Natural Disasters
The Longest Known Earthquake Lasted 32 Years
The “slow slip” event preceded a devastating 1861 quake of at least magnitude 8.5 in Sumatra
Stories by Stephanie Pappas
Climate
Insurers Struggle to Forecast Near-Term Risks in a Shifting Climate
After a record-setting year for hurricanes and wildfires, the insurance industry is grappling with the role of our climate emergency in estimating local disaster damages
Space
Magnetic Field around a Black Hole Mapped for the First Time
Images from the Event Horizon Telescope reveal new details of how supermassive black holes produce huge jets of matter and energy
EARTH
Whales’ Long, Loud Calls Reveal Structure beneath Ocean Floor
Sound waves from fin whales can help scientists probe Earth’s crust
Biology
Brown Tree Snakes Twist Themselves into ‘Lassos’ to Climb
The reptiles scale trees with a technique never before observed in any snake
EARTH
Human-Made Stuff Now Outweighs All Life on Earth
The sheer scale of buildings, infrastructure and other anthropogenic objects underscores our impact on the planet
Environment
Earthquake Sounds Could Reveal How Quickly the Ocean Is Warming
A new way of measuring the temperature of the seas could fill in gaps left by limited direct monitoring
Public Health
How COVID-19 Deaths Are Counted
Assigning a cause of death is never straightforward, but data on excess deaths suggest coronavirus death tolls are likely an underestimate
Biology
Salamanders and Frogs Light Up with Secret Superpower
Every species of amphibian tested in a new study had the ability to fluoresce under blue or ultraviolet light
EARTH
A Tiny Leak Led to a Massive, Unexpected Collapse at Kilauea Volcano
Its caldera’s dramatic, surprisingly slow collapse could point to other risks worldwide
Climate
Viking History Is Melting Away in Greenland
Climate change is already rotting archaeological sites in the Arctic, and Norse Viking-era settlements are at high risk
Biology
Tiny, Snackable Fish Are Linchpins of Coral Reef Ecosystems
Fish that are so small and shy that they escape attention may be the foundation of reefs’ outsize productivity
EARTH
Deadly Volcanic Flows Glide on Their Own Cushion of Air
The discovery helps explain why pyroclastic flows can travel so far, so fast
Biology
Amphibian-Killing Invasive Fungus Causes Record Wildlife Loss
The chytrid fungus has hit 500 species of amphibians, driving dozens to extinction in recent decades
Policy & Ethics
How Security Experts Track North Korea’s Nuclear Activity
Remote techniques can detect signs of active testing—but they don’t tell us everything
Environment
“Ghost Gear” Haunts the Oceans in a Growing Threat
Tons of dumped nets and other fishing equipment are strangling animals and habitats
EARTH
Why Diving Tectonic Plates Get Stuck 400 Miles beneath Earth's Surface
The hitch, likely only a temporary one, could be linked to certain volcanic features
Climate
Humans Contribute to Earth’s Wobble, Scientists Say
Droughts, melting ice and rising seas linked to anthropogenic climate change are altering the planet’s motions
Climate
Enormous Iceberg Pirouettes after Splitting from Ice Shelf
The Delaware-size chunk of ice has been snagging on rises on the ocean floor
EARTH
How Fast Are Glaciers Melting? Just Listen to Them
Underwater microphones can glean valuable data from the burbles and pops of thawing glaciers and icebergs
