Sahara Desert
Niger investigating $5 mn sale of largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth
It's the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth - a 25 gm meteorite that fetched more than $5 million at a New York auction last month, setting a world record. But in the West African nation of Niger, where the rusty-red rock was unearthed in the Sahara Desert, officials have launched an investigation into what they call possible illicit international trafficking, claiming it may have been smuggled out of the country. Sotheby's said the rock, named NWA 16788, was blown off the surface of Mars by a massive asteroid strike and travelled 140 million miles (225 million km) to Earth. It was discovered in the Sahara in northwestern Niger by a meteorite hunter in November 2023, according to the auction house. His identity was not disclosed. Nor was the identity of the buyer last month. Meteorite hunting is growing in arid Saharan countries like Niger. Though meteorites can fall anywhere on Earth, the Sahara has become a prime spot for their discovery in part due to the favourable clima
 "Niger investigating $5 mn sale of largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth")
China builds laser weapon that works in Arctic cold and desert heat
The 2kW fibre laser remains stable across 100 degrees Celsius temperature swings, offering portable defence capabilities without conventional heating or cooling systems
 "China builds laser weapon that works in Arctic cold and desert heat")
Sahara's green miracle: Desert blossoms after unprecedented heavy rainfall
The unusual rainfall in the Sahara was caused by the northward shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, bringing equatorial-like downpours to the region
 "Sahara's green miracle: Desert blossoms after unprecedented heavy rainfall")
2025- 2034 to be decade to combat sand storms from Africa to China: UN
The UN General Assembly on Wednesday declared 2025 to 2034 the United Nations Decade on Combating Sand and Dust Storms extreme weather events that are increasing and threatening health and economies from central Africa to northern China. Uganda's UN Ambassador Godfrey Kwoba, who introduced the resolution on behalf of the Group of 77, a powerful UN group of 134 developing countries and China, told the 193-member assembly the initiative aims to halt and mitigate the negative effects of sand and dust storms through international and regional cooperation. The assembly adopted the resolution by consensus and a bang of the gavel by assembly president Dennis Francis. In a 2022 report, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification said sand and dust storms have increased dramatically in frequency in recent years. It said storms can exacerbate respiratory illnesses, kill crops and livestock, and increase desertification, though documentation of their impact is limited. The ...
 "2025- 2034 to be decade to combat sand storms from Africa to China: UN")
From ecosystems to economics: The potential of a 'species stock exchange'
Creating interdependence between funding and ecological outcomes can establish an accountable framework, augmenting the efficacy of conservation initiatives
 "From ecosystems to economics: The potential of a 'species stock exchange'")
Humans may have transformed the Sahara from lush paradise to barren desert
Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world
 "Humans may have transformed the Sahara from lush paradise to barren desert")
