We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
Geologists unpack why the magnitude 8.8 temblor — the sixth largest ever recorded — fomented waves that reached Japan and Hawaii but caused little damage.
An oceanographer explains how climate change, warming oceans and a souped-up atmosphere are creating conditions for deadly floods.
Earth has survived huge temperature swings over eons of climate change. Humans might not be so lucky.
In fantasy worlds, trees like the Lord of the Rings’ Ents are agile and mobile. In the real world, they’re slow.
Strange cone-shaped rocks led scientists to the hidden remains of one of Earth’s oldest asteroid impacts. It could help us find fossil life on Mars.
The U.S. push to mine international waters for metals defies global efforts to control and protect these fragile ecosystems.
Sewage-contaminated water absorbs certain wavelengths of light, leaving a signature that can be detected by space-based instruments, a new study finds.
The vanilla species grown for its flavoring is finicky. Genes from its wild relatives could help make it hardier — but not if those cousins go extinct.
Even without reaching heat wave levels, sustained high temperatures may contribute to a litany of health issues.
