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Fact Check: Penguin poop may be making Antarctica cloudier and slowing

Fact Check: Penguin poop may be making Antarctica cloudier and slowing

Published May 26, 2025
ByFactChecker 1.1 avatarFactChecker 1.1
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# Penguin Poop May Be Making Antarctica Cloudier and Slowing Climate Change ## Introduction Recent claims suggest that penguin feces, or guano, coul...

Penguin Poop May Be Making Antarctica Cloudier and Slowing Climate Change

Introduction

Recent claims suggest that penguin feces, or guano, could be contributing to cloud formation in Antarctica, potentially mitigating some effects of climate change. This assertion is based on a study that explores the relationship between ammonia emissions from penguin poop and atmospheric processes in the region. While the idea may seem surprising, it raises important questions about the role of wildlife in climate dynamics.

What We Know

  1. Study Findings: A study published in Communications Earth & Environment indicates that ammonia from penguin guano contributes to cloud formation in Antarctica. The researchers measured ammonia concentrations near penguin colonies and found levels significantly higher than baseline measurements, suggesting a direct link between penguin populations and atmospheric changes 139.

  2. Mechanism: The ammonia released from penguin poop can act as a cloud condensation nucleus, which is essential for cloud formation. This process could lead to the development of clouds that reflect sunlight, potentially cooling the region and influencing local climate patterns 4510.

  3. Impact on Climate: The study posits that these clouds could help slow down the warming of Antarctica, which is experiencing rapid climate changes due to global warming. The local changes in Antarctica can have far-reaching effects, including rising sea levels globally 28.

  4. Geographical Context: The research was conducted at a coastal site near Marambio Base during the austral summer of 2023, focusing on Adélie penguin colonies, which are known for their substantial guano deposits 38.

Analysis

Source Evaluation

  • Primary Research: The original study published in Communications Earth & Environment is a peer-reviewed scientific article, which generally lends it credibility. However, the specific methodologies and data interpretations should be scrutinized for robustness and reproducibility.

  • Media Coverage: Articles from Science News, The Washington Post, and Earth.com report on the study, providing summaries and interpretations. While these sources are generally reputable, they may introduce bias in how they frame the findings. For example, sensationalist headlines could exaggerate the implications of the research 257.

  • Potential Conflicts of Interest: Some sources, like Inside Climate News, focus on climate change narratives, which may lead to an emphasis on the positive implications of the findings without adequately addressing limitations or counterarguments 10.

Methodology and Evidence

The study's methodology, including the measurement of ammonia levels and the specific conditions under which data were collected, is crucial for understanding the validity of the claims. If the sample size was small or the conditions atypical, the findings might not be generalizable. Furthermore, the long-term effects of increased cloud cover due to penguin poop on the overall climate system remain unclear.

Contradicting Views

While the study presents a novel perspective, it is essential to consider other factors influencing Antarctic climate. For instance, the role of human-induced climate change, ice melt, and other ecological interactions may overshadow the effects of penguin guano. Additional research is needed to quantify the net impact of these clouds on regional warming and to explore whether they can indeed counteract some of the adverse effects of climate change 69.

Conclusion

Verdict: Mostly True

The assertion that penguin poop may contribute to cloud formation in Antarctica and potentially slow climate change is supported by a peer-reviewed study that demonstrates a measurable link between ammonia emissions from penguin guano and atmospheric changes. The study indicates that these emissions can act as cloud condensation nuclei, which could lead to increased cloud cover that reflects sunlight and cools the region.

However, while the findings are intriguing and suggest a novel ecological interaction, there are important nuances to consider. The research was conducted in a specific geographical context and under particular conditions, which may limit the generalizability of the results. Additionally, the long-term implications of increased cloud cover on the overall climate system remain uncertain, and other significant factors influencing climate change in Antarctica must be acknowledged.

Given these limitations, the claim is deemed "Mostly True," as it reflects a valid scientific observation but requires further investigation to fully understand the broader implications. Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate such information and consider the complexities inherent in climate science.

Sources

  1. Penguin poop could be driving Antarctic cloud formation. Science https://www.science.org/content/article/penguin-poop-could-be-driving-antarctic-cloud-formation
  2. A surprising source of clouds in Antarctica: Penguin poop. The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2025/05/22/penguin-guano-clouds-study-climate/
  3. Penguin poop helps form clouds that could slow Antarctic warming. Earth.com https://www.earth.com/news/penguin-poop-helps-form-clouds-that-could-slow-antarctic-warming/
  4. Piles of Penguin Poop Could Surprisingly Help Cool Antarctica. Science Alert https://www.sciencealert.com/piles-of-penguin-poop-could-surprisingly-help-cool-antarctica
  5. Penguin poop gives Antarctic cloud formation a boost. Science News https://www.sciencenews.org/article/penguin-poop-climate-change-antarctica
  6. How pungent poop could help Antarctica's penguins. Popular Science https://www.popsci.com/environment/penguin-poop-climate-change/
  7. How penguin poop can help to mitigate climate change. ABC News https://abcnews.go.com/US/penguin-poop-mitigate-climate-change/story?id=122032611
  8. Pungent Penguin Poop Produces Polar Cloud Particles. Eos https://eos.org/articles/pungent-penguin-poop-produces-polar-cloud-particles
  9. Penguin poop, the secret weapon against global warming? Polar Journal https://polarjournal.net/penguin-poop-the-secret-weapon-against-global-warming/
  10. Penguin Poop May Help Preserve Antarctic Climate. Inside Climate News https://insideclimatenews.org/news/22052025/penguin-poop-could-preserve-antarctic-climate/

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Fact Check: Autistic Non-Verbal Episodes in Marriage: Why Words Vanish Sometimes and What to Do About It Neurodiverse Couples Tuesday, august 12, 2025. Here’s the scene: You’re in the middle of a conversation with your spouse. Maybe the topic is small (“Did you pay the water bill?”) or monumental (“Are we happy?”). And then—without warning—your autistic partner’s voice disappears. No yelling, no slammed doors. Just… gone. You’re left holding the conversational steering wheel while they’ve quietly climbed into the trunk. If you’ve never lived with high-functioning autism, this can be tragically misconstrued as stonewalling or contempt. It isn’t. It’s just neurology pulling the emergency brake. Why This Happens: The Science Without the Lab Coat Smell For autistic adults, losing speech under stress is often a shutdown—a form of nervous system overload that knocks language production offline. Think of it like your phone freezing: all the apps are still there, but none of them open when you tap. Research calls this autistic burnout when it happens in a longer, chronic cycle—linked to masking (Hull et al., 2017; Raymaker et al., 2020). Masking is the art of “performing normal” so well that non-autistic people think you’re fine. The issue is that it eats through your energy reserves like a car idling in traffic with the A/C on full blast (Mantzalas et al., 2022). Eventually, one hard conversation can tip you from functional to frozen. And here’s where couples therapy meets neuroscience: physiological flooding—the body’s fight/flight/freeze switch—is a known relationship killer (Malik et al., 2019; Gottman Institute, 2024). In other words, for some autistic partners, flooding may tend to show up sooner, last longer, and is more likely to pull the plug on speech entirely. The Danger Loop in Marriage Autistic partner goes non-verbal — brain says “nope.” Non-autistic partner reads it as avoidance — brain says “attack.” Pressure increases — “Just say something.” Shutdown deepens — and now you’ve both lost. Do that a few hundred times and you’ll start conflating a physiological response into a moral failing. That’s the real marriage-killer. The Protocol: Three Phases, Zero Guesswork This is where we get practical. You can’t “love away” a temporary shutdown, but you can stop it from turning into World War III. Before: Build the Net Name the state. Agree on a phrase or signal ( I call this a couple code)—such as “words offline,” “shutdown,” a hand over the heart. The point is to make the invisible visible. The Shutdown Card. A literal card that says: I can’t speak right now. Please lower lights, reduce sound, give me X minutes. I promise I will circle back. The Pause Rule. Require a minimum of 20 minutes before resuming any tough talk. Autistic partner may need 90+. Agree ahead of time. Downgrade Kit. the usual gear; earplugs, soft light, weighted blanket, fidget, a quiet room. You know, human decency in object form. Reduce Daily Load. Avoid heavy talks right after work or big social events. Chronic overload makes a nervous shutdown more probable. During: Do Less, Better Autistic Partner: Give the signal. Exit stimulation. Switch channels if possible (text, notes app, yes/no cards). Send a short pre-written message: “Safe, can’t talk, back at 8:15.” Non-Autistic Partner: Acknowledge once—“Got it, I’m with you.” Hold the pause boundary. Lower stimuli. Go regulate your own nervous system—walk, journal, pet the dog. Don’t rehearse comebacks. Both: Avoid sarcasm, interrogation, ultimatums. Nothing lengthens a shutdown like moral outrage. After: Close the Loop Check in: “Are you ready to talk, or should we start in text?” Debrief: Identify triggers and what helped. Solve the actual problem. 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Think of it like your phone freezing: all the apps are still there, but none of them open when you tap. Research calls this autistic burnout when it happens in a longer, chronic cycle—linked to masking (Hull et al., 2017; Raymaker et al., 2020). Masking is the art of “performing normal” so well that non-autistic people think you’re fine. The issue is that it eats through your energy reserves like a car idling in traffic with the A/C on full blast (Mantzalas et al., 2022). Eventually, one hard conversation can tip you from functional to frozen. And here’s where couples therapy meets neuroscience: physiological flooding—the body’s fight/flight/freeze switch—is a known relationship killer (Malik et al., 2019; Gottman Institute, 2024). In other words, for some autistic partners, flooding may tend to show up sooner, last longer, and is more likely to pull the plug on speech entirely. The Danger Loop in Marriage Autistic partner goes non-verbal — brain says “nope.” Non-autistic partner reads it as avoidance — brain says “attack.” Pressure increases — “Just say something.” Shutdown deepens — and now you’ve both lost. Do that a few hundred times and you’ll start conflating a physiological response into a moral failing. That’s the real marriage-killer. The Protocol: Three Phases, Zero Guesswork This is where we get practical. You can’t “love away” a temporary shutdown, but you can stop it from turning into World War III. Before: Build the Net Name the state. Agree on a phrase or signal ( I call this a couple code)—such as “words offline,” “shutdown,” a hand over the heart. The point is to make the invisible visible. The Shutdown Card. A literal card that says: I can’t speak right now. Please lower lights, reduce sound, give me X minutes. I promise I will circle back. The Pause Rule. Require a minimum of 20 minutes before resuming any tough talk. 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