Earth

  1. Archaeology

    Ancient mud documents the legacy of Rome’s lead pipes

    Researchers used lead levels in Rome’s ancient harbors to track lead pipe use and urbanization.

    By
  2. Astronomy

    On a mountain in Wyoming, the eclipse brings wonder — and, hopefully, answers

    Astronomy writer Lisa Grossman joined scientists on a mountain in Wyoming who were measuring the corona using four different instruments to try to figure out why it’s so hot.

    By
  3. Astronomy

    Does the corona look different when solar activity is high versus when it’s low?

    Carbondale, Ill., will get two eclipses in a row, seven years apart — making it the perfect spot to watch the solar cycle in action.

    By
  4. Astronomy

    Why are the loops in the sun’s atmosphere so neat and tidy?

    Observations during the total solar eclipse may explain why the sun’s atmosphere is so organized despite arising from a tangled magnetic field.

    By
  5. Animals

    Giant larvaceans could be ferrying ocean plastic to the seafloor

    Giant larvaceans could mistakenly capture microplastics, in addition to food, in their mucus houses and transfer them to the seafloor in their feces.

    By
  6. Astronomy

    What can the eclipse tell us about the corona’s magnetic field?

    The corona’s plasma jumps and dances thanks to the magnetic field, but scientists have never measured the field directly.

    By
  7. Earth

    Seismologists get to the bottom of how deep Earth’s continents go

    Scientists may have finally pinpointed the bottoms of the continents.

    By
  8. Astronomy

    What can we learn about Mercury’s surface during the eclipse?

    Instruments aboard twin research jets will take advantage of the total solar eclipse to make the first thermal map of Mercury.

    By
  9. Astronomy

    What happens in Earth’s atmosphere during an eclipse?

    The charged layer of Earth’s atmosphere gets uncharged during an eclipse, and that could have implications for everything from GPS accuracy to earthquake prediction.

    By
  10. Astronomy

    What do plants and animals do during an eclipse?

    A citizen science experiment will gather the biggest dataset to date of animal responses to a total eclipse.

    By
  11. Astronomy

    Why is this year’s solar eclipse such a big deal for scientists?

    Total eclipses offer scientists a way to see all the way down to the sun’s surface.

    By
  12. Climate

    Climate change is shifting when Europe’s rivers flood

    Data spanning 50 years shows that today, floods come days, weeks, even months earlier in some areas and later in others.

    By