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
Stories by Stephanie Pappas
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
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
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
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
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
