Earth
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- 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.
- Climate
South Asia could face deadly heat and humidity by the end of this century
If climate change is left unchecked, simulations show extreme heat waves in densely populated agricultural regions of India and Pakistan.
- Science & Society
Does doom and gloom convince anyone about climate change?
New York magazine spurred conversation with a recent article on climate change. Will its apocalyptic approach have an impact?
- Earth
Expert eavesdroppers occasionally catch a break
Acting Editor in Chief Elizabeth Quill discusses the many ways we watch, listen and learn about science.
