Rising CO2 levels threaten to disrupt global space communication
Far above your head, in the atmosphere between Earth and outer space, an invisible process is occurring. The…
Ancient Antarctic ice reveals six million years of Earth’s climate history
At the edge of East Antarctica, where the wind howls through a white emptiness and the air bites…
Oceans in the fire: How magma and hydrogen forge massive quantities of planetary water
In the beginning, when planets were newborn, they glowed like furnaces, vast oceans of molten rock wrapped in…
Earth’s first life may have been sparked by underwater thermal vents
Before sunlight ever reached the planet, another force may have sparked life—electricity. Deep beneath the ocean floor, ancient…
Madagascar’s tilted past: How two ancient rifts sculpted a living island
Madagascar’s cliffs, rolling plateaus, and winding rivers weren’t shaped by a single violent event. Instead, the island’s breathtaking…
After 700,000 years, Iran’s dormant Taftan volcano is starting to rise
For decades, the colossal Taftan volcano of eastern Iran appeared a lifeless piece of history. It towered nearly…
Antarctic microbe has major food, cosmetic, and medical potential
In one of Earth’s driest, most harsh environments, scientists uncovered a micro-miracle. Down in Fumarole Bay on Deception…
Glaciers are keeping themselves from melting — but not for long
High in the mountains, glaciers once kept their cool—literally. The massive ice bodies create their own cold microclimates…
Scientists develop reusable air filter that mimics the human nose
Air pollution isn’t always visible, but it affects nearly every breath taken indoors. Floating in the air are…
Secrets beneath the Southern Ocean: How ancient waters helped cool the Earth
Between 800,000 and 430,000 years ago, Earth went through a series of fairly gentle warm-ups that scientists are…
How a planetary crash with Theia brought water and life to Earth
About 4.6 billion years ago, the Solar System formed from a cloud of dust and gas collapsing in…
Earth is getting darker and it’s changing the planet’s climate balance
For nearly twenty years, satellites have quietly gauged the flow of sunlight and heat through the Earth’s atmosphere.…