Earth & Environment
Continents slowly “peel away” to create ocean volcanoes, study finds
A team of Earth scientists has discovered that continents are slowly peeling apart from below—sending fragments deep into the oceanic mantle, where they can...
The ground is sinking fast in Arizona’s Willcox Basin — Here’s why
In Arizona’s Willcox Basin, just over an hour east of Tucson, the ground is sinking, wells are drying up, and deep cracks are splitting...
Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in Canadian sea otters near cities
A new study has revealed that sea otters living along Canada’s Pacific coast have surprisingly high levels of toxic “forever chemicals” in their bodies—especially...
Air pollution during pregnancy may increase autism risk
A new Canadian study has found that exposure to certain air pollutants during pregnancy and early childhood may increase the risk of autism spectrum...
Cockroaches can dramatically poison the air you breathe
Cockroaches are more than just unpleasant house guests — they could be affecting the air we breathe.
A new study from North Carolina State University...
From nail bars to firefighting foams: How chemicals are deemed safe enough or too...
If you've sat in a nail salon recently, you may well have encountered TPO or trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide to give it its full chemical...
Ancient DNA reveals a 40,000-year story of human–Denisovan interbreeding across Eurasia
New genetic research has shed fresh light on one of the most mysterious chapters in human evolution—the relationship between modern humans and Denisovans, an...
Ancient stone tools from Kenya reveal a turning point in human evolution
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have uncovered one of the oldest and longest-lasting collections of stone tools ever found—evidence that early humans had already...
Rare dinosaur discovery in West Texas expands ancient species’ known range
A surprising fossil discovery in the desert of West Texas has revealed that a dinosaur species once thought to roam only the northern parts...
Scientists discover “arctic rhino” fossil in Canada, the northernmost rhino ever found
Scientists have identified a new extinct species of rhinoceros that once roamed Canada’s High Arctic—a remarkable find that sheds new light on how ancient...
Chimpanzees can think rationally and change their minds like humans, study finds
Chimpanzees may be more like human thinkers than we ever imagined.
A new study published in Science shows that chimpanzees can rationally change their beliefs...
Six new bat species discovered in the forests of the Philippines
Just in time for Halloween, scientists have discovered six new species of bats in the forests of the Philippines.
The discovery highlights how much of...
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Asthma inhalers emit as much carbon as 530,000 cars, UCLA study finds
Inhalers are life-saving tools for millions of people living with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
But new research from UCLA Health has revealed...
A fresh look at orchid origins and their conservation
Once upon a time, about 85 million years ago, the ancestors of today’s orchids sprouted in the northern hemisphere, a place very different from...
This Jewish tradition may benefit heart health, study finds
In a study from the University of Cincinnati, scientists found that people who wear tefillin, leather bands used in a Jewish religious practice that...
How a new bus line in Philadelphia is defying post-pandemic transit trends
When the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority launched the 49 bus route in Philadelphia in early 2019, those who most benefited were older adults and...
Scientists discover Hawai‘i’s most active volcanoes share a magma source
A new study reveals that Hawai‘i’s two most active volcanoes, Kīlauea and Maunaloa, share the same source of magma deep within the Earth.
For years,...
A cleaner, greener way to extract cobalt from waste
Cobalt is a vital material in lithium-ion batteries, powering everything from smartphones to electric cars.
But how it’s sourced often raises ethical and environmental concerns.
Around...
Scientists uncover Jurassic dinosaurs’ favorite foods
New research has uncovered surprising details about what dinosaurs ate by analyzing the chemistry hidden in their fossilized teeth.
Scientists have discovered that plant-eating dinosaurs...
Giant lithium treasure in McDermitt Caldera may fuel our battery-powered future
If you have a smartphone, laptop, or electric car, you've got some lithium in your life.
This metal is super important for making batteries, and...