News

  1. Planetary Science

    Roaming Giants: Did migrating planets shape the solar system?

    New simulations suggest that the solar system's four biggest planets were once bunched together, setting up a planetary bowling game that rapidly and violently rearranged the structure of the outer solar system and tossed chunks of debris inward.

    By Ron Cowen
  2. Earth

    Last Gasp: Toxic gas could explain great extinction

    Sudden venting of hydrogen sulfide from the deep sea could have caused the largest extinction in Earth's history by poisoning land animals and destroying atmospheric ozone that protects Earth from ultraviolet light.

    By Naila Moreira
  3. Anthropology

    Founding Families: New World was settled by small tribe

    A new genetic analysis indicates that only about 200 to 300 people crossed the ice age land bridge from Asia to become the founding population of North America.