Climate

Ecosystems

Here’s why scientists have been fertilizing the Arctic

For more than 30 years, scientists have been fertilizing small parcels of Arctic tundra. Here’s what happens when you push an ecosystem to the brink.

Climate

Revisit 2017’s most important stories

The year was full of major scientific events and discoveries, from the finding of a new continent to a solar eclipse witnessed by millions.

Environment

Tropics may now emit more carbon dioxide than they absorb

Analyses of satellite images suggest that degraded forests now release more carbon than they store.

Climate

Thawing mosses tell a climate change tale

Plants long entombed beneath Canadian ice are now emerging. They’re telling a story of warming unprecedented in the history of human civilization.

Earth

‘Watermelon’ snow is helping melt glaciers

Microbes that paint snow pink are accelerating the melting of ice fields in Alaska.

Tech

Is weather control a dream or nightmare?

Weather control is largely fiction for now, although people are unintentionally changing their weather. And that might not be a good thing.

Science & Society

Explainer: Weather and weather prediction

The sun and Earth combine to create the planet’s weather systems. And science is getting good at predicting what they’ll do.

Climate

Did Maria set another U.S. rainfall record?

Weather scientists are investigating whether Maria set another U.S. record for flooding rainfalls.

Climate

Scientists Say: Weather bomb

Weather doesn’t just affect the air. Huge storms can send waves of pressure through the Earth as well.

Climate

Here’s why Irma caused some coastal water to temporarily go missing

The first sign of an impending storm surge — and serious danger — may be the sudden, wholesale retreat of water from coastal beaches.

Climate

Five portraits of Hurricane Irma’s record-breaking fury

A series of remarkable images capture Hurricane Irma’s power and might — and the lessons they can teach scientists.

Climate

Picturing how many Great Salt Lakes Harvey dropped onto Texas

Harvey’s astounding rainfall shattered records. The numbers are so high that it can be tough to picture what they mean. Here we give it a try.