A new study reveals an unprecedented increase in wildfires in tropical peatlands during the 20th century.
UBC Study Links Artificial Turf Fields to Lethal Chemical Threat for Salmon
A new study from the University of British Columbia has found that artificial turf fields across Metro Vancouver leach 6PPD-quinone, a chemical known to kill coho salmon, into municipal stormwater systems—and the contamination persists long after the fields are installed.
Scientists solve 12,800-year-old climate mystery hidden in Greenland ice
A mysterious spike of platinum buried deep in Greenland’s ice has long fueled theories of a catastrophic comet or asteroid strike 12,800 years ago—possibly triggering a sudden return to icy conditions known as the Younger Dryas. But new research points to a far less dramatic, yet still powerful culprit: volcanic...
Scientists thought ravens followed wolves. They were wrong
Ravens have long been thought to follow wolves to find food, but new research shows they’re far more strategic. By tracking both animals in Yellowstone, scientists discovered that ravens memorize areas where wolf kills are likely and fly directly to those spots—sometimes from great distances. Rather than trailing wolves, they...
Ocean Bacteria Team up to Break Down Biodegradable Plastic
MIT researchers uncovered the roles of bacterial species from the environment as they consume biodegradable plastic.
Does Ocean Saltiness Influence El Niño?
Researchers from the Nicholas School of the Environment found that variability in ocean salt content affects El Niño intensity.
How Climate Change Is Fueling Disease Outbreaks
New Stanford-led research traces a direct line from extreme weather to a massive dengue outbreak in Peru. The findings serve as a warning – and the seed of a possible solution.
Scientists recreated a dinosaur nest to solve a 70-million-year-old mystery
Scientists recreated a life-size oviraptor nest to understand how these dinosaurs hatched their eggs. Their experiments showed the parent likely couldn’t heat all the eggs directly, meaning sunlight played a key role. This uneven heating could cause eggs in the same nest to hatch at different times. The results suggest...
Wildfires in carbon-rich tropical peatlands hit 2000-year high
Tropical peatlands, some of the planet’s largest underground carbon stores, are now burning at levels never seen in at least 2,000 years. By analyzing charcoal preserved in peat across multiple continents, scientists discovered that fires had actually been declining for more than a thousand years, largely shaped by natural climate...
These dinosaurs had wings but couldn’t fly
Some feathered dinosaurs may have briefly taken to the skies—only to give it up later. By studying rare fossils with preserved feathers, researchers uncovered a surprising clue hidden in molting patterns, revealing that Anchiornis likely couldn’t fly at all. Instead of the neat, symmetrical feather replacement seen in flying birds,...