Earth

Earth

Surprise! The jet stream can trigger cloud formation

Most cloud-seeding particles may come from a newly discovered mechanism — stratospheric intrusion.

Earth

Meet the sneaky and surprisingly dangerous squall-line tornado

These destructive, radar-dodging twisters often form at night. Emerging data from the U.S. Southeast might soon make forecasting the tornadoes possible.

Animals

This biologist tracks seadragons, with help from the public

Nerida Wilson uses artificial intelligence to identify seadragons in photos taken by citizen scientists.

Climate

Let’s learn about how much climate change is to blame for extreme weather

Scientists can find out whether a natural disaster was more frequent or severe due to human-caused climate change. Here’s how.

Earth

As Yellowstone’s supervolcano slumbers, another big danger lurks

Superheated water beneath Yellowstone could fuel hydrothermal explosions with the force of an atomic bomb. And lessons from the past suggest they could happen today.

Tech

New system uses evaporation to greatly cool artificial turf

It relies on rainwater that gets stored below a field of plastic "grass." The design also limits how much rain — and pollution — will run off artificial turf.

Space

Here’s why some shooting stars have long-lasting afterglows

Atmospheric chemistry is the most important factor in determining which meteors leave behind these persistent trails.

Space

Summer ‘space hurricanes’ are emerging high above Earth’s magnetic poles

A separation — and later recombining — of Earth’s magnetic field lines may be what churns up these super-high-altitude storms of plasma.

Climate

Stashing more CO₂ in the ocean could slow climate change

More research is needed on ways to safely remove some CO2 from the water to make room for more — such as by seaweed farming and iron fertilization.

Earth

Superman’s kryptonite doesn’t have a true equal on Earth

Though not quite kryptonite, some Earth minerals can glow under ultraviolet light. Excited electrons cause these real-life power stones to light up.

Tech

Lasers help put the cork on spilled oil

Treating cork with lasers made the material able to quickly sponge up oil while repelling water, scientists in China and Israel found.

Earth

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano recently erupted like a stomp rocket

This appears to be a newfound type of eruption. It could only be recognized because of the extensive monitoring of Kilauea's crater.