The properties of terrestrial gamma ray flashes have eluded scientists for years. This new study sheds light on how they originate.
unsolved mysteries
Dispelling Clouds of Uncertainty
How do you build a climate model that accounts for cloud physics and the transitions between cloud regimes? Use MAGIC.
What Causes Sunspot Pairs?
Analysis of magnetic fields on the Sun's surface offers a new clue on why sunspots appear.
Conquering Uncertainties in Tropical Climate Forecasts
The key to better predictions of atmospheric temperature trends in the tropics may lie in more accurate measurements of sea surface temperatures.
Why Does the Aurora Flare Up?
The spectacular auroras that circle Earth's geomagnetic poles and burst with colorful displays during geomagnetic storms have mystified humanity for millennia. Now scientists are uncovering their secrets.
Satellite Data Yield Detailed Picture of the Lunar Wake
Researchers use satellite data to characterize the physical properties of the lunar wake and the processes that govern it.
Tiny Mineral Grains Could Drive Plate Tectonics
Scientists turn to granular scales to explain how plate tectonics may have evolved billions of years ago.
Exploring How Wind Blows Sand on Dunes
Sand dunes migrate—so why haven’t some budged in 60 years?
Research Shines Light on Asthenosphere's Contribution to Hot Spots
What role does the asthenosphere play in midplate volcanism?
A Dearth of Hurricanes Cannot Explain Maya Collapse
Mud layers in a stalagmite from a cave on the Yucatán Peninsula show hurricane activity was steady or elevated throughout the Maya collapse.