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
EARTH513 articles archived since 1845
Solar Eclipse Was a Buzzkill for Bees
Bees suddenly fell silent when the sun disappeared during last year's solar eclipse—perhaps because they were tricked into night mode. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Indonesian Tsunami Was Powered by a Deadly Combo of Tectonics and Geography
The magnitude 7.5 earthquake that touched off the tsunami occurred amid a complex puzzle of tectonic plates
More People, but Less Hardship?
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation CEO Sue Desmond-Hellmann talks about the just-issued Goalkeepers Report, tracking progress against poverty and disease even as the population keeps rising.
Science News Briefs from Around the World
A few very brief reports about science and technology from around the globe.
The Search for ET May Be Missing Life on Low-Oxygen Worlds
Microbes thrived on ancient Earth, even with very little oxygen
Antarctic Glacier's Breakup Is Controlled by Seafloor Topography
Submerged rock features near Pine Island Glacier—a major contributor to global sea-level rise—play a critical role in the ice’s movement
Science News You Might Have Missed
A few very brief reports about science and technology from around the globe.
How Whale Poop Could Counter Calls to Resume Commercial Hunting
Whales’ fecal matter feeds the ocean, giving conservationists another argument for saving them
Rising CO2 Means Monarch Butterfly Bellyaches
Milkweed grown with more carbon dioxide in the air supplies fewer toxins to monarch butterflies that need the toxins to fight off gut parasites.
Plants Dominate the Planet's Biomass
About 80 percent of Earth's biomass is plant life, with humans about equal to krill way down the heft chart.
Meteorites May Have Created Some of Earth's Oldest Rocks
A barrage of impacts more than four billion years ago is linked to ancient stones found in Canada
Solar Eclipse of 2017 Boosted Science Interest
The Michigan Scientific Literacy Survey of 2017 found that last year's total solar eclipse got Americans more interested in celestial science.
To Evolve Baleen, Lose Your Teeth First
Whale ancestors probably never had teeth and baleen at the same time, and only developed baleen after trying toothlessness and sucking in prey.
The Mysterious Return of Ozone-Depleting CFCs
CFCs, the harmful ozone-depleting chemicals banned back in the 1980s, are experiencing a mysterious comeback
Astronomy Tool Helps ID Sharks
Shark researchers used a system for recognizing patterns in star field photographs to identify whale sharks, which have individual spot patterns.
Sharks Make a Splash in Brooklyn
Visitors can see and learn about sharks and their environment in the new "Ocean Wonders: Sharks!" facility at the Wildlife Conservation Society's New York Aquarium.
![Hawaii Volcano Terms Explained [Slide Show]](https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/AABD41B4-A949-483A-9035DD6CF190994A_agenda.jpg?w=275&h=154&fit=crop)
Hawaii Volcano Terms Explained [Slide Show]
From a'a to vog, a guide to the terminology used to describe the ongoing eruption of Kilauea
Hawaii Volcano Terms Explained
A guide to the terminology used to describe the ongoing eruption of Kilauea
Lava and Ash from Fuego Volcano Kills 33 in Guatemala
The eruption is the Central American nation’s deadliest since 1902