A new paper Fidan et al. (2026) demonstrates that wealth and the rate of land-cover change play a key role in determining the occurrence of fatal landslides in mountain areas. These factors are statistically more significant that precipitation and topography. A fascinating new paper (Fidan et al. 2026 – this paper is both open access […]
land use
Earth’s “Green Wave” Is on the Move
Researchers analyzed 40 years of satellite data and found that Earth’s seasonal wave of greenness is shifting northeast.
Salt of the Earth: Vast Underground Salt Caverns Are Preserving Our History—and Just Might Power Our Future
From health spas to film storage, salt mine caverns have been put to use in surprising ways—and they’re now poised to contribute to the generation and storage of clean energy.
Creating Communities to Help Interdisciplinary Scientists Thrive
Solving complex challenges often requires diverse expertise, but skepticism remains within traditional academic institutions and mindsets regarding interdisciplinary science and scientists.
How Can We Tell If Climate-Smart Agriculture Stores Carbon?
Quantitative data at real-world scales are needed to assess the effects of cover cropping and other practices on soil carbon storage. Large-scale medical studies provide a proven methodology.
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.
Fallowed Fields Are Fueling California’s Dust Problem
New research shows that unplanted agricultural lands are behind most of the state’s anthropogenic dust events.
Beyond Majesty and Myths: Facing the Realities of Mountainside Development
Expansive construction in fragile mountain environments is often pursued without adequate consideration of heightened hazards and local concerns, putting people and infrastructure at greater risk.
What Is Causing the Missouri River Basin’s Elevated Streamflow?
Regional climate variability plays a big role, but reduced forest cover and a rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide are also factors.
Road Development May Put Habitats at Risk
New research links road construction with increased urbanization and more fragmented species ranges.
