Scientists are taking the once-radical concept of dimming the sun through stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) seriously, but a Columbia University team warns that reality is far messier than models suggest. Their study reveals how physical, geopolitical, and economic constraints could derail even the best-intentioned attempts to cool the planet. From...
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Scientists just found hidden life thriving beneath the Arctic ice
Melting Arctic ice is revealing a hidden world of nitrogen-fixing bacteria beneath the surface. These microbes, not the usual cyanobacteria, enrich the ocean with nitrogen, fueling algae growth that supports the entire marine food chain. As ice cover declines, both algae production and CO2 absorption may increase, altering the region’s...
Coral Skeletons Left by a Medieval Tsunami Whisper Warning for Caribbean Region
Sometime between 1381 and 1391, an earthquake exceeding magnitude 8.0 rocked the northeastern Caribbean and sent a tsunami barreling toward the island of Anegada.
Building a Living Laboratory on a Lake
After more than a year of planning, our team is finally ready to launch a new phase of research.
Zebrafish Research Reveals New Hope for Pediatric Cancer
A tiny fish with translucent skin could make a big difference in how we treat pediatric cancer — and the research is happening at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center.
New Study Finds Large Fluctuations in Sea Level Occurred Throughout the Last Ice Age, a Significant Shift in Understanding of Past Climate
Large changes in global sea level, fueled by fluctuations in ice sheet growth and decay, occurred throughout the last ice age, rather than just toward the end of that period, a study publishing this week in the journal Science has found.
How Green Infrastructure is Revamping City Storm Sewers
Installing green infrastructure in residential areas can prevent stormwater from flooding sewer systems and significantly curb heavy metal pollution, suggests a new study.
Decoding Dangers of Arctic Sea Ice With Seismic, Radar Method
Sea ice coverage in the Arctic Ocean is at one of its lowest levels on record, yet there’s no unanimity on when that ice will disappear completely during summer months.
How this odd-looking animal outsmarted aging
Naked mole-rats seem to have found nature’s cheat code for longevity. Scientists discovered that small tweaks in one of their proteins make it better at fixing DNA damage, helping the animals resist aging. Even fruit flies with the same changes lived longer, hinting at a universal way life can extend...
Glowing sugars show how microbes eat the ocean’s carbon
Researchers have developed a light-emitting sugar probe that exposes how marine microbes break down complex carbohydrates. The innovative fluorescent tool allows scientists to visualize when and where sugars are degraded in the ocean. This breakthrough helps map microbial activity and carbon cycling, providing new clues about how the ocean stores...