Why can't we drink saltwater? By John Loeffler published 27 June 22 More than 70% of our little blue planet is covered by water, but we can only drink a tiny fraction of it. Why can't we drink saltwater when it is all around us?
Why are manhole covers round? By Tom Garlinghouse published 27 June 22 There are a myriad of answers to the question, "why are manhole covers round?" But most of them have to do with functionality and economy.
Lost fossil 'treasure trove' rediscovered after 70 years By Harry Baker published 24 June 22 Previous researchers were unable to record its exact coordinates.
Magnitude 5.9 earthquake hits Afghanistan, killing at least 1,000 By Nicoletta Lanese published 22 June 22 The quake occurred near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
Antarctica's 'Doomsday Glacier' is hemorrhaging ice faster than in the past 5,500 years By Ben Turner published 15 June 22 Ice melt from vanishing glaciers in Antarctica could raise sea levels by as much as 11 feet.
'Factorian Deep,' the new deepest point in Antarctica's Southern Ocean, mapped for the first time By Brandon Specktor published 14 June 22 A sprawling new sonar map of Antarctica's Southern Ocean includes the ocean's new deepest point, the 'Factorian Deep,' for the first time.
Discovery of 'hidden world' under Antarctic ice has scientists 'jumping for joy' By Harry Baker published 10 June 22 Researchers in Antarctica have discovered a hidden ecosystem more than 1,600 feet below the ice, which is filled with shrimplike creatures.
Scientists discover viruses that secretly rule the world's oceans By Nicoletta Lanese published 9 June 22 RNA viruses may influence the flow of carbon through the ocean.
Is this the oldest tree in the world? By Tia Ghose published 8 June 22 Using a new computer model to determine the age of the tree, it was found that the Gran Abuelo could be roughly 5,400 years old.
Is the Red Sea really red? By Tom Garlinghouse published 8 June 22 The Red Sea takes its name from periodic blooms of a blue-green algae called Trichodesmium erythraeum, which turn the normally vivid blue waters a reddish-brown.
Hurricane season 2022: How long it lasts and what to expect By Tia Ghose published 7 June 22 This guide to the Atlantic hurricane season of 2022, includes predictions, tropical storm science, naming conventions and storm safety tips.
Siberian tundra could vanish in less than 500 years By Stephanie Pappas published 6 June 22 The Siberian tundra will shrink even with ambitious greenhouse gas reductions. Without them, it could disappear altogether.
Which is colder: The North or South Pole? By Charles Q. Choi published 5 June 22 Both of Earth's poles are cold, but which has more ice and wins the prize for "coldest" pole?
New, extremely reactive chemical discovered in the atmosphere By Tom Metcalfe published 1 June 22 Millions of tons of a type of extremely reactive chemical can form in the atmosphere each year, with implications for health and the global climate.
The world's biggest clone is a 77-square-mile 'immortal' meadow of seagrass By Harry Baker published 31 May 22 Researchers have discovered that 4,500-year-old seagrass meadows in Shark Bay, Western Australia, are actually the world's largest clone.
How did Earth get its name? By Elizabeth Howell published 31 May 22 Whether you call our planet the Earth, the world or a terrestrial body, all of these names have an origin story deep in history.
Is climate change making the weather worse? By Patrick Pester published 30 May 22 A terrifying climate change prophecy appears to be upon us, with bomb-like cyclones and searing droughts. But is the weather actually getting worse?
Don't miss the first 'Manhattanhenge' of 2022 this Memorial Day weekend By Elizabeth Howell published 29 May 22 People in New York can catch the gorgeous "Manhattanhenge" this Memorial Day weekend on May 29 and 30.
Why are there no bridges over the Amazon River? By Joe Phelan published 29 May 22 Due to a number of technical and logistical difficulties, as well as meandering through sparsely populated areas, there is no pressing need to build a bridge on the Amazon River.
Why is grass green? By Jeanna Bryner published 28 May 22 Here's why grass is green and not blue or purple.
