Sediments from a lake in Switzerland reveal that ancient Romans triggered dead zones caused by the runoff of nutrients. Sound familiar?
Hazards & Disasters
Enormous Impact Crater Spotted in Greenland Under Glacial Ice
Ice-penetrating radar revealed a 31-kilometer impact crater—one of the world’s largest—in northwestern Greenland that might have been formed fewer than 20,000 years ago.
Why Is the Gulf of Maine Warming Faster Than 99% of the Ocean?
The Gulf of Maine’s location at the meeting point of two major currents, as well as its shallow depth and shape, makes it especially susceptible to warming.
The Many Unknown Facets of Plastics in Ecosystems
Few studies have examined lakes or wide swaths of ocean areas, leaving critical data gaps in how plastic pollution affects wildlife and moves across food webs.
Volcano in Iceland Is One of the Largest Sources of Volcanic CO2
High-precision airborne measurements, in combination with atmospheric modeling, suggest that the Katla subglacial caldera may be one of the planet’s biggest sources of volcanic carbon dioxide.
How Did Life Recover After Earth’s Worst-Ever Mass Extinction?
Ocean animals at the top of the food chain recovered first after a cataclysm at the end of the Permian period. The extinction was triggered by events resembling the changes brewing in today’s oceans.
Microplastics Found in Human Stool
Tiny slivers of plastic are making it all the way into humans’ guts and into their feces, a new study shows.
Making Sense of Landslide Danger After Kerala’s Floods
Scientists traveled to Kerala, a state in India recently devastated by severe monsoon rains. They found a vulnerable population that will soon face fresh landslide risks as a new monsoon approaches.
Subsurface Imaging Sheds Light on Dead Sea Sinkholes
Using seismic waves, researchers study sediment layering near the Dead Sea to reveal how the area’s numerous sinkholes form.
Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Captured in Seismic Recordings
A flood that thundered through eastern Nepal in July 2016 left a telltale seismic signature and caused more erosion than local monsoon rains, new research shows.