Environment
Moss Might Survive Nearly Two Decades in Space
These plants showed “extraordinary durability” and may pave the way for extraterrestrial agriculture
The Rise of the Ancient Bogs
It was driven by the wind, and could tell us about the future of the climate
Some Bacteria Have Evolved the Ability to Degrade Plastic
But can this make a dent in Earth’s plastic crisis?
The Secret Lives of Tree Roots
A glimpse into the arboreal underworld tells us how trees will cope in a changing climate
Are We Trashing Earth’s Loneliest Spot?
Point Nemo, the most remote location on the planet, is serving as humanity’s cosmic junkyard
Here’s What Nuclear Testing Does to the Earth—and Us
With trials of atomic weapons set to resume, we recall the environmental and health damage wrought by such testing
Hurricane Melissa Could Threaten Some Species with Extinction
As the super strong storm lashes the Caribbean, vulnerable species and habitats lie in its path
How This Haunting Hurricane Illusion Forms
Powerful storms like Hurricane Melissa foment an odd phenomenon called the “stadium effect” at their centers
How “Plant Math” Can Help Predict the Climate’s Future
Researchers are building equations for vegetation processes that might improve climate models
New Life for Rotting Seaweed
Problematic piles of Sargassum could serve as useful raw material for a variety of products
Modeling the Deep
An ambitious mission seeks to map the flow of crucial chemicals through marine food webs in far-flung oceanic gyres
