Earth

  1. Life

    Crabs left the sea not once, but several times, in their evolution

    A new study is the most comprehensive analysis yet of the evolution of “true crabs.”

    By
  2. Environment

    Grassland and shrubland fires destroy more U.S. homes than forest fires

    Grassland and shrubland fires destroyed nearly 11,000 homes in the contiguous United States from 1990 to 2020.

    By
  3. Climate

    The last 12 months were the hottest on record

    The planet’s average temperature was about 1.3 degrees Celsius higher than the 1850–1900 average, a new report finds.

    By
  4. Plants

    On some Australian islands, sea level rise may be helping mangroves thrive

    Rising seas usually spell trouble for mangroves. But the first survey of the Howick Islands in 50 years finds that mangroves there have expanded a lot.

    By
  5. Animals

    Fake fog, ‘re-skinning’ and ‘sea-weeding’ could help coral reefs survive

    Coral reefs are in global peril, but scientists around the world are working hard to find ways to help them survive the Anthropocene.

    By
  6. Animals

    At the foot of a melting glacier in Peru, llamas helped revitalize the land

    A partnership between scientists and farmers suggests how llama herding can mitigate some of the impacts of climate change.

    By
  7. Life

    See the wonders of two newfound deep-sea coral reefs off the Galápagos

    Coral reefs around the world are in trouble. But these reefs in the Galápagos Island Marine Reserve have yet to be damaged by humans.

    By
  8. Animals

    Pumping cold water into rivers could act as ‘air conditioning’ for fish

    Hundreds of salmon, trout and other fish sought shelter from summer heat in human-made shelters, suggesting a way to help fish adapt to river warming.

    By
  9. Plants

    Berkley Walker wants to revamp photosynthesis for a changing climate

    Finding ways to make plants work better could help feed a growing population, especially as the planet warms.

    By
  10. Climate

    50 years ago, scientists warned of the ‘neglected dangers’ of heat islands

    In 1973, scientists knew temperatures in cities were higher than in rural areas. Now, some cities are attempting to cool down with engineering.

    By
  11. Life

    10 billion snow crabs have disappeared off the Alaskan coast. Here’s why

    In the eastern Bering Sea, the snow crab population plummeted after a marine heat wave in 2018. The crabs may have starved, a new study finds.

    By
  12. Climate

    Róisín Commane sleuths out greenhouse gas leaks to fight climate change

    From New York City to the Arctic, atmospheric chemist Róisín Commane tries to account for the greenhouse gases in the air.

    By