Earth

  1. Earth

    Water’s unclear origins, shaky solutions to climate change and more reader feedback

    Readers discuss the pitfalls of carbon storage, whether a recent movie got Alan Turing's story right and more.

    By
  2. Oceans

    ‘Ocean Worlds’ chronicles the story of water on Earth and across the cosmos

    Jan Zalasiewicz and Mark Williams recount the history and predict the future of Earth’s oceans.

    By
  3. Oceans

    Glassy blue iceberg goes belly up

    A photographer snaps a rare picture of a recently overturned iceberg near Antarctica.

    By
  4. Earth

    Steam bubbles carry gold and sulfur up from Earth’s depths

    Dense blends of metals and sulfur get a ride to the surface on water vapor bubbles.

    By
  5. Environment

    A coast-to-coast picture of America’s cacophony of sounds

    The National Park Service mapped noise across the United States.

    By
  6. Health & Medicine

    E-cigarettes may be gateway to addiction for teens

    Teenagers are using e-cigarettes more than any other tobacco product and for many, it’s the first time they’ve tried a tobacco product at all.

    By
  7. Oceans

    On East Coast, sea levels lean southward

    On North America’s East Coast, sea levels tilt slightly downward to the north, new research finds.

    By
  8. Health & Medicine

    Stoplights are hot spots for airborne pollution

    Drivers get a big chunk of their exposure to pollutants from short stops at traffic intersections.

    By
  9. Oceans

    Millions of tons of plastic end up in oceans each year

    A new estimate quantifies how much plastic makes its way into the world’s oceans.

    By
  10. Climate

    Worst drought in a millennium predicted for central and southwest U.S.

    Comparing reconstructions of past drought conditions with models of future dryness shows that the Central Plains and Southwest U.S. will become the driest in a millennium.

    By
  11. Earth

    Mineral hunting, mob math and more reader feedback

    Readers ask about Earth's most abundant mineral and discuss the notoriously unpredictable behavior of pedestrians.

    By
  12. Physics

    Raindrops kick up soil chemicals

    The champagne-like fizz produced when a raindrop hits the ground may be responsible for the earthy aroma after a rainstorm.

    By