Science News Round Up, May 16, 2025

by Jon Scaccia May 16, 2025

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Impact of open visits on the indoor climate of Mogao Caves

Fluctuations in the indoor climate of the Mogao Caves, primarily driven by visitor activity and external weather conditions, significantly threaten the delicate murals and statues, with humid conditions exacerbating the deterioration of hygroscopic salts on mural surfaces. The study employs wavelet analysis to quantify these impacts, emphasizing the need for strategic visitor management and climate control to preserve this UNESCO World Heritage site’s invaluable cultural legacy amidst increasing tourism and climate variability.

The ‘space archaeologists’ hoping to save our cosmic history

Commercial pressures and a lack of legal protection threaten the preservation of humanity’s space heritage, prompting a new wave of space archaeologists to advocate for safeguarding artefacts from space exploration. As seen with the Apollo 11 landing site being added to the World Monuments Fund’s Watch List, these artefacts are crucial not only for historical and national pride but also for informing future space missions, showcasing the urgent need for international cooperation to preserve sites both on Earth and beyond in the face of increasing space commercialization.

The Fingerprints Climate Change Leaves Behind

Friederike Otto, a pioneering figure in climate-attribution science, is transforming how journalists report on and understand climate change by providing empirical data that links human-driven global warming to specific extreme weather events. Her work underscores the necessity for media narratives that move beyond individual blame and instead focus on systemic issues, emphasizing socio-economic disparities and the power dynamics that dictate climate vulnerability and action.