Earth and Human Activity

Ecosystems

Soggy coastal soils? Here’s why ecologists love them

Coastal wetlands can protect our shores from erosion, flooding and rising sea levels.

Animals

Are coyotes moving into your neighborhood?

How do coyotes survive in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago? Researchers and citizen scientists are working together to find answers.

Animals

Busy beavers may be speeding thaw of Arctic permafrost

As climate change continues, busy beavers are expanding their range in Alaska. Their dams could further speed the loss of permafrost there and promote local warming.

Agriculture

Pesticides contaminate most food of western U.S. monarchs

Monarch caterpillars eat only milkweeds. A new study finds widespread pesticide use has tainted these plants across the insect’s western U.S. breeding grounds.

Climate

Siberian heat wave that caused an oil spill made more likely by climate change

The six-month heat wave in Siberia during the first half of 2020 would not have happened without human-caused climate change, researchers find.

Life

For teens, big problems may lead to meaningful research

Several teens who competed at the Regeneron Science Talent Search applied their STEM know-how to solve problems they or their communities faced.

Chemistry

Australian wildfires pumped smoke to record heights

Wildfires in Australia in late December and early January spurred an unusual smoke plume that still hasn’t fully dispersed.

Animals

Going bright may help corals recover from bleaching

When some corals bleach, they turn neon colors. Flashy hues may be part of a response that helps these corals recover and reunite with their algae.

Health & Medicine

Deadly heat: Expected by century’s end, it’s here already

Instances of hot and humid conditions that threaten human lives are on the rise.

Materials Science

Silk-based microneedles may help treat diseased plants

Engineers have invented silk microneedles to inject medicines into plants. One day farmers might use drones to dart their sick plants with meds from the air.

Earth

Fossil fuels appear to release far more methane than we thought

Ice cores reveal less methane than expected. This suggests today’s fossil fuel industry is responsible for nearly all of the methane emissions from natural sources today.

Environment

CO₂ emissions have nosedived as COVID-19 keeps people home

The COVID-19 pandemic restricted travel that can pollute the air. By April, travel-related daily emissions of greenhouse gases was back to 2006 levels.