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The closer a volcano is to erupting, the greener the trees around it look from space
By Sascha Pare published
Scientists have found a way to monitor volcanic carbon dioxide levels — one of the first signs a volcano might be about to blow — that doesn't involve trekking up a mountain.

Kilimanjaro's giant groundsels: The strange plants that thrive on Africa's tallest mountain
By Sascha Pare published
Giant groundsels are rare plants that grow up to 30 feet (9 meters) tall. They are endemic to the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, a dormant volcano in Tanzania and Africa's tallest mountain.

The land under South Africa is rising every year. We finally know why.
By Skyler Ware published
The land under South Africa steadily rose between 2012 and 2020, a new GPS-based study finds, and drought may be the main driver.

Almost 2 billion people could see a change in rain patterns if the planet continues to warm
By Jesse Steinmetz published
Higher global temperatures mean the intertropical convergence zone could shift south — throwing off precipitation trends for a major swath of humanity, according to new research.

Watch mesmerizing 1,000-foot-tall lava fountains: Kilauea volcano erupting in ways not seen for 40 years
By Patrick Pester published
The USGS has announced that Kilauea volcano is ejecting fountains of lava in a manner not seen since the Pu'u'ō'ō eruption in the 1980s. But while the lava is mesmerizing, officials warn that the volcano is also producing toxic gases and other hazards.

Earth's core is 'leaking' gold, study finds
By Patrick Pester published
Our planet's core is rich in gold that can leak out into the mantle, and in some cases, end up in volcanos on the surface, according to a new study.

There's a humongous boulder on a cliff in Tonga. Now we know how it got there.
By Jess Thomson published
A massive boulder named Maka Lahi was recently found about 650 feet from the edge of a cliff in Tonga, and researchers believe that it may have been deposited by a tsunami around 7,000 years ago.

Tropical storm Alvin will form in next 48 hours, forecasters say — kicking off this year's Pacific hurricane season
By Sascha Pare published
A tropical storm is brewing over the Eastern Pacific south of Acapulco. Clouds and thunderstorms that have been gathering for days will organize in the next 48 hours and could develop into a hurricane.

Quadruple volcanoes on secret Soviet military base linked to climate-altering eruption 200 years ago
By Harry Baker published
Earth from space A 2024 satellite photo shows four end-to-end volcanoes perfectly spaced out along the Russian island of Simushir. One of these peaks was the site of a surprise eruption that temporarily cooled the Northern Hemisphere in 1831.
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