Earth & Environment
Why Jupiter has more giant moons than Saturn
Jupiter and Saturn are the two largest planets in our solar system, and both are surrounded by dozens—even hundreds—of moons.
But their moon systems look...
Why living at high altitude could prevent diabetes
For many years, scientists have noticed an interesting pattern. People who live at high altitudes, where the air contains less oxygen, tend to have...
Up to 6.4 million children could lose citizenship rights under new proposal
A new study suggests that ending birthright citizenship in the United States could have far-reaching effects, especially for Asian and Latino communities.
Researchers from Penn...
Five things to know about rare earth elements
Aside from oil, rare earth elements may be the most buzzworthy thing coming out of the ground these days.
Headlines trumpet news about new partnerships...
A sleeping giant awakens: Japan’s Kikai volcano is slowly refilling with magma
Scientists have discovered that one of the most powerful volcanoes in Earth’s recent history is slowly building up magma again—more than 7,000 years after...
Scientists discover lost ice age world beneath Texas cave
A surprising discovery deep inside an underwater cave in Texas has revealed a hidden snapshot of life from the Ice Age.
A paleontologist from the...
Why winter could be the most dangerous season for your heart
Many people worry about heat waves and rising temperatures, but new research suggests that cold weather may be a greater danger to heart health.
A...
Not so lonely after all: Bull sharks choose friends and form social bonds
Sharks are often seen as solitary and dangerous animals that roam the ocean alone. But new research is challenging that image.
A long-term study of...
A tiny “ion pump” could make clean water cheaper and power future technologies
Scientists have developed a new kind of device that can move charged particles through water using very little energy—and without any moving parts.
This breakthrough...
Study finds surprising cancer link between cats and humans
A large new study has made an exciting discovery about cancer in cats, and it may also help improve how we treat cancer in...
Earth was already moving 3.5 billion years ago, study finds
The story of our planet is written in the slow movement of its surface.
Over billions of years, shifting tectonic plates have shaped continents, opened...
Why fashion keeps coming back: Scientists find a 20-year style cycle
Have you ever noticed that old fashion trends seem to come back?
Bell-bottom jeans, miniskirts, and vintage styles often return after disappearing for years.
Many people...
FEATURED
Arctic could be iceless in September if global temperatures increase 2 degrees
Arctic sea ice could disappear completely through September each summer if average global temperatures increase by as little as 2 degrees, according to a...
Water’s epic journey to Earth began before the Sun formed
The origin of Earth’s water is a complicated mystery that scientists have been untangling for decades.
More than one asteroid could have wiped out the dinosaurs
Scientists have found evidence of an asteroid impact crater beneath the North Atlantic Ocean that could force researchers to rethink how the dinosaurs reached...
Scientists smash rocks to uncover clues for protecting Earth from asteroids
Engineers at Johns Hopkins University have made exciting discoveries about how materials like sand and rock behave when hit by extreme forces.
This research could...
New theory may explain mystery of Fairy Circles of Namibia
The 'Fairy Circles' of Namibia, one of nature's biggest puzzles, may have finally been solved by scientists from the University of Strathclyde and Princeton...
Not all failures lead to learning, shows study
A recent study by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Clark University sheds new light on the complex relationship between failure and learning, particularly...
New wave transports lightning energy to Earth’s radiation belts
Two scientists from the University of Alaska Fairbanks have made a groundbreaking discovery about Earth’s radiation belts.
Vikas Sonwalkar, a professor emeritus, and Amani Reddy,...
New study reveals the secrets of earth’s first life
Long ago, the Earth was a very different place, with conditions that might seem alien to us now.
To understand the beginnings of life on...