Earth & Environment
Humans were using horses thousands of years earlier than thought
Horses have shaped human history in powerful ways, from ancient travel and trade to warfare and exploration.
Now, new research suggests that humans started using...
GDP surpasses national debt – is that a problem
Gross Domestic Product totaled $31.22 trillion between April 2025 and March 2026 and public debt totaled $31.27 trillion.
At first glance, the news that the...
After an opaque summit, China and the US want to work together again. That...
Back in 2005, US economist Fred Bergsten coined the term “Group of 2” or “G2”, proposing a stronger partnership between what are now the...
Neanderthals may have performed dental surgery 60,000 years ago
A surprising new discovery suggests that Neanderthals may have carried out a form of dental treatment nearly 60,000 years ago.
Researchers studying an ancient tooth...
Why carbon dioxide cools the upper atmosphere while heating Earth below
Scientists have long known something strange is happening in Earth’s atmosphere. While greenhouse gases are warming the planet’s surface and lower atmosphere, the upper...
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...
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Where you live can greatly affect heart, brain health
Liz Harris won't let anything stop her from walking. Three mornings a week, she descends three flights of stairs and heads to Anacostia Park.
It's...
Why sunshine could help treat depression
Looking outside at another cloudy sky, on another dreary winter day in the Midwest?
Experts say it makes sense that a lack of sunshine leaves...
Drunk in flight? Some birds may be sipping alcohol daily
Birds that sip nectar or snack on fruit could be getting more than just sugar—they might also be getting a bit of alcohol.
A new...
Clue in ancient limestone sheds light on Early Jurassic mass extinction
Scientists have uncovered an important clue in Italian limestone that helps explain a mass extinction of marine life that happened millions of years ago.
This...
Why our neighbor planet Venus lost its water
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have made a significant discovery about Venus, Earth’s neighboring planet known for its extreme conditions.
They've uncovered clues...
Scientists discover how magnesium oxide shapes super-earths
Scientists have made an exciting discovery about magnesium oxide, a key mineral found in the Earth's mantle, which could also play a crucial role...
Yes, the odds of an asteroid striking Earth have doubled. No, you don’t need...
At the end of 2024, astronomers detected an asteroid in the night sky.
It was given the designation Y, since it was discovered in the...
Scientists discover the true nature of uranium
Most people are familiar with uranium as a fuel for nuclear power plants.
And while that's the most common application, this element is also used...