Latest science news in Earth & Climate
Indigenous Property Rights Protect the Amazon Rainforest
One way to cut back on deforestation in the Amazon rainforest – and help in the global fight against climate change – is to grant more of Brazil’s indigenous communities...
Death toll from Baltimore gas explosion rises to 2
A major gas explosion that rocked a neighborhood in Baltimore on Monday killed at least two people, authorities said Tuesday.
Flavonoids' presence in sorghum roots may lead to frost-resistant crop
Flavonoid compounds—produced by the roots of some sorghum plants—positively affect soil microorganisms, according to Penn State researchers, who suggest the discovery is an early step in developing a frost-resistant line...
A warming California sets the stage for future floods
By the 2070s, global warming will increase extreme rainfall and reduce snowfall in the Sierra Nevada, delivering a double whammy that will likely overwhelm California's reservoirs and heighten the risk...
Secrets of Antarctic lake's microbes revealed
UNSW Science Professor Rick Cavicchioli is an expert in microbes and why they are so important—just last year, he led an urgent call for the world to stop ignoring this...
Peatland carbon and nitrogen stocks vulnerable to permafrost thaw
Northern peatlands hold large stocks of carbon and nitrogen and thus play a key role in global climate dynamics. However, their vulnerability to climate warming is uncertain, due in part...
Milne Ice Shelf: Satellites capture Arctic ice split
The Planet Earth-observation company releases new imagery of Canada's broken Milne Ice Shelf.
Singapore crushes massive ivory haul on eve of World Elephant Day
Singapore began destroying nine tonnes of seized ivory Tuesday, the largest such action globally in recent years, including contraband tusks that came from more than 300 African elephants.
Aqua Satellite shows extent of Apple Fire's burn scar
On Aug. 9, 2020 NASA's Aqua satellite imaged the Apple Fire near Big Bear Lake in California using its false-color bands in order to be able to distinguish burn scars from the...
Orlando City, Nani favored over Valeri's Timbers in MLS Is Back final
Orlando City SC, led by star winger Nani, is a slight favorites to edge former MLS MVP Diego Valeri and the Portland Timbers in the MLS Is Back Tournament championship...
Major gas explosion destroys 3 homes in Baltimore; at least 1 dead, 7 injured
At least one person was killed and seven others were injured in Baltimore on Monday by a natural gas explosion that destroyed three homes, authorities said.
Messing with weather: Is that messed up – or what? Maybe, maybe not
Fooling with Mother Nature is almost certainly asking for trouble. Where this is going is nobody wants a planet that climate change-wise or temperature change-wise reaches the point of no...
Mountain West becomes second FBS conference to postpone fall sports
The Mountain West has postponed its fall sports season because of the coronavirus pandemic, becoming the second FBS conference to do so.
New England Patriots to sign ex-Houston Texans RB Lamar Miller
The New England Patriots are signing former Houston Texans running back Lamar Miller to a short-term contract.
Swarm of earthquakes sparks worry about the San Andreas fault
A swarm of small earthquakes in California, close to the Mexican border, is being closely monitored as to whether it might raise the chance of a much larger event on...
Derecho thunderstorms slam Chicago, leave devastation in Iowa
An intense line of storms known as a derecho developed over the central United States Monday, causing significant damage and widespread power outages as it blitzed eastward, striking Chicago during...
Stronger rains in warmer climate could lessen heat damage to crops, says study
Intensified rainstorms predicted for many parts of the United States as a result of warming climate may have a modest silver lining: they could more efficiently water some major crops,...
Watch: Escaped goat evades capture on slope next to railroad tracks
An escaped goat has become a local celebrity in Japanese city after evading capture by taking up residence on a concrete-reinforced slope next to railroad tracks.
Personal connections key to climate adaptation
Connections with friends and family are key to helping communities adapt to the devastating impact of climate change on their homes and livelihoods. The research found people are more empowered...
Photosynthetic hacks can boost crop yield, conserve water
Plants are factories that manufacture yield from light and carbon dioxide -- but parts of this complex process, called photosynthesis, are hindered by a lack of raw materials and machinery....
Tropical Storm Mekkhala drops heavy rain across eastern China
A week after Typhoon Hagupit's damaging strike on eastern China, another tropical system is targeting the country.
World's most pristine tropical forests remain vulnerable to deforestation
An analysis of the planet's healthiest, most-intact tropical forests suggests an overwhelming majority remain vulnerable to deforestation.
New global study shows 'best of the last' tropical forests urgently need protection
The world's 'best of the last' tropical forests are at significant risk of being lost, according to a new article. Of these pristine forests that provide key services -- including...
Forest growth in drier climates will be impacted by reduced snowpack
A new study suggests that future reductions in seasonal snowpack as a result of climate change may negatively influence forest growth in semi-arid climates, but less so in wetter climates.
Discovery transforms understanding of hydrogen depletion at the seafloor
The discovery in the 1970s of hydrothermal vents, where volcanoes at the seafloor produce hot fluid exceeding 350 degrees Celsius, or 662 degrees Fahrenheit, fundamentally changed the understanding about Earth...
Poverty alleviation efforts are shaping the success of environmental targets
Social protection programs can facilitate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but can also create trade-offs across divergent social and environmental goals that can undermine their effectiveness, say the...
Indigenous property rights protect the Amazon rainforest
One way to cut back on deforestation in the Amazon rainforest—and help in the global fight against climate change—is to grant more of Brazil's indigenous communities full property rights to...
Climate change: Warming world will be 'devastating' for frozen peatlands
Huge stocks of greenhouse gases tied up in peatlands could be released as the world warms.