The study looked at how loess, a type of soil, forms on the southern edge of the Loess Plateau in China. By analyzing the structure of the soil and ancient layers, researchers found that different forces like wind and monsoons play a role in shaping the landscape. They also discovered that the size and shape of pores in the soil can tell us about past climates. This information helps us understand how the environment in this region has changed over time and how the landforms were created.