As we present the fourth issue of 2025, Evidence in Earth Science is proud to showcase research that powerfully demonstrates the synergy between advanced remote sensing and critical environmental challenges. The study on vegetation disturbance in the Jiaozuo mining area provides a precise, quantitative framework for assessing ecological impacts and guiding restoration, highlighting human influence on ecosystems. Simultaneously, the work reconstructing the retreat of the Proto-Paratchys Sea in the Tajik Basin exemplifies how spectral data can unlock paleogeographic history. Together, these articles underscore our journal's commitment to publishing innovative, evidence-based science that spans from monitoring present-day environmental change to deciphering the deep-time evolution of our planet.