Climate change is changing the size of fishes in Michigan’s inland lakes, leaving the young and old of many species more vulnerable to predation.
Study Reveals Rainfall Tipping Point That Threatens Crops
New research shows that crops like maize and wheat, which depend on recycled rainfall, are more vulnerable to drought.
Archaeologists may have finally solved Peru’s strange “Band of Holes” mystery
In Peru’s mysterious Pisco Valley, thousands of perfectly aligned holes known as Monte Sierpe have long puzzled scientists. New drone mapping and microbotanical analysis reveal that these holes may once have served as a bustling pre-Inca barter market—later transformed into an accounting system under the Inca Empire.
Meet the desert survivor that grows faster the hotter it gets
In Death Valley’s relentless heat, Tidestromia oblongifolia doesn’t just survive—it thrives. Michigan State University scientists discovered that the plant can quickly adjust its photosynthetic machinery to endure extreme temperatures that would halt most species. Its cells reorganize, its genes switch on protective functions, and it even reshapes its chloroplasts to...
Warm ocean beneath Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus may be perfect for life
NASA’s Cassini mission has revealed surprising heat flow at Enceladus’ north pole, showing the moon releases energy from both ends. This balance of heat could allow its subsurface ocean to remain liquid for billions of years, supporting conditions for life. The study also refined estimates of ice thickness, giving scientists...
9,000-year-old ice melt shows how fast Antarctica can fall apart
Around 9,000 years ago, East Antarctica went through a dramatic meltdown that was anything but isolated. Scientists have discovered that warm deep ocean water surged beneath the region’s floating ice shelves, causing them to collapse and unleashing a domino effect of ice loss across the continent. This process created a...
DNA in seawater reveals lost hammerhead sharks
A revolutionary eDNA test detects endangered hammerhead sharks using genetic traces left in seawater, eliminating the need to capture or even see them. This powerful tool could finally uncover where these elusive species still survive, and help protect them before they disappear for good.
Deep-sea mining starves life in the ocean’s twilight zone
Scientists have discovered that deep-sea mining plumes can strip vital nutrition from the ocean’s twilight zone, replacing natural food with nutrient-poor sediment. The resulting “junk food” effect could starve life across entire marine ecosystems.
Laser satellites expose a secret Antarctic carbon burst
A new study shows that the Southern Ocean releases far more carbon dioxide in winter than once thought. By combining laser satellite data with AI analysis, scientists managed to “see” through the polar darkness for the first time. The results reveal a 40% undercount in winter emissions, changing how researchers...
In the US, Western Rivers May Be Allies in the Fight Against Climate Change
New study reveals underestimation of carbon uptake in rivers in arid areas, with global implications.