Large stones in streams provide crucial habitat for fish. Modeling the boulders and streamflow offers fresh insights into how water engineering projects alter aquatic habitats.

Aaron Sidder
Aaron Sidder is a freelance writer based out of Denver, Colo. He has a master’s degree in ecology from Colorado State University. Aaron was an AGU-sponsored AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellow at National Geographic in 2016, and he has been writing for Eos ever since. In addition to Eos and National Geographic, he has written for National Geographic Kids Magazine, Smithosonian Smart News, 5280 Magazine, and the Santa Fe Institute. In his free time, he cultivates an extensive—and growing—collection of field guides from around the country.
Understanding Stream Metabolism with Reactive Tracers
When the blue dye resazurin encounters living microorganisms, it transforms into fluorescent pink resorufin and helps scientists understand ecosystem respiration, but it has its limitations.
Jupiter’s Northern Lights on Display in Otherworldly Movie
The first movie of Jupiter’s infrared aurora gives scientists a new look at the Jovian magnetic field.
Soil Wet Spots Drive Agricultural Nitrogen Gas Emissions
A new study offers novel insights into the mechanisms driving gas releases in agricultural regions.
Old Idea Spurs New Research into Origins of Carbonate Mudstones
Using modern techniques, scientists tested an old hypothesis about carbonate mud production to shift the thinking about rocks that are used as seawater archives and a source of petroleum.
Are Soil Moisture and Latent Heat Overcoupled in Land Models?
A novel statistical approach demonstrates how to reduce bias in remote sensing estimates of soil moisture and latent heat flux coupling strength and clarifies the relationship between the variables.
Improving Water Resources Management with Satellite Data
An extensive review reveals that remote sensing is changing the way we manage water resources and suggests that the coming years will bring both exciting advancements and new challenges.
The Thermosphere Responds to a Weaker Than Normal Solar Cycle
Infrared emissions from nitric oxide and carbon dioxide in Earth’s upper atmosphere, which are closely tied to incoming solar radiation, are drastically lower than in the previous solar cycle.
Through Flood and Drought: Reconstructing the Yellow River
Tree ring chronologies fill in gaps in the historical record and offer insights into the natural flow of China’s Yellow River.
Aerosol Particle Size May Contribute to Varying Health Responses
Particulate matter in the atmosphere derives from industrial and environmental sources. The size of the particle determines how it deposits in the body and leads to different health challenges.