Included in the October 16, 2025, biweekly update

This week’s articles by MSU faculty, specialists, and students making a difference feature climate impacts on Mekong River flooding, PFAS exposure linked to maternal mental health, and natural gas reactions driven by underground water and rock interactions.

Assess the impacts of climatic change and human activities on streamflow and floods by using a hybrid-physics-data (HPD) model: A case study in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin

Liu et al. (2025) examined how climate change and human activity are reshaping rivers and floods in the Lancang–Mekong River Basin, which supports millions of people across Southeast Asia. Using a model that blends scientific data with computer learning, the researchers looked at how rainfall, temperature, dams, and land use changes affect river behavior.

Their analysis shows that dam operations and land development have disrupted the river’s natural cycles. In many places, floods are less intense and no longer follow their usual seasonal patterns. This shift is affecting fisheries, farms, and ecosystems that depend on steady, predictable water levels.

By distinguishing the effects of climate from those cause by dams and land use, Liu et al. found that both influence the river’s flow in connected and overlapping ways. The study underscores the need for countries sharing the basin to manage dams, farming, and climate impacts together to protect downstream communities and ecosystems.

Liu, B., Yun, X., Pan, B., Xu, X., Gaffney, P. P. J., Lu, H., Luo, L., Sun, G., & Tang, Q. (2025). “Assess the impacts of climatic change and human activities on streamflow and floods by using a hybrid-physics-data (HPD) model: A case study in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin.” Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies. Advance online publication. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825005920

Corresponding author: Qiuhong Tang, tangqh@igsnrr.ac.cn. 

Gestational PFAS concentrations in association with maternal depression and perceived stress during pregnancy and postpartum in the ECHO cohort

Mitro et al. (2025) investigated whether exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during pregnancy and the months after childbirth is related to maternal depression and stress. Researchers used data from the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program, which includes participants from across the United States. Blood samples collected during pregnancy were analyzed for multiple PFAS compounds, and mental health assessments were completed during pregnancy and postpartum.

The researchers found limited and inconsistent associations between PFAS exposure and depressive symptoms or stress. A few PFAS, such as PFOS and PFNA, were weakly linked to higher depressive symptom scores, while others showed little or no association. Results varied across compounds and between pregnancy and postpartum periods, suggesting that both chemical type and timing of exposure may influence outcomes.

Mitro et al. emphasized the need for larger, longitudinal studies to determine whether PFAS exposure directly contributes to maternal mental health risks and to clarify how these chemicals interact with biological and social stressors during and after pregnancy.

Mitro, S. D., Yang, W., Ferrara, A., Hedderson, M. M., Aung, M., Suthar, H., Raghunathan, R. S., Zhu, Y., Peterson, A. K., Reynolds, M., Kannan, K., Oken, E., Karagas, M. R., Hipwell, A. E., O’Connor, T. G., Carignan, C., Breton, C. V., Bastain, T. M., Karr, C., Lyall, K., … Avalos, L. A. (2025). “Gestational PFAS concentrations in association with maternal depression and perceived stress during pregnancy and postpartum in the ECHO cohort.” Environmental Research. Advance online publication. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935125022509

Corresponding author: Susanna D. Mitro, susanna.d.mitro@kp.org.

Global comparison of aqueous geochemistry and H2/CH4 degassing in continental low-temperature serpentinizing environments

May et al. (2025) explored how rocks deep underground naturally react with water to produce hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4) gases—a process known as serpentinization. These reactions provide insights into carbon cycling and the potential for clean energy.

The researchers compiled 1,866 measurements from hyperalkaline springs in tropical, temperate, arid, and cold regions. They found clear climate patterns: wetter, tropical sites produced more methane, while drier and colder regions generated more hydrogen. When rainfall was factored in, most chemical differences between climates narrowed, except in arid regions which consistently produced the highest hydrogen levels. This suggests that in dry areas, slow-moving groundwater has more time to react with the surrounding rock, leading to greater hydrogen production.

By comparing data from dozens of sites, this study shows how climate and water conditions control these gas-forming reactions. It provides a global baseline for understanding where and how Earth generates hydrogen and methane naturally, which could help guide future research on clean-energy systems.

May, A., Sanchez-Murillo, R., Schrenk, M. O., Gazel, E., de Moor, J. M., Birkel, C., Li, X., Carr, D., & Chavarría, M. M. (2025). “Global comparison of aqueous geochemistry and H2/CH4 degassing in continental low-temperature serpentinizing environments.” Authorea. https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175888832.20736656/v1

Corresponding author: Alexandra May, alexandra.may@uta.edu.