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Amazon rainforest is transitioning to a 'hypertropical' climate — and trees won't survive that for long
By Sascha Pare published
The Amazon rainforest currently has a few days or weeks of hot drought conditions per year, but researchers say this could increase to 150 days per year by 2100.

Russia's Bezymianny volcano blew itself apart 69 years ago. It's now almost completely regrown.
By Stephanie Pappas published
A 1956 eruption collapsed much of the Bezymianny volcano in Kamchatka, Russia, but frequent eruptions since — including a large event in November — means it has now almost completely regrown.

'It is simply too hot to handle': 2024 was Arab region's hottest year on record, first-of-its-kind climate report reveals
By Skyler Ware published
The Arab region just had its hottest year on record, a new climate report reveals.

Earth's crust hides enough 'gold' hydrogen to power the world for tens of thousands of years, emerging research suggests
By Sascha Pare published
Reservoirs of hydrogen gas that form naturally in Earth's crust could help humans decarbonize. The challenge now is finding these accumulations and working out how best to mine them, experts say.

Rare 'sunglint' transforms Alabama River into a giant 'golden dragon'
By Harry Baker published
Earth from space A 2023 astronaut photo shows the moment the Alabama River briefly morphed into an undulating golden serpent, similar in shape to a Chinese dragon. This temporary transformation was the result of a rare mirror-like phenomenon known as a "sunglint."

A huge helium shortage is looming — but ancient rocks in Earth's crust may be hiding massive reservoirs
By Sascha Pare published
For decades, helium has been produced with natural gas, generating huge carbon emissions. Now, geologists are looking for new helium sources — and finding enormous "carbon-free" reservoirs that could revolutionize the industry.

Volcanic eruption triggered 'butterfly effect' that led to the Black Death, researchers find
By Kristina Killgrove published
A volcanic eruption in 1345 may have kicked off a series of events that led to the Black Death sweeping through medieval Europe.

Collapse of key Atlantic current could bring extreme drought to Europe for hundreds of years, study finds
By Sarah Wild published
Scientists modeled Europe's future if a key Atlantic current were to collapse and found that the continent faces a much drier future.

China has planted so many trees it's changed the entire country's water distribution
By Sascha Pare published
Huge "regreening" efforts in China over the past few decades have activated the country's water cycle and moved water in ways that scientists are just now starting to understand.

Death Valley's 'world's hottest temperature' record may be due to a human error
By Sascha Pare published
A new analysis of July temperatures in Death Valley between 1923 and 2024 suggests the world record near-surface air temperature of 134 F measured in July 1913 may be erroneous.
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