Stories by Stephanie Pappas

A new way of measuring the temperature of the seas could fill in gaps left by limited direct monitoring

Assigning a cause of death is never straightforward, but data on excess deaths suggest coronavirus death tolls are likely an underestimate

Every species of amphibian tested in a new study had the ability to fluoresce under blue or ultraviolet light

Its caldera’s dramatic, surprisingly slow collapse could point to other risks worldwide

Climate change is already rotting archaeological sites in the Arctic, and Norse Viking-era settlements are at high risk

Fish that are so small and shy that they escape attention may be the foundation of reefs’ outsize productivity

The discovery helps explain why pyroclastic flows can travel so far, so fast

The chytrid fungus has hit 500 species of amphibians, driving dozens to extinction in recent decades

Remote techniques can detect signs of active testing—but they don’t tell us everything

Tons of dumped nets and other fishing equipment are strangling animals and habitats

The hitch, likely only a temporary one, could be linked to certain volcanic features

Droughts, melting ice and rising seas linked to anthropogenic climate change are altering the planet’s motions

The Delaware-size chunk of ice has been snagging on rises on the ocean floor

Underwater microphones can glean valuable data from the burbles and pops of thawing glaciers and icebergs

Human meddling with the river is blamed for most of the rise in flood levels, but the role of climate remains unclear

Conservationists debate whether IVF efforts are the best use of limited resources

This micro-creature was found on a small piece of moss in Japan

Newfound fossils reveal what forests might look like as they march northward in today's warming world

Female marine mammals may block insemination with a curled vagina and slick maneuvers

Ancient Romans used the word, but pop culture has the concept all wrong 

The bacteria that cause anthrax are capable of surviving in the soil for centuries

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

Researchers can only guess about the bumpy, colorful living ball found off California 

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