Thursday, February 13, 2025

Comprehensive global study shows pesticides are major contributor to biodiversity crisis

Analysis highlights negative impacts for over 800 species of non-target plants, animals, fungi and microbes

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

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Honeybees on oil seed rape.
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Credit: Lucy Hulmes

Pesticides are causing overwhelming negative effects on hundreds of species of microbes, fungi, plants, insects, fish, birds and mammals that they are not intended to harm – and globally their use is a major contributor to the biodiversity crisis.

That is the finding of the first study assessing the impacts of pesticides across all types of species in land and water habitats, carried out by an international research team that included the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and the University of Sussex.

Multiple negative impacts

The scientists analysed over 1,700 existing lab and field studies of the impacts of 471 different pesticide types – either insecticides, fungicides or herbicides – in agricultural, commercial or domestic use.

Wide-ranging negative effects were seen for over 800 species found on land and in water, including impacts on how fast they grow, their reproductive success, and even behaviour such as their ability to catch prey, find plants to forage upon, move, or attract mates. Pesticides can also affect organisms’ metabolism and damage cells.

These negative effects can result in the premature death of wild organisms and reduce populations.

The international study, led by East China University of Science and Technology, has been published in Nature Communications.

The researchers say that, unlike previous studies which have tended to look at specific groups of species such as bees, fish or plants, or specific habitats, they have considered representatives of the whole spectrum of species found in the natural world.

Necessary option

“Our study provides an unparalleled insight into the consequences of pesticide use on the natural environment globally,” said co-author Dr Ben Woodcock, an ecologist at UKCEH.

“Pesticides are a necessary evil, without which global food production and farmers’ livelihoods would likely collapse. However, our findings highlight the need for policies and practices to reduce their use. This could include bottom-up initiatives led by farmers such as regenerative agriculture, as well as government policies such as Defra’s Sustainable Farming Incentive, which pays farmers to reduce insecticide use on crops.”

Professor Dave Goulson of the University of Sussex, who was also part of the research, added: “It is often assumed that pesticides are toxic primarily to the target pest and closely related organisms, but this is clearly not true. Concerningly, we found pervasive negative impacts across plants, animals, fungi and microbes, threatening the integrity of ecosystems.”

Alternatives

Overuse of pesticides not only threatens beneficial species they are not intended to target but can also enable pests to develop resistance to the chemicals, rendering them ineffective. Farms in the UK, for example, are currently encouraged to carry out an Integrated Pest Management assessment which emphasises reduced pesticide use and natural pest control. In the European Union, over 10% of land under agricultural production is organic, using no synthetic pesticides.

Alternative options for farmers include planting wildflowers and beetle banks to support species that eat pests, allowing them to reduce spraying when there are high numbers of these natural predators present. Other measures include adjusting the timing of planting to avoid pests and rotating crops to break the species’ life cycles and reduce their numbers.

Gardeners can do their bit to reduce the use of chemicals. Options for natural pest control include introducing nematodes, ladybirds or mites, which can be bought online, and encouraging other natural predators such as frogs, birds and hedgehogs with wildlife-friendly gardening. Physical barriers such as netting can prevent caterpillar and bird damage.

Future developments

New monitoring work by UKCEH, working with Defra, is currently using honeybee colonies to monitor pesticide risks across England to act as an early warning of emerging problems.

Dr Woodcock pointed out there was a lot of scope in the future for developing agricultural methods to be more responsive to our natural pest controllers, such as AI monitoring of both pests and predators using high-tech cameras.

- Ends –

Media enquiries

For interviews and further information, please contact Simon Williams, Media Relations Officer at UKCEH, via simwil@ceh.ac.uk or +44 (0)7920 295384.

Notes to editors

Paper information

Wan et al. 2025. Pesticides have negative effects on non-target organisms. Nature Communications. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56732-x. Open access.

About the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH)

The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) is a leading independent research institute dedicated to understanding and transforming how we interact with the natural world.
With over 600 researchers, we tackle the urgent environmental challenges of our time, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Our evidence-based insights empower governments, businesses, and communities to make informed decisions, shaping a future where both nature and people thrive.

www.ceh.ac.uk / X: @UK_CEH / LinkedIn: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

About the University of Sussex
Over more than six decades the University of Sussex has developed a reputation for thinking differently, challenging convention and fostering critical thinking. Our research and teaching are curiosity-driven, addressing the most important issues of our time and finding solutions to environmental, scientific, social and technological challenges.

From scientific discovery to global policy, from student wellbeing to career development, Sussex innovates and takes a lead. Today, in every part of society and across the world, you will find someone from Sussex making an original and valuable contribution to positive social change.

www.sussex.ac.uk

Journal

Nature Communications

DOI

10.1038/s41467-025-56732-x

Method of Research

Meta-analysis

Article Title

Pesticides have negative effects on non-target organisms.

Article Publication Date

13-Feb-2025

RACHEL CARSON WAS RIGHT

Our Synthetic Environment
Libcom.org
https://files.libcom.org › files › Bookchin M. Our ...

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by M BookchinCited by 317 — Illness may occur under "favorable" as well as "unfavorable" environmental conditions. Heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and diabetes-the most important.

101 pages

SPACE/COSMOS

Jumping workouts could help astronauts on the moon and Mars, study in mice suggests

HOW ABOUT HOPPING?!

First-of-a-kind study hints at likely way to counter cartilage damage in long space journeys

Johns Hopkins University

Jumping mice — video:
Close-up view of the custom-built apparatus to allow for precise control over jump height and frequency. The study corresponded to roughly five human years and mirrors a progressive overload approach used in human sports performance.
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Credit: CREDIT: Marco Chiaberge/Johns Hopkins University.

Jumping workouts could help astronauts prevent the type of cartilage damage they are likely to endure during lengthy missions to Mars and the Moon, a new Johns Hopkins University study suggests.

The research adds to ongoing efforts by space agencies to protect astronauts against deconditioning/getting out of shape due to low gravity, a crucial aspect of their ability to perform spacewalks, handle equipment and repairs, and carry out other physically demanding tasks.

The study, which shows knee cartilage in mice grew healthier following jumping exercises, appears in the journal npj Microgravity.

“Since the next step in human exploration of space is going to Mars and spending long periods of time in permanent bases on the moon, cartilage damage is a really major issue that space agencies need to address despite how very poorly understood it is,” said study author Marco Chiaberge, an astrophysicist at Johns Hopkins University, the Space Telescope Science Institute, and the European Space Agency. “The positive effect we saw in these mice is huge, and the magnitude of it was unexpected. They can basically make their cartilage thicker if they jump. Maybe astronauts could use similar training before their flight as a preventive measure.”

Healthy cartilage is essential for pain-free movement, as it cushions joints and decreases bone friction. But cartilage heals slowly and does not regenerate as fast as other tissue. Prolonged periods of inactivity—whether from bed rest, injury, or space travel—can accelerate cartilage breakdown. Space radiation can also accelerate this effect, and European Space Agency experiments have shown evidence of cartilage degradation in astronauts who spend several months aboard the International Space Station.

“Think about sending somebody on a trip to Mars, they get there and they can't walk because they developed osteoarthritis of the knees or the hips and their joints don't function,” Chiaberge said. “Astronauts also perform spacewalks often. They serviced the Hubble Space Telescope five times, and in the future, they will need to spend more time in space and the Moon, where we will build larger telescopes to explore the universe and where they will need to stay as healthy as possible.”

Previous research has shown that treadmill running may help slow cartilage breakdown in rodents. The new Johns Hopkins study adds to the evidence by demonstrating that jump-based exercise may prevent articular cartilage loss in knees and could actually improve cartilage health.

The researchers found that mice in a nine-week program of reduced movement experienced cartilage thinning and cellular clustering, both early indicators of arthritis. But mice that performed jump training three times a week showed the opposite effect—thicker, healthier cartilage with normal cellular structure.

The study found the mice with reduced movement had a 14% reduction in cartilage thickness, while those in the jump-training group had a 26% increase compared to a control group. Additionally, the jumping mice had 110% thicker cartilage than the reduced activity group.

Jumping also enhanced bone strength. The team found shin bones in the jumping mice had 15% higher mineral density. Trabecular bone—spongy bone tissue that absorbs impact—was significantly thicker and more robust.

“Leg strength is particularly important and most highly impacted by microgravity, so any procedures that can address multiple aspects of muscle deconditioning, and maybe even reduce the two-hour daily exercise requirement in space, would be most welcome,” said author Mark Shelhamer, a professor of otolaryngology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and former NASA Human Research Program Chief Scientist. “The same reasoning applies to bone integrity, including cartilage. There is increasing recognition of the importance of cartilage as a distinct component in bone integrity, and this study contributes to that understanding.”

While more research is needed to confirm whether humans would enjoy the same benefits, the findings offer promising information to protect cartilage and bone structure. Jumping exercises could be included in pre-flight routines to prepare joints for space travel, and specially designed exercise machines could help integrate similar workouts in space.

The study could help scientists explore how jump-based training might not only aid patients with arthritis but also boost cartilage health with generally applicable exercises, said author Chen-Ming Fan, a musculoskeletal biologist at Carnegie Science.

The researchers emphasized the need for further research to determine the ideal exercise volume and frequency for preserving and strengthening cartilage. Future work will also explore whether jump training could help reverse cartilage loss and whether the exercise could help astronauts restrengthen their cartilage and recover damage from space flight.

“Now that we got our first clue that one type of exercise can increase cartilage, which was completely unknown before, we could start looking into other types of cartilage. What about the meniscus? Could it also get thicker?” said Fan, who is also an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins. “This research could help performance-enhancement studies, rather than just focusing on pathological conditions, and help athletes or virtually anyone interested in doing the right exercises to improve their performance.”

Other authors are Neelima Thottappillil, Anderson Furlanetto, Dylan Odell, Christine Wang, Stephen Hope, Stephen Smee, Joseph Rehfus, Colin Norman, and Aaron W. James of Johns Hopkins; Anna-Maria Liphardt of Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität; Anja Niehoff of German Sport University Cologne; and Marc J. Philippon and Johnny Huard of Steadman Philippon Research Institute.

This research was supported by a Space@Hopkins Seed Grant and by the Carnegie Science Endowment fund.

Journal

npj Microgravity

DOI

10.1038/s41526-025-00458-z

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Plyometric training increases thickness and volume of knee articular cartilage in mice

Article Publication Date

13-Feb-2025

MSU scientists discover new sources for ‘the molecule that made the universe’

Michigan State University

Images

EAST LANSING, Mich. – From helping catalyze interstellar reactions and fueling the birth of stars to its presence in neighborhood gas giants like Saturn and Jupiter, trihydrogen, or H3+, is best known as the “the molecule that made the universe.”

While we have a clear picture of how the majority of H3+ is formed — a hydrogen molecule, or H2, colliding with its ionized counterpart, H2+ — scientists are keen to understand alternative sources of H3+ and to better measure its abundance throughout the cosmos.

Now, in a new paper appearing in Nature Communications, Michigan State researchers Piotr Piecuch and Marcos Dantus and their groups and collaborators have provided unprecedented insights into the formation of H3+ in compounds known as methyl halogens and pseudohalogens.

These findings follow previous breakthrough discoveries at MSU, including the formation of H3+ through a unique “roaming mechanism” in doubly ionized organic molecules.

Double ionization occurs when an atom or molecule is subjected to enough energy, say from a cosmic ray or laser, that it loses two electrons.

In their latest paper, the team observed a similar roaming mechanism in doubly ionized methyl halogens and pseudohalogens, uncovering an array of factors that govern the formation — or absence — of H3+ in these particular compounds.

These formation factors can be applied to a wide variety of other molecules, broadening the horizon for researchers looking to study the origins and formation of the molecules in the universe.

“H3+ is a small molecule that might not be as important to us on Earth as water or proteins, but it’s a molecule we truly want to understand in terms of its abundance in the universe, how it is produced, and how fast its chemical reactions are,” Piecuch said, a University Distinguished Professor and MSU Research Foundation Professor in the Department of Chemistry.

“With our findings, we can communicate with others who are looking for sources of H3+ and the molecules that can form it.”

Roaming the cosmos

Being “the molecule that made the universe” comes with high expectations, and H3+ certainly lives up to the name.

“H3+ is essential for astrochemistry, from the birth of stars to the formation of many organic molecules,” said Dantus, an MSU Research Foundation Professor in MSU’s Department of Chemistry.

With these crucial roles in mind, the Dantus Research Group had previously looked beyond the H2-meets-H2+ formation pathway in search of alternative sources of H3+. This earlier research led them to doubly ionize certain organic molecules, resulting in a surprising outcome.

Rather than immediately breaking apart, as might be expected when putting two positive charges in a small enough molecular space, a neutral hydrogen — H2 — was instead ejected from the molecule.

Like a dancer searching a ballroom for a partner, this H2 then “roamed” around the molecule until it plucked out an extra proton, forming H3+.

“We demonstrated that the hydrogen didn’t simply fly away, but it stuck around, sometimes for quite a long time,” Dantus added, who is also a University Distinguished Professor. “This was highly unusual.”

“It’s not the usual way of thinking about the behavior of doubly ionized molecules, but a much trickier process,” Piecuch said, comparing the roaming mechanism followed by proton abstraction by H2 to the traditional image of a doubly ionized molecule blowing apart due to repulsion of two positive charges — a process better known as a Coulomb explosion.

Turning their attention to halogens and pseudohalogens in their latest publication, Piecuch, Dantus and their colleagues have confirmed several more molecules that form H3+ through double ionization and, just as crucially, identified those that don’t.

The publication includes several movies showing how H3+ is formed in particular instances. These were prepared in collaboration with Professor Benjamin Levine at Stony Brook University and can be viewed by visiting the publication’s supplementary material.

These findings were achieved through a combination of ultrafast laser spectroscopy and cutting-edge computational chemistry, a balancing act of expertise between the two groups of Spartan scientists.

“What was quite special about this project — to bring it to fruition — was the use of state-of-the-art techniques from each side, including high-level theory and experimentation,” Piecuch added.

The hunt for H3+

In cracking the code on H3+ formation in halogens and pseudohalogens, the researchers have successfully created a set of governing factors allowing them to predict which organic compounds can produce H3+ through doubly ionized roaming — factors that Dantus and Piecuch say can be applied to a diverse array of other molecules, including many they did not study.

These guidelines are a powerful tool for fellow scientists who continue the search for alternative and perhaps surprising sources of H3+, such as molecular clouds in interstellar space.

“Hydrogen is the most common element in the universe, so H2 meeting H2+ is still the key,” Dantus explained. “However, there are so many organic molecules in these diffuse molecular clouds that it’s possible a lot of H3+ is still being formed by the processes we’ve studied.”

When dealing with a molecule as ubiquitous as H3+, the discovery of its new sources can ultimately deepen our understanding of cosmic chemistry at all levels.

“Even if there are only a few percent more H3+ molecules in the universe because of the small organic compounds we and others have studied, the models that scientists use to study processes such as star formation may have to be revisited,” Piecuch concluded.

By Bethany Mauger and Connor Yeck

###

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for 170 years. One of the world’s leading public research universities, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery to make a better, safer, healthier world for all while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 400 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

For MSU news on the web, go to MSUToday or x.com/MSUnews.

Journal

Nature Communications

Article Title

Factors governing formation from methyl halogens and pseudohalogens

Solar-powered device captures carbon dioxide from air to make sustainable fuel

University of Cambridge

Researchers have developed a reactor that pulls carbon dioxide directly from the air and converts it into sustainable fuel, using sunlight as the power source.

The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, say their solar-powered reactor could be used to make fuel to power cars and planes, or the many chemicals and pharmaceuticals products we rely on. It could also be used to generate fuel in remote or off-grid locations.

Unlike most carbon capture technologies, the reactor developed by the Cambridge researchers does not require fossil-fuel-based power, or the transport and storage of carbon dioxide, but instead converts atmospheric CO2 into something useful using sunlight. The results are reported in the journal Nature Energy.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has been touted as a possible solution to the climate crisis, and has recently received £22bn in funding from the UK government. However, CCS is energy-intensive and there are concerns about the long-term safety of storing pressurised CO2 deep underground, although safety studies are currently being carried out.

“Aside from the expense and the energy intensity, CCS provides an excuse to carry on burning fossil fuels, which is what caused the climate crisis in the first place,” said Professor Erwin Reisner, who led the research. “CCS is also a non-circular process, since the pressurised CO2 is, at best, stored underground indefinitely, where it’s of no use to anyone.”

“What if instead of pumping the carbon dioxide underground, we made something useful from it?” said first author Dr Sayan Kar from Cambridge’s Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry. “CO2 is a harmful greenhouse gas, but it can also be turned into useful chemicals without contributing to global warming.”

The focus of Reisner’s research group is the development of devices that convert waste, water and air into practical fuels and chemicals. These devices take their inspiration from photosynthesis: the process by which plants convert sunlight into food. The devices don’t use any outside power: no cables, no batteries – all they need is the power of the sun.

The team’s newest system takes CO2 directly from the air and converts it into syngas: a key intermediate in the production of many chemicals and pharmaceuticals. The researchers say their approach, which does not require any transportation or storage, is much easier to scale up than earlier solar-powered devices.

The device, a solar-powered flow reactor, uses specialised filters to grab CO2 from the air at night, like how a sponge soaks up water. When the sun comes out, the sunlight heats up the captured CO2, absorbing infrared radiation and a semiconductor powder absorbs the ultraviolet radiation to start a chemical reaction that converts the captured CO2 into solar syngas. A mirror on the reactor concentrates the sunlight, making the process more efficient.

The researchers are currently working on converting the solar syngas into liquid fuels, which could be used to power cars, planes and more – without adding more CO2 to the atmosphere.

“If we made these devices at scale, they could solve two problems at once: removing CO2 from the atmosphere and creating a clean alternative to fossil fuels,” said Kar. “CO2 is seen as a harmful waste product, but it is also an opportunity.”

The researchers say that a particularly promising opportunity is in the chemical and pharmaceutical sector, where syngas can be converted into many of the products we rely on every day, without contributing to climate change. They are building a larger scale version of the reactor and hope to begin tests in the spring.

If scaled up, the researchers say their reactor could be used in a decentralised way, so that individuals could theoretically generate their own fuel, which would be useful in remote or off-grid locations.

“Instead of continuing to dig up and burn fossil fuels to produce the products we have come to rely on, we can get all the CO2 we need directly from the air and reuse it,” said Reisner. “We can build a circular, sustainable economy – if we have the political will to do it.”

The technology is being commercialised with the support of Cambridge Enterprise, the University’s commercialisation arm. The research was supported in part by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the European Research Council, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and the Cambridge Trust. Erwin Reisner is a Fellow of St John’s College, Cambridge.

Journal

Nature Energy

DOI

10.1038/s41560-025-01714-y

Article Title

Direct air capture of CO2 for solar fuels production in flow

Article Publication Date

13-Feb-2025

LA REVUE GAUCHE - Left Comment

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Comprehensive global study shows pesticides are major contributor to biodiversity crisis

Journal

DOI

Method of Research

Article Title

Article Publication Date

Our Synthetic Environment

Jumping workouts could help astronauts on the moon and Mars, study in mice suggests

Journal

DOI

Method of Research

Subject of Research

Article Title

Article Publication Date

MSU scientists discover new sources for ‘the molecule that made the universe’

Journal

Article Title

Solar-powered device captures carbon dioxide from air to make sustainable fuel

Journal

DOI

Article Title

Article Publication Date

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