Earth

  1. Earth

    50 years ago, continental drift began to gain acceptance

    Half a century later, plate tectonics is well-established but still an active field of research.

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  2. Climate

    Plot twist in methane mystery blames chemistry, not emissions, for recent rise

    The recent rise in atmospheric methane concentrations may have been caused by changes in atmospheric chemistry, not increased emissions from human activities, two new studies suggest.

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  3. Oceans

    The Arctic is a final garbage dump for ocean plastic

    Ocean currents dump plastic garbage from the North Atlantic into previously pristine Arctic waters, new research shows.

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  4. Oceans

    The Arctic is a final garbage dump for ocean plastic

    Ocean currents dump plastic garbage from the North Atlantic into previously pristine Arctic waters, new research shows.

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  5. Earth

    ‘River piracy’ on a high glacier lets one waterway rob another

    The melting of one of Canada’s largest glaciers has rerouted meltwater from one stream into another in an instance of river piracy.

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  6. Oceans

    More than one ocean motion determines tsunami size

    The horizontal movement of the seafloor during an earthquake can boost the size of the resulting tsunami, researchers propose.

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  7. Chemistry

    New tech harvests drinking water from (relatively) dry air using only sunlight

    A prototype device harvests moisture from dry air and separates it into drinkable water using only sunlight.

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  8. Animals

    New worm-snail is a super slimer

    New worm-snail species shoots snot to snag a snack.

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  9. Ecosystems

    Volcanic eruptions nearly snuffed out Gentoo penguin colony

    Penguin poop dumps data on how a Gentoo colony responded to ancient volcanic eruptions.

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  10. Ecosystems

    Volcanic eruptions nearly snuffed out Gentoo penguin colony

    Penguin poop dumps data on how a Gentoo colony responded to ancient volcanic eruptions.

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  11. Climate

    The Great Barrier Reef is experiencing a major coral bleaching event right now

    A second coral bleaching event has struck the Great Barrier Reef in 12 months, new observations reveal, raising concerns about the natural wonder’s future.

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  12. Earth

    Whirlwinds of crystals called gravel devils spotted in Andes Mountains

    Large whirlwinds in northern Chile can carry gravel-sized gypsum crystals several kilometers before dumping them in mounds.

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