Tropical trees are dying faster than ever, and it's not just heat or drought to blame. Scientists have uncovered a surprising culprit: ordinary thunderstorms. These quick, fierce storms, powered by climate change, are toppling trees with intense winds and lightning, sometimes causing more damage than drought itself. The discovery is...
Flooding Along the Uruguay and Ibicuí Rivers
On June 18, 2025, torrential rains hit the state of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil.
Exposure to Air Pollution May Cause Heart Damage
Researchers using cardiac MRI have found that long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with early signs of heart damage, according to a study published in Radiology.
Research Reveals Arctic Region Was Permafrost-Free When Global Temperatures Were 4.5˚C Higher Than Today
Scientists have found evidence that the Asian continent was free of permafrost all the way to its northerly coast with the Arctic Ocean when Earth’s average temperature was 4.5˚ C warmer than today, suggesting that the whole Northern Hemisphere would have also been free of permafrost at the time.
Even low levels of air pollution may quietly scar your heart, MRI study finds
Breathing polluted air—even at levels considered “safe”—may quietly damage your heart. A new study using advanced MRI scans found that people exposed to more air pollution showed early signs of scarring in their heart muscle, which can lead to heart failure over time. This damage showed up in both healthy...
When rainforests died, the planet caught fire: New clues from Earth’s greatest extinction
When Siberian volcanoes kicked off the Great Dying, the real climate villain turned out to be the rainforests themselves: once they collapsed, Earth’s biggest carbon sponge vanished, CO₂ rocketed, and a five-million-year heatwave followed. Fossils from China and clever climate models now link that botanical wipe-out to runaway warming, hinting...
The fatal mutation that lets cancer outsmart the human immune system
Scientists at UC Davis discovered a small genetic difference that could explain why humans are more prone to certain cancers than our primate cousins. The change affects a protein used by immune cells to kill tumors—except in humans, it’s vulnerable to being shut down by an enzyme that tumors release....
Why do killer whales keep handing us fish? Scientists unpack the mystery
Wild orcas across four continents have repeatedly floated fish and other prey to astonished swimmers and boaters, hinting that the ocean’s top predator likes to make friends. Researchers cataloged 34 such gifts over 20 years, noting the whales often lingered expectantly—and sometimes tried again—after humans declined their offerings, suggesting a...
The pandemic pet boom was real. The happiness boost wasn’t
Locked-down Hungarians who gained or lost pets saw almost no lasting shift in mood or loneliness, and new dog owners actually felt less calm and satisfied over time—hinting that the storied “pet effect” may be more myth than mental-health remedy even in extreme isolation.
How female friendships help chimp babies survive
Female chimpanzees that forge strong, grooming-rich friendships with other females dramatically boost their infants’ odds of making it past the perilous first year—no kin required. Three decades of Gombe observations show that well-integrated mothers enjoy a survival rate of up to 95% for their young, regardless of male allies or...