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Earth

More Stories in Earth

  1. A satellite view of an arctic cyclone taken in August 2012.
    Climate

     Cyclones in the Arctic are becoming more intense and frequent

    Over the last 70 years, boreal storms have steadily grown stronger. And climate change may make them worse, threatening both people and sea ice.
    By Nikk Ogasa
  2. A telecom tower stands atop the Säntis mountain in Switzerland against a cloudy sky. A green laser marks the path of the powerful laser in this story.
    Physics

     A powerful laser can redirect lightning strikes

    In a mountaintop experiment, a laser beamed into the sky created a virtual lightning rod that snagged several bolts before they hit the ground.
    By Maria Temming
  3. A photo of China's maglev train as it comes into a station with several people standing at balcony of a nearby platform.
    Chemistry

    How rare earth elements’ hidden properties make modern technology possible

    Because of their unique chemistry, the rare earth elements can fine-tune light for many different purposes and generate powerful magnetic fields.
    By Nikk Ogasa
  4. A purple octopus as it sits on the ocean floor.
    Science & Society

     Sea life offers a lens for self-exploration in ‘How Far the Light Reaches’

    In a collection of essays profiling 10 marine animals, author Sabrina Imbler mixes in stories of their own family, self-discovery, sexuality and healing.
    By Aina Abell
  5. An aerial view of Mountain Pass rare earth mine in southeastern California,
    Earth

     Rare earth mining may be key to our renewable energy future. But at what cost?

    We take you inside Mountain Pass, the only rare earth mine in the United States.
    By Carolyn Gramling
  6. An Amazonian woman walks away from the camera while holding a large basket on her head.
    Earth

     Indigenous people may have created the Amazon’s ‘dark earth’ on purpose

    Modern Amazonians make nutrient-rich soil from ash, food scraps and burns. The soil strongly resembles ancient dark soils found in the region.
    By Freda Kreier
  7. photo of cars backed up on a freeway with a sign above that reads, "EXTREME HEAT SAVE POWER 4-9PM STAY COOL"
    Climate

     Extreme weather in 2022 showed the global impact of climate change

    Heat waves, floods, wildfires and drought around the world were exacerbated by Earth’s changing climate.
    By Carolyn Gramling
  8. A photo from a high angle of the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring
    Earth

    No, Yellowstone isn’t about to erupt, even after more magma was found

    A new study offers the best views yet of what lurks beneath the Yellowstone supervolcano.
    By Carolyn Gramling
  9. A photo of President Joe Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law with a group of four men and one women standing around him.
    Climate

    2022’s biggest climate change bill pushes clean energy

    Experts weigh in on the pros and cons of the United States’ first major climate change legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act, signed this year.
    By Nikk Ogasa