Earth
- Earth
Powerful storms may be causing ‘stormquakes’ offshore
A perfect-storm mixture of hurricane, ocean and seafloor structures can create distinct seismic signals that have now been named ‘stormquakes.’
- Physics
Frozen’s ice queen commands ice and snow — maybe we can too
In the Frozen movies, Elsa magically manipulates snow and ice. But scientists, too, make snowflakes. If they reinforce it, architects can build with ice and snow.
- Planets
Astronomers spot new type of storm on Saturn
These storms are bigger and longer lasting than squalls but not nearly as massive as this planet's Great White Spots.
- Materials Science
Sunflower-like rods could boost efficiency of solar collectors
A new material bends to follow the sun. Rods made from it could soak up far more of the sun’s light than ordinary solar collectors.
- Earth
Explainer: Earth — layer by layer
Explore the sizzling heat, unimaginable pressures — and some surprise diamonds — that sit beneath our feet. This is the side of Earth that you can’t see.
- Animals
The moon has power over animals
The moon is known for its tidal effects. But its light also can exert a powerful influence on animals large and small.
- Ecosystems
Groundwater pumping is draining rivers and streams worldwide
Excessive groundwater use could push more than half of the regions that depend on water pumped up from underground aquifers past an environmental tipping point by 2050. That could threaten aquatic ecosystems around the world.
- Earth
Earthworms lose weight in soils polluted with microplastics
Bits of plastic pollution in the ground caused earthworms to lose weight. That could hurt the worms’ ability to make soil healthy, and may explain why plants were stunted.
- Earth
Air pollution intensifies a teen’s feeling of stress
Living where the air is dirty may make tough situations even more stressful — especially for teens suffering from anxiety or depression.
- Chemistry
Cool Job: One green chemist is mining zoo dung for biological helpers
Her goal is to convert farm-field wastes into useful fuels and chemicals
- Oceans
Cool Job: This ecologist is studying an ocean of changes
A young marine ecologist is studying how warming is changing the oceans and what people can do to minimize the harm.
- Chemistry
2019 Nobel Prize in chemistry goes for pioneering lithium-ion batteries
Today’s lithium-ion batteries power everything from smartphones to computers. Three scientists who pioneered those batteries just got the 2019 Nobel Prize in chemistry.
