through space exploration that we discovered climate change—using Earth observation satellites. And we'll need space technology in order to adequately manage Earth and safeguard its future. Our life on Earth and life in space are inextricably intertwined. Moreover, by going into space, the sheer beauty and uniqueness of our planet becomes even more apparent. It's often said that the famous 'Earthrise' photo from the Apollo era kickstarted the environmental movement.

What are some of the areas of research you'd like to see tackled in the years ahead?

The next step in our research is multimodeling: linking different types of models to gain a more holistic understanding of the questions we're investigating. Alongside the ABM, we also developed a model that describes the behavior of self-replicating space architecture for interstellar exploration. It would be wonderful to merge all our work from these past years into a single virtual workbench.

I think we also need to focus more on the application of closed-loop and bioregenerative systems right here on Earth and put more effort into addressing the significant issue of food waste. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, a staggering 1.3 billion tons of food is lost or wasted annually. This issue is especially alarming considering the rising global population and the simultaneous challenges of food insecurity and environmental degradation. Adopting a mindset focused on 'molecular sustainability' seems crucial to solve this problem.

Additionally, I think we require a more ambitious and equitable approach to advance humanity into space, not driven by political motivations or competition, but as a unified collaborative endeavor.

How has open science benefited the reach and impact of your research?

Open science is absolutely key for developing a more globally informed society. Since I collaborate with people from very different fields, both inside and outside academia, it's important that my work can be accessed by everyone. This commitment to openness not only accelerates the advancement of knowledge but also fosters a collaborative spirit that transcends boundaries and enriches collective imagination.

More information: Angelo C. J. Vermeulen et al, Stoichiometric model of a fully closed bioregenerative life support system for autonomous long-duration space missions, Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fspas.2023.1198689

Provided by Frontiers New Earth observation strategy to keep pace with our changing world