Coral reef growth rates in the tropical western Atlantic have slowed to a fraction of what they once were, erasing coastal protection benefits they once offered.
Health & Ecosystems
Pinpointing Sewage Seeps in Hawaii
Cesspools and septic systems, as well as coastal development, put Hawaiian coastal waters at risk of contamination.
How Might Leftover Corn Stalks Halt Fugitive Carbon?
Bio-oil made from plant waste could help limit carbon emissions from orphaned oil and gas wells. But would it help or hinder farmers’ bottom line?
Spiky Sand Features Can Reveal the Timing of Ancient Earthquakes
Icicle-shaped features known as sand dikes form during ground shaking. New work reveals how these features can be used to date long-ago earthquakes.
Shallow Injection Imperfectly Filters Florida Wastewater
Injection of wastewater into shallow wells is meant to filter nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus out of the wastewater. But a new study suggests that nutrients aren’t entirely eliminated—and may be polluting coastal waters.
Free-Roaming Bison Graze Life into Grasslands
A new study suggests that Yellowstone’s herd of bison accelerates nutrient cycling, offering a glimpse into the North American plains of yesteryear.
Marine Protected Areas Show Promise for Kelp Forest Recovery
Kelp forests are under increasing stress as oceans warm, but decades of satellite data have revealed the importance of maintaining fishing-restricted areas for climate resilience.
Droughts Sync Up as the Climate Changes
A new study reconstructs roughly 800 years of streamflow history in India’s major rivers, showing an increase in synchronous drought linked to anthropogenic climate change.
What Makes Beaver Ponds Bigger?
For the first time, researchers are able to add hydrologic estimates to find where reintroducing beavers could best benefit a watershed and the humans who live within it.
Climate Change May Have Killed 16,469 People in Europe This Summer
Researchers warn that preventable heat-related deaths will continue to rise with continued fossil fuel emissions.
