Dissolved thorium isotopes light the way to a more thorough understanding of how different elements enter marine environments—and how long they stay there.

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.
Evaluating the Efficiency of Data Assimilation
Information is lost when researchers combine statistical models and remote sensing data, but just how much is often unclear. A new study offers a framework to measure the inefficiency.
Organic Particles Affect Carbon Cycling in Boreal Waters
Dissolved organic carbon receives much of the focus in aquatic research, but a new study suggests that bulkier particulate matter may play a significant role in regulating carbon dioxide emissions.
Plasma Activity Around Sunspots May Foreshadow Solar Storms
A new study identifies possible precursors to space weather in the regions encircling sunspots.
Tiny Marine Shells Reveal Past Patterns in Ocean Dynamics
A 400,000-year calcium carbonate record from the ocean floor sheds light on deep-ocean circulation and on mechanisms driving climate patterns and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.
Greenhouse Gas Inventories Underestimate Methane Emissions
A new study in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area reveals prior estimates may significantly underrepresent methane emissions, particularly from landfills and natural gas systems.
How Nitrogen Contributes to Permafrost Carbon Dynamics
Nitrogen released into the soil from thawing permafrost in the Arctic could accelerate soil carbon decomposition and alter carbon dynamics, with global implications.
Hydrology Dictates Fate of Carbon from Northern Hardwood Forests
As spring snowmelt and fall rains inundate northern hardwood forests with moisture, soil bacteria get moving and increase carbon exports to the atmosphere and into nearby water bodies.
Conserving Riverside Habitat Could Bolster Bottom Lines
Palm oil is in demand, and its agricultural footprint is expanding in the tropics. New research suggests that habitat buffers could improve conservation and prevent erosion that cuts into economic returns.
Yellow Detritus in the Oceans May Help Reduce Warming
Dissolved organic matter in the oceans absorbs light near the water’s surface, leading to cooler waters that may help mitigate regional climate warming.