EARTH
How the Sahara Was Born
Ancient dust on nearby islands hides secrets of the desert’s origins
Stories by Lucas Joel
EARTH
Geologists Solve Mystery of Nepal's “Earthquake Gap”
One of Nepal’s major faults appeared worrisomely silent—but new evidence suggests otherwise
Evolution
Prehistoric Whodunit: New Technique Identifies What Killed Ancient Animals
Characteristic etchings on ancient prey bones reveal the animal that digested them
Biology
Coral Reefugees: Certain Corals Could “Outrun” Climate Change
New evidence suggests that corals once sought refuge from warming waters by migrating
Space & Physics
The Search for ET May Be Missing Life on Low-Oxygen Worlds
Microbes thrived on ancient Earth, even with very little oxygen
Evolution
“Death Masks” Reveal How Earliest Complex Organisms Became Fossils
A new experiment suggests our picture of the so-called Ediacarans may be incomplete
Environment
Oxygen Depletion Smothered Marine Life in Earth's Largest Mass Extinction
New findings suggest oxygen diminished globally
Evolution
Mysterious Insect Fossil Gap Explained
A lack of diverse, winged hexapods—not low oxygen levels—could explain the gap in the fossil record
