A series of controlled chemical detonations in the Nevada desert is helping researchers discern between ground shaking caused by nuclear explosions and earthquakes.
News
Volcanic Eruption Creates Temporary Islands of Pumice
Rafts of pumice, spewed from an undersea volcano, recently appeared in the South Pacific. These transient, movable islands are important toeholds for marine life like barnacles, coral, and macroalgae.
Light Permeates Seasonally Through Arctic Sea Ice
The transmission of sunlight through Arctic sea ice depends on the presence of ice, snow, and melt ponds, data collected over 6 years reveal.
Artificial Intelligence Can Spot Plankton from Space
Training an algorithm with satellite images of ocean color reveals the blooms and busts of phytoplankton communities.
Scientists Praise Urgency, Aggressive Plans in Climate Town Hall
Democratic candidates detailed their plans to address the “existential crisis” of our time. Climate scientists were happy to have a forum—and happier that it was substantive.
Nearby Asteroid Is Mysteriously Devoid of Dust, Lander Reveals
Close-up images of Ryugu, a near-Earth asteroid and the target of the Hayabusa2 sample return mission, reveal a rocky, dustless world that may have formed from a giant collision.
Hurricanes, Climate Change, and Other Good Reads
What Earth and space science stories are we recommending this week?
El Niño May Be a Culprit Behind the Cholera Epidemic in Yemen
Increased rainfall in East Africa and subsequent wind may have brought infected bugs to Yemen, causing the worst cholera outbreak of our time.
Great Pacific Garbage Patch Swim Nears Conclusion
Long-distance swimmer Ben Lecomte seeks to raise awareness about plastic pollution in the ocean.