Earth Science

Bacteria Floating 30,000 Feet Overhead Could Be Influencing the Weather

We humans tend to pride ourselves on our ability to adapt, but bacteria have been beating us at this game for billions of years. Our microbial brethren have carved out a niche in some of Earth’s most hostile environments, from deep sea vents to Antarctic lakes. Some hardy bugs can even survive in an upper…

Earth Science Starre Vartan

That Viral Shredded Hurricane Florence Flag Sold For $10,900 on eBay, and I Wish My Battered Spirits Were Worth as Much

Last month, millions of people watched the American flag that flew at the Frying Pan Tower lighthouse about 39 miles off the North Carolina coast, as a livestream showed the flag being pummeled by the 100-mph winds of Hurricane Florence. Now, that symbol of dreams and natural nightmares will live on for a good cause.…

Earth Science Jennings Brown

A Volcano Just Erupted in Tsunami-Rattled Indonesia

The Indonesian island of Sulawesi has become a natural disaster zone. After a tsunami battered the island late last week, leaving at least 1,350 dead, a volcano has now erupted. Earlier this week, scientists forecast that Soputan, an active stratovolcano on the northeastern tip of the island, was showing signs of activity. On Wednesday, it…

Earth Science Brian Kahn

9 Million in the Southwest Face Flooding From Tropical Depression Rosa

In a year of wild heat waves, wildfires, and record-setting hurricanes, why not add one more weird weather phenomenon to the list? Tropical Depression Rosa made landfall in Baja California on Monday and is crawling into the Southwest, bringing with it the threat of flash floods from southern Arizona to Idaho. All told, 9 million…

Earth Science Brian Kahn

Florida’s Toxic Red Tide Algae Makes ‘Extremely Rare’ Jump to the Atlantic Coast

The red tide algae bloom that’s plagued Florida’s Gulf Coast for months has now jumped east to the Atlantic. Florida officials are dubbing it an “extremely rare” occurrence, underscoring just how far from over the state’s algae crisis is. On Monday, officials confirmed the presence of Karenia Brevis, the saltwater algae that smells like a…

Earth Science Maddie Stone

A Pair of Monster Cyclones Have Exploded to Life in the Pacific

Take a look at that image up there. It’s the planetary version of ಠ_ಠ. Earth, it appears, is sick of our shit and it’s sent the message via two monstrous cyclones in the Pacific. Hurricane Walaka and Super Typhoon Kong-rey are out there staring down satellites, and by extension, their human creators. The storms underwent…

Earth Science Brian Kahn

Border Agent Who Started Wildfire With Explosive ‘Gender Reveal’ Party Must Pay $220,000

An Arizona border patrol agent started a wildfire during a “gender reveal” party involving a firearm and explosives, likely making it the most expensive such celebration in the history of the ridiculous ritual. Dennis Dickey was off-duty when he celebrated the revelation of his unborn child’s sex on state-owned property close to Madera Canyon in…

Earth Science Jennings Brown

Scientists Aren’t Sure What Triggered Indonesia’s Deadly Tsunami

Late on Friday, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck near Sulawesi, Indonesia, quickly followed by a highly localized, intense, and devastating tsunami. Waves up to 18 feet high inundated Palu Bay, drowning a beach festival, destroying buildings, and claiming over 800 lives. The tsunami caught the region tragically off guard in part due to a failed…

Earth Science Mika McKinnon

Hurricane Walaka Just Set a Quirky Milestone in the Central Pacific

Hurricane Walaka spun up over the weekend in the central Pacific Ocean. It’s turning into a powerful storm, though it will likely miss Hawaii and shuffle off into the ocean. But it will occupy a special place in history. Wakala is the last name on a set of lists created in 1982 for Central Pacific…

Earth Science Brian Kahn

Hundreds Confirmed Dead in Indonesian Tsunami, With Officials Warning Toll Will Rise [Updated]

The 7.5-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit the eastern Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday is confirmed to have killed hundreds of people, the New York Times reported on Saturday, with at least 405 confirmed deaths in the city of Palu and the toll likely to rise much higher as search-and-rescue teams continue to…

Earth Science Tom McKay

A Powerful Tsunami Just Smashed Into Indonesia

A series of earthquakes, including one that was magnitude 7.5, triggered a powerful tsunami on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island on Friday evening local time. Early images and harrowing video shared on social media show water pouring into the city of Palu, as well as collapsed buildings and damage from the wave-and-quake combo. Things first began shaking…

Earth Science Brian Kahn

Clean Energy Boom Could Fuel One of the World’s Dirtiest Industries

The irony of transitioning to clean energy is we’re going to have to mine the shit out of the Earth to do it. Much like our computers and smartphones, wind turbines and solar panels are high-tech devices whose production demands a smattering of metals and minerals from across the periodic table and the planet. That…

Earth Science Maddie Stone

Shockwaves From WWII Bombing Raids Reached the Edge of Space, Scientists Report

As if the devastating effects of bombs dropped on European cities during the Second World War weren’t terrible enough, a surprising new study shows that the shockwaves produced by these bombing raids reached the edge of space, temporarily weakening the Earth’s ionosphere. Large Allied bombing raids during World War II produced shockwaves powerful enough to…

Earth Science George Dvorsky

Carbon Emissions Could Be Costing the US 8 Times What Trump’s EPA Estimates

The largest contributors to climate change also stand to lose the most, according to a new study that looks at the so-called “social cost” of carbon. Current U.S. leaders may think our country can withstand anything, but emitting carbon dioxide at the rate we do comes at a price. A measure of the impact climate…

Earth Science Yessenia Funes

These Photos of Typhoon Trami Are Jaw-Dropping

Look, I’m as sick of typhoons and hurricanes menacing humanity as you are. They’re planetary bullies and they suck. But I can take a begrudging moment to appreciate how they look from space. The latest storm to give me pause is Super Typhoon Trami—currently churning in the West Pacific—and images courtesy of astronaut Alex Gerst.…

Earth Science Brian Kahn

South Carolina Coast Braces For Worst Flooding Yet More Than a Week After Florence

Potentially record-breaking flood waters are set to inundate areas that didn’t see much flooding last week.

Earth Science Yessenia Funes

Teen Survives 49 Days at Sea in Drifting Fishing Hut

Aldi Novel Adilang, 19, was in charge of lighting the lamps on a fish trap that used light to attract fish.

Earth Science Jennings Brown

A Giant Wildfire Has Cut off Yellowstone’s Southern Gateway

All summer long, national parks have been lit up, shut down, and damaged by destructive wildfires. Now, it seems the trend has continued into fall. The golden aspens-covered Tetons were inaccessible to some on Sunday as a wildfire—dubbed the Roosevelt Fire—exploded southeast of Grand Teton National Park. Burning in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, it shut…

Earth Science Brian Kahn

Coal Ash Could Be Spilling Into North Carolina’s Drinking Water

Fears about toxic pollution in the wake of Florence’s floodwaters are already being realized. On Friday, Duke Energy confirmed a possible coal ash spill next door to the Cape Fear River in North Carolina. That river serves as a source of drinking water for residents living downstream in Wilmington. The AP broke the news of…

Earth Science Brian Kahn

Hawaii’s National Park Is Re-Opening After the Eruption of a Lifetime

Kilauea volcano has quieted down considerably since August, and recovery efforts are now in full swing. That includes a major milestone coming up on September 22, when the National Park Service (NPS) is set to re-open parts of the colossal Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which has been closed since shortly after the multi-month eruption began…

Earth Science Robin George Andrews

Bacteria Floating 30,000 Feet Overhead Could Be Influencing the Weather

That Viral Shredded Hurricane Florence Flag Sold For $10,900 on eBay, and I Wish My Battered Spirits Were Worth as Much

A Volcano Just Erupted in Tsunami-Rattled Indonesia

9 Million in the Southwest Face Flooding From Tropical Depression Rosa

Florida’s Toxic Red Tide Algae Makes ‘Extremely Rare’ Jump to the Atlantic Coast

A Pair of Monster Cyclones Have Exploded to Life in the Pacific

Border Agent Who Started Wildfire With Explosive ‘Gender Reveal’ Party Must Pay $220,000

Scientists Aren’t Sure What Triggered Indonesia’s Deadly Tsunami

Hurricane Walaka Just Set a Quirky Milestone in the Central Pacific

Hundreds Confirmed Dead in Indonesian Tsunami, With Officials Warning Toll Will Rise [Updated]

A Powerful Tsunami Just Smashed Into Indonesia

Clean Energy Boom Could Fuel One of the World’s Dirtiest Industries

Shockwaves From WWII Bombing Raids Reached the Edge of Space, Scientists Report

Carbon Emissions Could Be Costing the US 8 Times What Trump’s EPA Estimates

These Photos of Typhoon Trami Are Jaw-Dropping

South Carolina Coast Braces For Worst Flooding Yet More Than a Week After Florence

Teen Survives 49 Days at Sea in Drifting Fishing Hut

A Giant Wildfire Has Cut off Yellowstone’s Southern Gateway

Coal Ash Could Be Spilling Into North Carolina’s Drinking Water

Hawaii’s National Park Is Re-Opening After the Eruption of a Lifetime

Feds Sniffing Around Polymarket After Suspicious Bets

DJI Osmo 360 Review: The Best 360 Camera for the DJI-Pilled

Don’t Get Too Attached to Any AI App

‘Paradise’ Writer Teases What’s Coming in Season 3 After That Huge Twist

Trump’s New White House App Is Mildly Concerning and Weird for a Lot of Reasons

Bloodsucking Ticks Can Survive Inside Your Home Longer Than You Might Think

The Best New Toys of March 2026

Judge Denies Liking LinkedIn Post Critical of Elon Musk But Reassigns His Cases Anyway

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life

Nothing Headphone A vs. Headphone 1: Which Pair of ANC Wireless Headphones Wins?

Asus ROG’s Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds Might Be Better Than Wearing a Headset

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