The climate system was resilient over the Atitlán Los Chocoyos volcanic supereruption, one of the largest in the Quaternary, which occurred approximately 79,500 years ago, according to Greenland and Antarctic ice core evidence

Extreme drought-heatwave events reduce alpha diversity, increase beta diversity, and disrupt the community network structure of aquatic plankton in the Yangtze River, according to an analysis using the environmental DNA approach.

Earlier peak of vegetation activity across the Northern Hemisphere is mainly driven by enhanced early-season carbon uptake, impacted by an earlier onset of the growing season and higher temperature, based on an analysis of satellite observations and carbon flux measurements

Low-velocity anomalies suggest thin lithosphere and thermally perturbed upper mantle under the Wilkes and Aurora Subglacial Basins in East Antarctica, according to full-waveform ambient noise tomography analysis.

Reduced snow cover duration and earlier snowmelt in permafrost regions can enhance soil heat uptake, accelerate permafrost thawing, and improve water and nutrient availability for plants, thereby promoting spring green-up, according to an analysis of remotely sensed data.

Vegetation structure, land cover and phenology are critical for terrestrial ecosystem respiration, although temperature and water availability are still the dominant influences, according to a satellite-based model and machine learning.

Pyrite iron and sulfur isotopic compositions constrain the pyritization pathway and microbial and physicochemical aspects of sedimentary depositional environments, according to pyrite samples from a sedimentary core in the Danube River.

Earth’s water cycle is impacted by internal variability that impacts decadal trends, according to remote sensing data analysis and statistical techniques.

Aquatic ecological network stability of the plankton community declined substantially in the mid-1990s in response to climate warming and nutrient enrichment, according to a sedimentary DNA analysis in Lake Chagan, China coupled with planktonic network models.

The concept of rewilding, an approach to conservation aimed at the recovery of complex ecosystems, can be extended from the terrestrial to the marine realm and applied to degraded marine ecosystems.

As demand for flights increases, the global aviation industry must transform to become more sustainable. Here we propose six pathways to set aviation on a path to a greener future that include innovations in aviation fuel, management, and regulations.

Arctic food systems blend Traditional Ecological Knowledge with modern, often energy-intensive influences, triggered by colonization. Food systems’ future depends on alignment of tradition with innovation – at a pace determined by local communities.

Climate change has negatively impacted grassland productivity in Africa. Climate-smart technologies such as forage grass, legume, and herb mixtures could enhance grassland productivity and resilience, offering a sustainable solution for African pasture-based livestock systems.

Unequal research experiences among Earth scientists from around the world are an obstacle to achieving sustainability. We assess challenges and propose ways to balance the careers of early- and mid-career researchers in the Global South with those in the Global North.

This paper is a call to action. By publishing concurrently across journals like an emergency bulletin, we are not merely making a plea for awareness about climate change. Instead, we are demanding immediate, tangible steps that harness the power of microbiology and the expertise of researchers and policymakers to safeguard the planet for future generations.

Plastics pollution, persistent chemical contamination and inadequately treated wastewater are three key aspects that hinder access to safe and affordable water for all. This Comment argues that a strong priority on pollution avoidance, research for remediation, and tighter regulation and monitoring must be implemented to make progress.