Earth

  1. Particle Physics

    How a 2017 radioactive plume may be tied to Russia and nixed neutrino research

    A botched attempt at producing radioactive material needed for a neutrino experiment may have released ruthenium-106 to the atmosphere in 2017.

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  2. Climate

    How today’s global warming is unlike the last 2,000 years of climate shifts

    Temperatures at the end of the 20th century were hotter almost everywhere on the planet than in the previous two millennia.

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  3. Earth

    U.S. wells are pumping up groundwater from increasing depths

    Around the United States, groundwater wells are getting deeper in search of new sources of freshwater, a new study shows.

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  4. Ecosystems

    Planting trees could buy more time to fight climate change than thought

    Earth has nearly a billion hectares suitable for new forests to start trapping carbon, a study finds.

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  5. Earth

    Night-shining ‘noctilucent’ clouds have crept south this summer

    Clouds high in the atmosphere that catch the sun’s rays even after sundown may be seen farther from the poles due to an increase in moisture in the air.

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  6. Climate

    ‘Sunny day’ high tide floods are on the rise along U.S. coasts

    Sea level rise led to record-breaking tidal flooding in cities along the U.S. East Coast, a NOAA report found.

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  7. Tech

    This solar-powered device produces energy and cleans water at the same time

    Someday, the two-for-one machine could help curb electricity and freshwater shortages.

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  8. Earth

    3 questions seismologists are asking after the California earthquakes

    After back-to-back quakes, scientists are scrambling to figure out which faults ruptured and what it means for future California quake activity.

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  9. Animals

    Southern right whale moms and calves may whisper to evade orcas

    Mother-calf whale pairs call to each other quietly to stay in touch while avoiding attracting the attention of predators, a study suggests.

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  10. Oceans

    A mysterious coral disease is ravaging Caribbean reefs

    Scientists are racing to learn what’s behind a disease that’s “annihilating” whole coral species in hopes of stopping it.

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  11. Planetary Science

    Readers wanted to know about asteroids, lithium batteries and more

    Readers had questions and comments about asteroids, lithium batteries, and pyroclastic flows.

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  12. Oceans

    The largest seaweed bloom ever detected spanned the Atlantic in 2018

    Nutrient-rich water from the Amazon River may be helping massive seaweed mats to flourish each summer in the Atlantic Ocean.

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