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.
EARTH504 articles archived since 1845
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
Should We Always Trust What We See in Satellite Images?
People need to understand the technology’s limitations to avoid misinterpreting what they see
World's Deadliest Volcanoes Are Identified
Indonesia is most at risk from eruptions, compared with other nations
Volcanoes: Nature's Way of Letting Off Steam
A slide show of eruptions and their impacts around the world
What Causes a Volcano to Erupt, and How Do Scientists Predict Eruptions?
Volcanologists cannot yet predict a volcanic eruption
Mystery of Earth's Missing Nitrogen Solved
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown environmental source of nitrogen
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
Dinosaurs: From Humble Beginnings to Global Dominance
Edinburgh University paleontologist Steve Brusatte talks about his May 2018 Scientific American article, "The Unlikely Triumph of the Dinosaurs," and his new book, The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World.
World Needs to Set Rules for Geoengineering Experiments, Experts Say
With interest in such research rising, and the risks uncertain, that conservation needs to start now
Asteroid, Meteor, Meteorite and Comet: What's the Difference?
The terms asteroid, meteor, meteorite and even comet are often used interchangeably...but what is the difference?
