Earth

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Earth

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

Scientists may have finally pinpointed the bottoms of the continents.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.