When the Earth's crust tears apart and forms a new ocean, one side of the continent sometimes thins out much more than the other.
Sunlight-Powered Breakthrough Turns Methane into Valuable Ethylene
A cleaner and more efficient method to convert the greenhouse gas methane into ethylene – a key ingredient in plastics and textiles – has been developed using the harsh Australian sun.
Where do Microplastics Go Once They Sink into the Ocean?
Researchers at Kyushu University report that they have developed a new method to more accurately analyze the distribution of small microplastics in the ocean at various depths.
Australians are Drinking Plastic Particles in Their Tea, UQ Research Finds
Researchers have called for consumer warnings on plastic kettles after finding nano and microplastic particles leach into the liquid.
Satellites spot rapid “Doomsday Glacier” collapse
Two decades of satellite and GPS data show the Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf slowly losing its grip on a crucial stabilizing point as fractures multiply and ice speeds up. Scientists warn this pattern could spread to other vulnerable Antarctic shelves.
A lost Amazon world just reappeared in Bolivia
Researchers exploring Bolivia’s Great Tectonic Lakes discovered a landscape transformed over centuries by sophisticated engineering and diverse agricultural traditions. Excavations show how Indigenous societies adapted to dynamic wetlands through raised fields, canals, and mixed livelihoods. Today’s local communities preserve this biocultural continuity, guiding research and conservation.
New 3D scan reveals a hidden network of moai carvers on Easter Island
A high-resolution 3D model of Rano Raraku shows that the moai were created in many distinct carving zones. Instead of a top-down system, the statues appear to have been produced by separate family groups working independently while sharing techniques. Evidence of varied carving styles and multiple transport routes supports this...
Dinosaur mummy found with hooves and a hidden crest
Scientists have reconstructed the most complete and lifelike profile of Edmontosaurus annectens thanks to an extraordinary preservation process called clay templating, in which a thin clay film captured the dinosaur’s skin, scales, spikes, and even hooves in three dimensions. By combining newly excavated “mummies,” advanced imaging, and artistic reconstruction, researchers...
Scientists discover hidden wolf DNA in most dogs
Researchers studying thousands of canine genomes discovered that wolf DNA is still present in most dog breeds. This ancient genetic influence shows up in traits like body size, behavior, and environmental resilience. Even dogs bred far from wolves, including tiny chihuahuas, carry detectable wolf ancestry. The findings highlight how deeply...
The July 4 Floods in Texas Weren’t a One-Off. They Were a Warning
On July 14 this past summer, I pulled up to the Kerrville Kroc Corps Community Center, dodging puddles and sinkholes from a recent thunderstorm in a town where the last thing needed was more rain.