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
Stories by Stephanie Pappas
Deadly Volcanic Flows Glide on Their Own Cushion of Air
The discovery helps explain why pyroclastic flows can travel so far, so fast
Amphibian-Killing Invasive Fungus Causes Record Wildlife Loss
The chytrid fungus has hit 500 species of amphibians, driving dozens to extinction in recent decades
How Security Experts Track North Korea's Nuclear Activity
Remote techniques can detect signs of active testing—but they don’t tell us everything
"Ghost Gear" Haunts the Oceans in a Growing Threat
Tons of dumped nets and other fishing equipment are strangling animals and habitats
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
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
Enormous Iceberg Pirouettes after Splitting from Ice Shelf
The Delaware-size chunk of ice has been snagging on rises on the ocean floor
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
Taming the Mighty Mississippi May Have Caused Bigger Floods
Human meddling with the river is blamed for most of the rise in flood levels, but the role of climate remains unclear
Northern White Rhinos Are about to Die Out--Should We Save Them?
Conservationists debate whether IVF efforts are the best use of limited resources
A New Type of Tardigrade Just Turned Up in a Parking Lot
This micro-creature was found on a small piece of moss in Japan
280-Million-Year-Old Fossil Forest Discovered in Antarctica
Newfound fossils reveal what forests might look like as they march northward in today's warming world
Dolphins' Watertight Sex Involves a Strange Twist
Female marine mammals may block insemination with a curled vagina and slick maneuvers
Purging the Myth of the Vomitorium
Ancient Romans used the word, but pop culture has the concept all wrong
"Zombie" Anthrax Goes on a Killing Spree in Siberia--How?
The bacteria that cause anthrax are capable of surviving in the soil for centuries
South China Sea Blue Hole Could Be World's Deepest
Dragon Hole, or Longdong, is reportedly more than 300 meters deep. If confirmed, that would be far deeper than the previous record holder, Dean's Blue Hole in the Bahamas
![Mysterious Purple Sea Orb Stymies Scientists [Video]](https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/12FBDA8E-DDA2-40BC-B02C67D6785B9743_agenda.png?w=275&h=154&fit=crop)
Mysterious Purple Sea Orb Stymies Scientists [Video]
Researchers can only guess about the bumpy, colorful living ball found off California
Deadly Degrees: Why Heat Waves Kill So Quickly
Outdoorsy types and outdoor workers like roofers might suffer first, but it's the elderly and the mentally ill who make up the majority of deaths
The Science of Mass Shooters: What Drives a Person to Kill?
There is no template for the path to violence and rarely can a single cause explain any one atrocity
