Astronaut Captures Stunning Photo of Gold in Peru's Forest.

An astronaut on board the International Space Station captured a photo of gold prospecting pits in eastern Peru, highlighting the problem of illegal gold mining and its devastating impact on the environment and Amazonian communities. The mining involves destructive processes that lead to extensive deforestation and the release of mercury and its toxic cousin methylmercury into the ecosystem. Despite efforts to crack down on illegal mining, the problem continues to persist across South America.