Deep coastal seabeds, glacial erratics, and other geophysical hurdles stand in the way of offshore wind farm proliferation. Researchers, engineers, and organizations are adapting and inventing ways to harness the breeze.

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.
Inland Mangroves Are Relics of the Past’s Higher Sea Levels
Mangroves found in southern Mexico’s rain forest, 170 kilometers from the nearest ocean, date to a time when sea levels were several meters higher.
Academic Citations Evolve to Include Indigenous Oral Teachings
A librarian has developed citation templates for oral teachings shared by members of Indigenous communities.
An Explanation, at Last, for Mysterious “Zen Stones”
Laboratory experiments re-create the thin, icy pedestals that support some rocks in nature, revealing that sublimation plays a key role in the formation of these rare and beautiful structures.
La arquitectura china evolucionó con los cambios en las nevadas
El diseño de los techos en el norte de China cambió a lo largo de siglos en respuesta a eventos de nieve extremos, sugiere nueva investigación.
Thirsty Plants Pull Water from Bedrock
Shrubs and trees across the United States routinely sip water stored in bedrock, a discovery that has implications for the terrestrial water cycle.
Chinese Architecture Evolved with Changes in Snowfall
Roof design in northern China changed over centuries in response to extreme snow events, new research suggests.
Ejecta Discovered Near Site of Ancient Meteorite Impact
South Africa’s Vredefort impact structure is the largest on the planet, and researchers have now discovered the first proximal ejecta possibly deriving from the cataclysmic impact.
Glassy Nodules Pinpoint a Meteorite Impact
Researchers working in Chile’s Atacama Desert have collected thousands of “atacamaites” that suggest a meteorite struck the region roughly 8 million years ago.
Thousands of Stars View Earth as a Transiting Exoplanet
Researchers have identified more than 2,000 stars whose past, present, or future vantage points afford a view of Earth passing directly in front of the Sun, a geometry useful for pinpointing planets.