Earth Science
Untangling the Mysterious Genetic Tentacles of the Giant Squid
Contrary to prior speculation about the elusive creatures, all giant squid belong to a single species and they all share very similar genetics
March 20, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Earthquakes Are Basically Gold Factories
In the cracks between tectonic plates, veins of gold appear
March 19, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Nearly 8 Miles Down, Bacteria Thrive in the Oceans’ Deepest Trench
The Mariana Trench may serve as a seafloor nutrient trap, supporting remarkable numbers of microorganisms
March 17, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
14 Fun Facts about Marine Ribbon Worms
Ribbon worms swallow prey whole, grease themselves with their mucus to slide quickly through mud, split into thousands of new worms if repeatedly severed, and much more
March 15, 2013 |
By Emily Frost
Albania Has No Idea What to Do With All of These Leftover War Bunkers
Albania's 700,000 war bunkers aren't going anywhere soon, so locals are turning them into hostels, animal sheds and make-out spots
March 15, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
A New Meaning to Green Urban Design: Dyeing the Chicago River
The story behind how the Windy City gets its yearly watery makeover
March 15, 2013 |
By Jimmy Stamp
Vanishing Marine Algae Can Be Monitored From a Boat With Your Smartphone
An app allows boat travelers to track declining levels of phytoplankton, a microscopic organism at the base of the marine food chain
March 15, 2013 |
By Claire Martin
Stressed Corals Dim Then Glow Brightly Before They Die
Measuring how coral fluorescence changes may serve as an early indicator of the declining health of a reef
March 13, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Japan Just Opened Up a Whole New Source for Fossil Fuels
For the first time, natural gas has been pulled from offshore methane clathrates
March 13, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
The Northern Lights—From Scientific Phenomenon to Artists’ Muse
The spectacular aurora borealis is inspiring artists to create light installations, musical compositions, food and fashion
March 12, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
A Warming Climate Is Turning the Arctic Green
The world is getting warmer, and the Arctic is getting greener
March 11, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
The Amazon Rainforest Should Deal With Climate Change Better Than We Thought
Contrary to previous research, tropical rainforests should be able to stand up to climate change
March 11, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
New Study Examines San Joaquin Valley, Home to America’s Dirtiest Air
The smog-filled valley recently hosted NASA planes that tested air quality to help calibrate future satellite efforts to measure air pollution
March 08, 2013 |
By Claire Martin
The (Natural) World, According to Our Photo Contest Finalists
From a caterpillar to the Milky Way, the ten finalists in the contest's Natural World category capture the peculiar, the remarkable and the sublime
March 07, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
2012 Saw the Second Highest Carbon Emissions in Half a Century
For more than 50 years observations from Hawaii have tracked rising carbon dioxide. We're still ignoring those warnings
March 07, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Behold, The First Full Map of Mercury
"Every square meter of Mercury's surface" in one gorgeous map
March 06, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Fake Bishop Tries to Crash Pope-Choosing Party
An impostor bishop crashes important papacy-related meeting
March 06, 2013 |
By Angela Serratore
Buy a Handbag, Burn a Forest
Brazilian deforestation is tied to producers of luxury Italian leather goods
March 05, 2013 |
By Angela Serratore
From Wyoming to Mexico, A Beautiful Time-Lapse Trip Down the Colorado River
A time lapsed kayak trip down the Colorado River
March 05, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Climate Change Could Allow Ships to Cross the North Pole by 2040
Melting sea ice will open up shipping lanes across the Arctic, potentially making the Northwest Passage and North Pole navigable during summer
March 04, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
