Earth & Environment
Stardust trapped in Antarctic ice reveals tens of thousands of years of solar system’s...
When you think of outer space, you're likely picturing stars, planets and moons. But much of space is filled with clouds of gas, plasma...
Earth’s first continents formed billions of years earlier than expected
Scientists studying some of the oldest rocks on Earth have uncovered new evidence that the planet’s first continents may have started forming through plate...
Scientists discover crystal that captures drinking water using only light
Scientists at the University of Iowa have developed a new material that can capture water directly from the air using only light.
The discovery could...
What it would have been like to experience the dinosaur‑killing asteroid Armageddon
A great Tyrannosaurus rex strides through the conifer trees of her territory, sniffing the air.
She picks up the scent from the carcass of a...
Shark embryos reveal ancient blueprint behind the faces of all jawed animals
Scientists studying shark embryos have uncovered evidence that the basic blueprint for building faces in jawed animals has remained largely unchanged for more than...
How ‘snowball Earth’ was a tug-of-war
Decades of research shows that Earth was once entirely or almost entirely frozen.
The episode is known as Snowball Earth, and though its occurrence is...
Scientists find major errors in global climate pollution database
A new study from researchers at Northern Arizona University has raised concerns about the accuracy of a widely used global greenhouse gas emissions database...
Ancient continents may have helped create the right conditions for life on Earth
Scientists have discovered that the rise of Earth’s first continents may have played a major role in making life possible.
According to a new study...
Climate change is quietly increasing stroke risk, experts warn
Many people think of climate change as something that affects the weather, the oceans, or wildlife. However, scientists are now warning that it is...
Rare metal helped ancient life thrive long before oxygen filled Earth
More than three billion years ago, life on Earth faced a difficult problem.
The planet’s oceans contained only tiny amounts of molybdenum, a rare metal...
From tree waste to clean air: How eucalyptus bark could help fight pollution
What if something usually thrown away could help solve some of our biggest environmental problems?
New research from RMIT University suggests that eucalyptus bark—often treated...
Vegan diet beats Mediterranean diet on emissions and metabolic health
Scientists have long known that what we eat affects our health. But now, new research shows that our food choices can also have a...
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Why are big storms bringing so much more rain?
For three hurricane seasons in a row, storms with record-breaking rainfall have caused catastrophic flooding in the southern United States: Harvey in 2017, Florence...
How to deal with election stress to protect your heart
Election stress is in full effect and it can take a heavy toll on our heart health.
Stressful situations produce a surge of hormones in...
The super sniffer: How your cat’s nose outsmells all others
Have you ever wondered how your cat can sniff out a tin of tuna from the other side of the house?
Or how it always...
Ancient mammoth microbes reveal the world’s oldest bacterial DNA
Scientists have made a remarkable discovery hidden within the remains of mammoths that roamed Earth more than a million years ago.
An international team led...
How does marine snow help cool the planet
In a new study, scientists from University of Sydney found how carbonate accumulation from ‘marine snow’ in oceans has helped regulate Earth's temperature over...
Why your kitchen sponge is disgusting
Researchers at Duke University have uncovered a basic but surprising fact:
Your kitchen sponge is a better incubator for diverse bacterial communities than a laboratory...
Scientists predict a collapse of the Atlantic ocean current around 2060
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen predict that the Thermohaline Circulation, an essential system of ocean currents, will collapse around the year 2060 if...
Shake up your Super Bowl party for a win-win mix of health and fun
Traditionally, the Super Bowl is a celebration of extremes – the best teams, the fanciest stadiums and fans who sit at home eating the...