A China-Nepal joint scientific expedition team has completed the first full-depth ice core drilling at the summit of Mount Qomolangma from the Nepali side.
The team conducted multi-gradient ice and snow core sampling as it advanced from the 6,000-meter altitude area on the southern slope of Mount Qomolangma towards the summit at 8,848.86 meters.
Meanwhile, it also aimed to complete scientific research tasks such as temperature measurement of the ice cave at the summit.
So far, all the expedition members have safely withdrawn to the base camp on the southern slope of Mount Qomolangma. They collected ice and snow core samples at multiple altitude gradients on the way down.
The samples they took will be sent to laboratories under low-temperature conditions for the study of climate and environmental changes in the world's highest region, cryosphere evolution, and atmospheric records at extreme altitudes.
China-Nepal expedition completes first full-depth ice core drilling at Qomolangma summit
Farmers in Gaza have been forced to find innovative ways to keep their livelihoods ticking over following the devastating conflict, with many now growing vegetables inside recycled tin cans after losing their land during the war.
Inside temporary greenhouses in southern Gaza, Palestinian farmers are growing mint and vegetables inside empty food cans recycled from aid supplies, after suffering severe shortages of essential agricultural materials.
Local farmers say they have been searching for simple alternatives to continue farming amid the widespread destruction, with many seeing their land and crop fields decimated.
"The idea came from the shortage of nylon in Gaza. We started using empty vegetable cans left behind by charity kitchens. We use them as an alternative to nylon and plant inside them," said Mohammad Zaarab, a Palestinian farmer.
Israel's designation of what Palestinians call the 'yellow zone' has swallowed up most of Gaza's available farmland, reducing usable agricultural land to only around six percent, while farmers continue to face the risk of Israeli fire during their work.
"We are exposed to gunfire in this area. Whenever they shoot at us, we hide until the firing stops. We work in fear and risk our lives while farming," said Shadi Zaarab, another farmer.
According to the United Nations, agriculture made up around 10 percent of Gaza's economy before the war, with more than 560,000 Palestinians relying on farming, livestock, or fishing for their livelihoods.
Gaza's Ministry of Agriculture says reusing empty food cans has become one of the few remaining ways for farmers to continue growing and providing food after the war that began in 2023 devastated much of the agricultural sector.
"Since October 7 [2023], about 86 percent of Gaza's agricultural land has been destroyed by the [Israeli] occupation. Farmers have turned to alternatives, especially for growing aromatic plants that Gaza's farmers traditionally relied on for production," said Ali Abu Amer, director of the Khan Younis Governorate under Palestine's Ministry of Agriculture.
The recycled can practice adopted by farmers also has some positive knock-on effect, as collecting and preparing empty food cans has also created limited work opportunities for unemployed youth amid the Israeli blockade.
Gaza farmers turn to growing vegetables in recycled tin cans after losing land
Gaza farmers turn to growing vegetables in recycled tin cans after losing land
