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
Stories by Stephanie Pappas
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
305-Million-Year-Old "Almost Spider" Unlocks Arachnid History
The creature had spiderlike mouthparts and eight legs, but lacked spinnerets
A New 3-D View of Richard III's Humble Grave
Photogrammetry highlights features of the English king's skeleton and resting place
NASA Sees Massive Winter Storm Moving East
SnOMG! Much of the eastern U.S. anticipating a cold, snowy weekend
Bizarre Ancient Sea Creature Was Well-Armed for Feeding
Fluid dynamics sheds light the Tribrachidium's approach to mealtime 550 million years ago
What Edward Snowden Got Wrong about Eavesdropping on Aliens
In an off-the-cuff remark to astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, the former National Security Agency contractor suggested E.T. might send encrypted messages that humans mistake for noise