Understanding volcanoes better

Researchers of Mainz University located volcanic tremor caused by magma movement

Johannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz

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Oldoinyo Lengai in Tanzania is the only active carbonatite volcano on Earth.

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Credit: photo/©: Miriam Reiss

How do volcanoes work? What happens beneath their surface? What causes the vibrations – known as tremor – that occur when magma or gases move upward through a volcano's conduits? Professor Dr. Miriam Christina Reiss, a volcano seismologist at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), and her team have located such tremor signals at the Oldoinyo Lengai volcano in Tanzania. "We were not only able to detect tremor, but also to determine its exact position in three dimensions – its location and depth below the surface," said Reiss. "What was particularly striking was the diversity of different tremor signals we detected." The findings provide new insights into how magma and gas are transported within the Earth and thus improve our understanding of volcanic dynamics. This also has societal relevance as the researchers hope that their work will enhance the ability to forecast volcanic eruptions in the long term. Their results have recently been published in Communications Earth & Environment.

Tremor provides insights into volcanic activity

When magma rises from depths of the Earth toward or into a volcano, this can cause shaking. If the magma exerts high pressure, the surrounding rock can fracture – resulting in earthquakes. Other processes can cause milder vibrations, known as tremor, for example when magma ascends through pre-existing channels, when gases escape from magma, or when pressure fluctuations occur in the transport pathways. "For volcano seismology, it is extremely interesting to study these signals and wave types that arise when magma moves below the surface," said Reiss. Two key questions drive her research: Where exactly does tremor originate? And what process leads to its generation? The answers to these questions can reveal crucial information about the state and activity of a volcano.

Together with her team, Reiss recorded seismic data at the Oldoinyo Lengai volcano in Tanzania over 18 months. They installed numerous seismometers around the volcano to detect ground vibrations. Back in Mainz, the researchers analyzed the data, focusing on a nine-week time window for this study. "For the first time, we were able to determine the precise location where tremor occurs," stated Reiss. "We discovered that two types of tremor seem to be linked: one originated at around five kilometers depth and the other near the base of the volcano – with a time delay between them. It is clear that these signals are connected, thus we see a directly linked system here." The diversity of tremor signals detected by the team was also surprisingly large. This likely reflects that the tremor originates from different regions of the volcano, each with distinct properties and driven by different processes. Oldoinyo Lengai itself is unique in that it is the only active carbonatite volcano on Earth. Its magma has an unusual composition as it is far more fluid and relatively cool, only about 550 degrees Celsius, compared to the 650 to 1,200 degrees Celsius typical for most magmas. "The results were particularly surprising because the magma is so fluid. We had expected few or no tremor as the interaction with the surrounding rock would likely be weaker," explained Reiss.

A step forward for volcano seismology

The new findings by Reiss and her colleagues advance volcano seismology by offering valuable insights into the dynamics of magma movement. "Tremor occurs whenever magma is moving – including before eruptions," said Reiss. "But which tremor signals are true precursors of an eruption, and which are just background 'gurgling'? Our results lay the foundation for improving eruption forecasting in the future."

 

Read more:

• https://press.uni-mainz.de/energy-from-the-depths-of-the-earth-collaborative-research-project-studies-temperature-induced-change-of-rocks-in-geothermal-reservoirs/ – press release "Energy from the depths of the Earth: Collaborative research project studies temperature-induced change of rocks in geothermal reservoirs" (12 May 2025)

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Journal

Communications Earth & Environment

DOI

10.1038/s43247-025-02804-1 

Article Title

Tremor signals reveal the structure and dynamics of the Oldoinyo Lengai magmatic plumbing system

Article Publication Date

1-Oct-2025

 

Vegan diet helps people with type 1 diabetes cut insulin costs by 27%

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — A low-fat vegan diet that doesn’t limit calories or carbohydrates could help people with type 1 diabetes reduce insulin use and insulin costs, according to new research by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine published in BMC Nutrition.

Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose (sugar) from the blood into muscle and liver cells to be used as energy. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin because their body doesn’t produce enough. Some people with type 1 diabetes may need to take additional insulin, because they have insulin resistance, a condition in which cells don’t respond well to insulin and glucose remains in the blood. Insulin resistance is strongly influenced by dietary fat, which can inhibit glucose from entering the cells.

The new research, which is a secondary analysis of a 2024 Physicians Committee study, compared the effect of a low-fat vegan diet to a portion-controlled diet on insulin use and insulin costs in people with type 1 diabetes. The analysis found that the total dose of insulin decreased by 28%, or 12.1 units, per day in the vegan group, compared to no significant change in the portion-controlled group. The reductions in insulin use in the vegan group likely reflect improved insulin sensitivity, or how well the body responds to insulin. Total insulin costs decreased by 27%, or $1.08 per day, in the vegan group, compared to no significant change in the portion-controlled group.

The 2024 study found that a vegan diet also led to an average weight loss of 11 pounds, improved insulin sensitivity and glycemic control, and improved cholesterol levels and kidney function in people with type 1 diabetes.

The new research comes as insulin prices in the United States continue to rise. Spending on insulin in the United States tripled in the past 10 years, reaching $22.3 billion in 2022, due to the increased usage and higher price of insulin, according to the American Diabetes Association. The inflation-adjusted cost of insulin increased by 24% from 2017 to 2022.

“As insulin prices continue to rise, people with type 1 diabetes should consider a low-fat vegan diet, which can help improve their insulin sensitivity and reduce the amount of insulin they need, potentially saving them hundreds of dollars a year,” says Hana Kahleova, MD, PhD, the lead author of the study and director of clinical research at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a nonprofit organization that promotes preventive medicine, conducts clinical research, and encourages higher standards for ethics and effectiveness in education and research.

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Journal

BMC Nutrition

DOI

10.1186/s40795-025-01175-2 

Method of Research

Randomized controlled/clinical trial

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Can a vegan diet help people with type 1 diabetes save on insulin? A secondary analysis of a 12-Week randomized clinical trial

Article Publication Date

14-Oct-2025

 

University of Houston program addresses critical workforce gap in the US mineral industry

Program funded by NSF to attract young students, give the mineral industry a makeover

University of Houston

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University of Houston Associate Professor of Information Science Technology Xuqing (Jason) Wu is leading a $1 million initiative, funded by the National Science Foundation, to train the next generation of mining and mineral experts.

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Credit: University of Houston

Amid demand for critical minerals ever rising, the minerals industry, a sector integral to high-tech products, defense systems and sustainable energy technologies, is facing a shortage of trained professionals. To address the growing demand for skilled professionals, University of Houston Associate Professor of Information Science Technology Xuqing (Jason) Wu is leading a $1 million initiative, funded by the National Science Foundation, to train the next generation of experts.  

“Without targeted educational programs, the U.S. risks falling behind in securing a stable domestic supply of critical minerals," said Wu.  

Minerals and rare earth elements power the devices we use, the roads we travel, and the energy we rely on every day. Phones and computers use minerals like copper and lithium. Streets and houses are built with stone and cement. Coal and gas come from the earth, too. These valuable elements have become essential building blocks of modern life. 

The program unites UH with key industry partners to expand workforce development and drive research that fuels innovation. 

The mineral industry is not exactly a new sector   

During the stone age, cavemen were already rockhounding, digging into the earth searching for meteorites to use for their metal properties. Today it’s not much different. People are still digging, but now the mineral industry has become a key driver of the global economy.  

Despite how critical the industry is, its reputation has lagged, failing to reflect its rapid growth and innovation. Modern operations rely on cutting-edge advancements like autonomous machinery, AI, real-time data analytics and environmental monitoring systems. 

“The program aims to reshape public perception of the critical minerals industry, highlighting its role in energy, defense and advanced manufacturing,” said Wu. “Our program aims to showcase the industry's true, high-tech nature.” 

Showcasing it to younger students is the first order of business in preparing the next generation of mineral industry professionals.  

The project will directly sponsor approximately ten high school students and ten community college students in the Houston area each year. The students will have industry mentors and participate in a four-week training camp and immersive field-based learning experiences. 

“High school and community college students often lack exposure to career pathways in mining, geoscience, materials science and data science. This project is meant to ignite student interest and strengthen the U.S. workforce pipeline in the minerals industry by equipping students with technical skills, industry knowledge and career readiness,” said Wu.   

The initiative is an interdisciplinary collaboration with co-principal investigators at UH: Jiajia Sun, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences; Yan Yao and Jiefu Chen, Electrical and Computer Engineering; and Yueqin Huang, Information Science Technology.

How green infrastructure is revamping city storm sewers

Thoughtful design and upkeep can improve local water quality, researchers say

Ohio State University

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Installing green infrastructure in residential areas can prevent stormwater from flooding sewer systems and significantly curb heavy metal pollution, suggests a new study. 

Findings showed that communities that added green infrastructure — systems designed to protect the natural water cycle, such as rain gardens or constructed wetlands — saw a notable reduction in cadmium, copper, nickel and zinc being sent into local waterways. All of these are heavy metals harmful to human health in large concentrations. 

Using these systems to manage stormwater flow at the source is imperative to preserving our environment, said Joseph Smith, lead author of the study and a researcher in food, agricultural and biological engineering at The Ohio State University. 

“Humans cause a lot of alterations to the environment,” said Smith. “So things like rain gardens allow nature to return to how it’s supposed to work.” 

The study was recently published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials. 

The project is part of Blueprint Columbus, a 30-year community effort to install green infrastructure into local neighborhoods. The goal is to address sanitary sewer overflows and reduce total suspended solids pollution in runoff by 20%.

After studying the performance of two watersheds in the Clintonville neighborhood of Columbus in managing stormwater pollution for about 3.5 years, researchers found that once installed, green infrastructure systems exceeded expectations, from mitigating peak storm flow rates and pollution to potentially improving residents’ well-being and altering local biodiversity. In one particular neighborhood, researchers noted that rain gardens worked to prevent a good amount of heavy metal pollution from entering downstream waterways. 

Additionally, because their results were compared to a control watershed – one without green infrastructure – the study was robust enough to determine that the changes the team saw in hydrology, water quality and heavy metals were due to the presence of rain gardens, not seasonal or annual fluctuations in climate, said Smith. 

In short, implementing more of these systems in urban areas could make the city’s ecosystems healthier and more resilient, said Smith. “Not only does green infrastructure improve water quality, but it also helps cities to be cooler because it adds more green space. The goal is to design spaces where people want to walk around and enjoy beautiful surroundings and experience the many ecosystem services created,” he said. 

According to the paper, many of these benefits can also be attributed to the design and continued maintenance of the city’s connected green infrastructure systems. 

“Ohio State’s been involved in this project from multiple angles,” said Smith. “But what made our study really special is that we could see changes that were happening at the pipe level leading to the stream.”

Their results also suggest that engaging with communities to improve public acceptance and functionality of these green measures is of the utmost priority, said Smith. Notably, the long-term success of the project may be achieved by educating homeowners about the benefits of having and maintaining these systems, as some citizens have opposed the addition of green systems to their neighborhoods, raising concerns over safety and convenience. 

“Being involved in this watershed-scale rain garden project has made me realize that while there are lots of benefits for the community, there’s also more we can do to explain how these projects help individuals who live there,” said Smith. 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, investing in green infrastructure also helps create jobs and other lucrative economic development opportunities for the public. 

For the time being, Blueprint Columbus is expected to continue retrofitting more areas of the city with green infrastructure through at least 2043. Hundreds of rain gardens already exist across the city, but this work emphasizes how important and beneficial it is to protect the environment through proven, eco-friendly methods. 

“Columbus is becoming a leader and model for other municipalities that are facing similar problems,” said Smith. 

Other co-authors include Kay Bernard, Kathryn Boening-Ulman, Jay Martin, R. Andrew Tirpak, David Wituszynski and Ryan Winston, all from Ohio State. This study was supported by the City of Columbus, Ohio. 

Written by: Tatyana Woodall, Woodall.52@osu.edu

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Journal

Journal of Hazardous Materials

Article Title

Retrofitted watershed scale green infrastructure reduces heavy metals in urban stormwater from residential land use