Nearly a decade’s worth of data went into the first direct observation of sputtering on Mars, which researchers believe contributed to the loss of the Red Planet’s atmosphere.

Katherine Kornei
Katherine Kornei is a freelance science journalist covering Earth and space science. Her bylines frequently appear in Eos, Science, and The New York Times. Katherine holds a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Algunos árboles tropicales se benefician de los rayos
Dos imágenes muestran el mismo árbol, antes (izquierda) y después (derecha) del impacto de un rayo. En la imagen de la derecha, el árbol no está cubierto de enredaderas leñosas y algunos de los árboles que lo rodean han muerto.
Cheese in the Time of Industrial Farming and Climate Change
Grasslands and cows’ diets are shifting as the climate warms, but an agricultural experiment in France reveals the importance of providing cows with pasture.
The Wildest Ride on a Hurricane Hunter Aircraft
A 1989 flight through Hurricane Hugo tops the list for stomach-churning turbulence experienced by scientists, pilots, and crew aboard aircraft designed to fly through storms.
Some Tropical Trees Benefit from Lightning Strikes
Direct lightning strikes cause minimal damage to Dipteryx oleifera. But these same strikes effectively kill parasitic vines and neighboring trees that compete with the species for light and nutrients.
Large Outdoor Gatherings Expose Event-Goers to Severe Weather
Researchers pinpointed the riskiest events in terms of lightning and tornado exposure by mining data from more than 16,000 large outdoor gatherings.
Cracks on Planetary Surfaces Hint at Water
Imagery of fractured terrain on Venus, Mars, and Jupiter’s moon Europa pinpoints environments influenced by water.
Buried Sediments Point to an Ancient Ocean on Mars
Ground-penetrating radar data collected by the Zhurong rover reveal gently sloping sediments in Mars’s northern lowlands that hint at a shoreline.
Panama Canal Logistics Are at the Mercy of Weather and Climate
Regional weather variability and climate change make operating the canal a challenge.
The Deleterious Dust of the Salton Sea
Coarse particulate matter deriving from California’s largest lake is linked to an increased risk of respiratory-related hospitalizations.