Geoscience
Pangea’s Second Coming Won’t Be Chill
Today’s mammals would not survive the heat of Earth’s next supercontinent. But in evolution, there’s hope.
What the Earth Knows
How understanding Earth’s deep past can lead us into our radically altered future.
The Secret Life of Deep Sea Vents
An expedition to find rare hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the Mid-Atlantic uncovers new worlds—and some daredevil shrimp.
Could an Industrial Civilization Have Predated Humans on Earth?
A thought experiment plumbs archaeology and geology to ask whether our own species will leave a trace.
The Secret Messages in Ancient Storms
Paleotempestology promises to uncover patterns of historical hurricanes—to better predict destructive weather of the future.
The Amazon River in the Sky
A crucial link that sustains the Amazon rainforest is at risk of running dry.
Were These Caves Licked into Place?
Some of the Earth’s hardest features have been shaped by soft animal bodies.
Searching for the River of Wind
The jet stream is one of Earth’s defining features—but it wasn’t easy to find.
Why Is Sea Level Rise Worse In Some Places?
One question for Sönke Dangendorf, a coastal flooding researcher at Tulane University.
How Seawater Might Soak Up More Carbon
Giving Earth an antacid could help slow climate change—but it's complicated.
The Moon Smells Like Gunpowder
Why dirt on the moon (and Mars) would be dangerous to live with.
Hear the Wind on Mars
What we can learn from a Martian dust devil—and the sounds of other planets.
