Deep in the heart of Central Asia, the Kunlun Mountains form a vital barrier on the northern Tibetan Plateau.
Earthquakes release blistering heat that can melt rock in an instant
MIT scientists have unraveled the hidden energy balance of earthquakes by recreating them in the lab. Their findings show that while only a sliver of energy goes into the shaking we feel on the surface, the overwhelming majority is released as heat—sometimes hot enough to melt surrounding rock in an...
Wildfire smoke could kill 70,000 Americans a year by 2050
Wildfires are no longer a seasonal nuisance but a deadly, nationwide health crisis. Fueled by climate change, smoke is spreading farther and lingering longer, with new research warning of tens of thousands of additional deaths annually by mid-century. The health costs alone could surpass all other climate damages combined, revealing...
Orange Rivers Signal Toxic Shift in Arctic Wilderness
Warming soil unleashes metals deadly to fish and food chains.
New Mars Research Reveals Multiple Episodes of Habitability in Jezero Crater
New research using NASA’s Perseverance rover has uncovered strong evidence that Mars’ Jezero Crater experienced multiple episodes of fluid activity — each with conditions that could have supported life.
Warming Temps Alone Fail to Trigger Increased CO2 Levels From Soil
A study examining the effects of higher temperatures on soil shows that warming alone does not increase levels of carbon dioxide emitted from the soil.
A New Way to Produce Ammonia More Efficiently
Ammonia is used in fertilizer and many industrial processes.
U.S. Faces Rising Death Toll from Wildfire Smoke, Study Finds
Wildfires burning across Canada and the Western United States are spewing smoke over millions of Americans – the latest examples of ashy haze becoming a regular experience, with health impacts far greater than scientists previously estimated.
Research Highlights Rapid Permafrost Thaw at Point Lay, Alaska
A team of scientists working with local residents has detailed the rapidly accelerating “catastrophic” permafrost thawing and infrastructure damage at the northern Alaska coastal community of Point Lay.
Why Alaska’s salmon streams are suddenly bleeding orange
Warming Arctic permafrost is unlocking toxic metals, turning Alaska’s once-clear rivers into orange, acid-laced streams. The shift, eerily similar to mine pollution but entirely natural, threatens fish, ecosystems, and communities that depend on them—with no way to stop the process once it starts.