Warming May Push Ecosystems to Release Carbon instead of Absorbing It
Nearly half of terrestrial ecosystems could reach this tipping point in just a few decades
EARTH904 articles archived since 1845
Earth’s Biodiversity Bursts Do Not Follow Expected Pattern
Life’s great radiations do not always line up with mass extinctions, a new study shows
Mountain Water Supply to Two Billion People Could Change
Data about Earth’s 78 most important mountaintops foretell changes in the amount and timing of snowmelt
A Breakdown of Beavers
Environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb talks about his book Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter.
Earth Is on Fire
Our planet is burning, both literally and figuratively, because of climate change—and COVID is no excuse to ignore it
Science News Briefs from around the Planet
Here are some brief reports about science and technology from around the world, including one from Panama about the toll lightning takes on tropical trees.
How the First Life on Earth Survived Its Biggest Threat—Water
Living things depend on water, but it breaks down DNA and other key molecules. So how did the earliest cells deal with the water paradox?
Wildfires Blast Smoke Corkscrews to the Top of the Atmosphere
Record-breaking blazes in Australia spewed as many particles into the sky as a volcanic eruption
Three Signs a ‘New Arctic’ Is Emerging
Record wildfires, dwindling sea ice and ecosystem disruptions all point to the rapid change besetting the region
Human-Made Stuff Now Outweighs All Life on Earth
The sheer scale of buildings, infrastructure and other anthropogenic objects underscores our impact on the planet
2020 Is a Record Year for Disaster Shelters, Red Cross Says
The combination of hurricanes, wildfires, and the pandemic meant the organization provided four times as much assistance as in an average year
Duckbill Dino Odyssey Ended in Africa
A duckbill dinosaur jawbone found in Morocco means that dinosaurs crossed a large body of water to reach Africa.
Repairing Earth once the Pandemic Is Over
COVID-19 has highlighted how we’ve damaged the planet—and also harmed poor and marginalized people
Science News Briefs from around the Globe
Here are some brief reports about science and technology from all over, including one from the United Arab Emirates about the the first interplanetary mission by an Arab country.
Election Science Stakes: Energy
Scientific American senior editor Mark Fischetti and associate editor Andrea Thompson talk about this election and the future of U.S. energy research and policy.
Election Science Stakes: Environment
Scientific American senior editor Mark Fischetti talks about how this election will affect environmental science and policy.
Election Science Stakes: Climate
Scientific American’s associate editor for sustainability Andrea Thompson talks about how climate science and policy will be affected by this election.
Double Whammy of Warming, Overfishing Could Spell Disaster for Antarctic Krill
Countries are debating proposed marine reserves that could help protect this key source of food for other species
Dinosaur Asteroid Hit Worst-Case Place
The mass-extinction asteroid happened to strike an area where the rock contained a lot of organic matter and sent soot into the stratosphere, where it could block sunlight for years...
River Ecosystem Restoration Can Mean Just Add Water
Planners returned water to the dry bed of Arizona’s Santa Cruz River in 2019, and various species began showing up on the same day.
