All Stories by Carolyn Gramling
- Paleontology
See stunning fossils of insects, fish and plants from an ancient Australian forest
Thousands of fossils at an Australian site show a rare glimpse into the continent’s wetter history over 11 million years ago.
- Climate
Africa’s ‘Great Green Wall’ could have far-reaching climate effects
The “Great Green Wall,” a tree-planting project to stop desertification in northern Africa, could alter climate patterns in the region and beyond.
- Climate
How electric vehicles offered hope as climate challenges grew
Amid daunting climate change challenges, electric vehicles swerved into the spotlight this year.
- Climate
Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier ice shelf could collapse within five years
The loss of Thwaites’ buttressing ice shelf could hasten the demise of the “Doomsday Glacier” and raise the risk of dramatic sea level rise.
- Oceans
The Southern Ocean is still swallowing large amounts of humans’ carbon dioxide emissions
A 2018 study suggested the ocean surrounding Antarctica might be taking up less CO₂ than thought, but new data suggest it is still a carbon sink.
- Paleontology
This dinosaur had a weapon shaped like an Aztec war club on its tail
The flat and spiky tail club of a newly discovered ankylosaur was unique, even for this often weirdly armored group of dinosaurs.
- Climate
How climate change may shape the world in the centuries to come
Climate projections need to be pushed long past the established benchmark of 2100, researchers argue.
- Earth
A mineral found in a diamond’s flaws contains the source of some of Earth’s heat
A mineral theorized to exist in the mantle was found hiding in a diamond. Dubbed davemaoite, it could explain where some of Earth’s heat comes from.
- Climate
Earth will warm 2.7 degrees Celsius based on current pledges to cut emissions
The world still lags on its commitments to lower greenhouse gas emissions and forestall the worst effects of global warming, a new U.N. report shows.
- Paleontology
Some dinosaurs may have lived in herds as early as 193 million years ago
A fossilized family gathering of long-necked Mussaurus may be the earliest evidence yet of herd behavior in dinosaurs.
- Animals
Giant ground sloths may have been meat-eating scavengers
Contrary to previous assumptions, at least one ancient giant ground sloth was a meat eater.
- Chemistry
Ink analysis reveals Marie Antoinette’s letters’ hidden words and who censored them
Chemical analyses of letters written by Marie Antoinette solve a French Revolution mystery: Who censored the queen?
