Earth

  1. A photo of a man facing away from the camera and pouring water out of a 2-liter jug onto his head.
    Climate

    Here’s how much climate change increases the odds of brutally hot summers

    Climate change made 2023’s record-breaking heat waves in the United States, Mexico, China and southern Europe much more likely, new simulations show.

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  2. illustration of earth showing the Amasia supercontinent
    Earth

    ‘The Next Supercontinent’ predicts a future collision of North America and Asia

    In his new book, Ross Mitchell traces the dance of the continents through time to predict what Amasia, the next supercontinent, might look like.

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  3. A photo of a temperature board in Phoenix, Arizona showing 110 degrees and the time 1:22 p.m.
    Climate

    What’s causing this summer’s extreme heat waves?

    Climate change and meandering jet streams are fomenting this summer’s extreme waves of heat.

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  4. A photo of a bird nest made partly out of antibird spikes high up in a tree.
    Animals

    In a ‘perfect comeback,’ some birds use antibird spikes to build their nests

    The spikes were meant to keep birds away. But five corvid nests in Europe use the bird-deterrents as structural support and to ward off predators.

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  5. A digitally illustrated image of the Earth in a frying pan hovering over an open set of flames.
    Climate

    Last week was the hottest ever recorded — here’s why we keep smashing records

    Global temperature records are being shattered as El Niño and climate change combine to push the Earth into uncharted territory, researchers say.

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  6. photo of the Olkaria power project
    Earth

    How Kenya is helping its neighbors develop geothermal energy

    Renewable energy is crucial to halting climate change. In East Africa, the region’s geology makes geothermal energy a viable option.

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  7. photo of a baseball stadium with a cityscape obscured by smoke in the background
    Earth

    Wildfires aren’t going away. Here’s how smoke can affect your health

    How does repeat exposure to wildfire smoke affect our health? Three experts weigh in on the massive air pollution fueled by Canada’s ongoing fires.

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  8. A photo of Crawford Lake with trees surrounding it.
    Climate

    Canada’s Crawford Lake could mark the beginning of the Anthropocene

    The mud of a Canadian lake holds an extremely precise record of humans’ influence on Earth. But the Anthropocene isn’t an official geologic epoch yet.

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  9. A photo of two cars parked next to each other. The car on the left is covered by a large white tarp that is wrapped around it while the car on the right is pink and exposed.
    Materials Science

    This ‘thermal cloak’ keeps spaces from getting either too hot or cold

    A new thermal fabric prototype could help keep cars, buildings and other spaces a comfortable temperature during heat waves while reducing CO₂ emissions.

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  10. An underwater photo of wispy widgeongrass
    Ecosystems

    This seagrass is taking over the Chesapeake Bay. That’s good and bad news

    Higher water temperatures are wiping out eelgrass in the Chesapeake Bay and weedy widgeongrass is expanding. Here’s why that seagrass change matters.

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  11. An illustration of an Anomalocaris canadensis underwater.
    Paleontology

    This ancient, Lovecraftian apex predator chased and pierced soft prey

    Half a billion years ago, Anomalocaris canadensis probably used its bizarre headgear to reach out and snag soft prey with its spiky clutches.

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  12. A close up photo of a car's tire while it drives on a black top road.
    Chemistry

    Tear-resistant rubbery materials could pave the way for tougher tires

    Adding easy-to-break molecular connectors surprisingly makes materials harder to tear and could one day reduce microplastic pollution from car tires.

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