(Global distribution of #aerosols. Image by Robert Simmon, based on MODIS data from NASA Earth Observations.)

1) “Take a deep breath. Even if the air looks clear, it’s nearly certain that you’ll inhale tens of millions of solid particles and liquid droplets. These ubiquitous specks of matter are known as aerosols, and they can be found in the air over oceans, deserts, mountains, forests, ice, and every ecosystem in between. They drift in Earth’s atmosphere from the stratosphere to the surface and range in size from a few nanometers—less than the width of the smallest viruses—to several several tens of micrometers—about the diameter of human hair. Despite their small size, they have major impacts on our climate and our health.”

2) “The Norwegian documentary Bergensbanen details the gorgeous 300-mile, 7.5-hour-long train ride from Bergen to Oslo. An intrepid group of DJs have scored the entire journey.” (See also Interstate-5 / Invisible-5.)

3) Turkey plans to supply northern Cyprus with fresh water via a pipeline. “As for Turkey, its own water supplies are not so abundant as to be able to be so generous in its desire to share its own dwindling water resources with Northern Cyprus. This only points out the continuing political rivalries going on between Greece and Turkey that has resulted in so many problems in Cyprus over the years.” (See also Another New River in the Mediterranean.)

4) Another dispatch from the #Super-Versailles: Using two vehicles with high-powered heaters, “Beijing will collect and melt snow this winter in a bid to quench the water shortage that has plagued the Chinese capital for years.” (Via @bldgblog.)

5) A recent New York Times Room for Debate question: “[E]ven if the U.S. and other countries can find and [mine rare earth minerals], do they have the technical expertise to compete with China in their processing? Is the domestic production of rare earth elements essential to American economic and national security interests?”