Earth

Microbes

Now we know how much glacial melting ‘watermelon snow’ can cause

Algae that give snow a red tint are making glacial snow in Alaska melt faster.

Agriculture

‘Big Chicken’ chronicles the public health dangers of using antibiotics in farming

A new book takes a hard look at the chicken industry for its role in fostering antibiotic resistance.

Earth

How hurricanes and other devastating disasters spur scientific research

Hurricanes such as Harvey, Irma and others have been devastating, even deadly, yet they drive our desire for scientific discovery.

Environment

Air pollution takes a toll on solar energy

Dust and other tiny air pollutants can reduce solar energy output by as much as 25 percent in parts of the world.

Climate

Rising temperatures threaten heat-tolerant aardvarks

Aardvarks may get a roundabout hit from climate change — less food.

Earth

North America’s largest recorded earthquake helped confirm plate tectonics

Henry Fountain’s 'The Great Quake' mixes drama and science to tell the story of the 1964 Alaska earthquake.

Oceans

How deep water surfaces around Antarctica

New 3-D maps trace the pathway that deep water takes to the surface of the Southern Ocean.

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.