Earth

More Stories in Earth

  1. photo of large leaves from a tropical plant taken from below the forest canopy
    Climate

    Some leaves in tropical forests may be getting too hot for photosynthesis

    Climate change may be forcing some tropical leaves to stop photosynthesis and die. It’s still unclear what effect this will have on entire forests.

    By Nikk Ogasa
  2. An illustration of a clump of iron oxide nanoparticles, illustrated in orange, coated with phosphonic acid, illustrated in gray. While a collection of green estrogen bits are scattered around.
    Chemistry

    Magnetic ‘rusty’ nanoparticles pull estrogen out of water

    Iron oxide particles adorned with “sticky” molecules trap estrogen in water, possibly limiting the hormone’s harmful effects on aquatic life.

    By Skyler Ware
  3. A photo of a diver swimming in a murky green body of water.
    Climate

    Nature’s changing colors makes climate change visible

    The world’s color palette is shifting in response to climate change. Seeing these changes in nature firsthand is a powerful communication tool.

    By Sujata Gupta
  4. A photo of green moss.
    Plants

    The fastest-evolving moss in the world may not adapt to climate change

    The genus Takakia has the largest number of fast-evolving genes of any moss, a study finds. But it’s losing ground in the warming Himalayas.

    By Bethany Brookshire
  5. A sea turtle swims past clumps of elkhorn coral that have been bleached to a bright white color by environmental stress.
    Climate

    Extreme ocean heat off Florida has ebbed. But for marine life, the danger remains

    After the recent heat wave, corals have received too much heat too early in the summer, and other sea life could see lingering effects too.

    By Carolyn Gramling
  6. A selection of tektites
    Earth

    50 years ago, mysterious glass hinted at Earth’s violent past

    Like Hansel and Gretel followed a trail of breadcrumbs, scientists have followed tektites to the sites of major meteorite impacts.

    By Demian Perry
  7. A man sitting in a dark gymnasium with a wet towel draped over his head and upper body.
    Climate

    Extreme heat taxes the body in many ways. Here’s how

    Climate change is bringing longer, humid heat waves and hotter nights. Here's how our bodies try to beat the heat and what happens when they can't.

    By Luis Melecio-Zambrano
  8. Two men, one holding a child, stand with a wildfire burning in the background
    Health & Medicine

    Climate change puts children’s health at risk now and in the future

    Heat waves, wildfires and other climate-related effects on the environment are particularly hard on children’s physical and mental health.

    By Aimee Cunningham
  9. A photo of a busy street with people walking around and cars on the road. Heat haze can be seen on the road.
    Climate

    July 2023 nailed an unfortunate world record: hottest month ever recorded

    Roughly 6.5 billion people, or 4 out of 5 humans, felt the touch of climate change via hotter temperatures during July.

    By Nikk Ogasa