Earth & Space
Warm waters hide in the unlikeliest of places – under the Arctic sea ice
The Polar Regions are a central control and indicator of the Earth's climate. Ice and snow at the poles reflect solar radiation back into space, which helps to keep the Earth cool. However, in recent decades, air temperatures in the Arctic have been rising at... click to read more
Carbonating the bottom of the ocean...and dissolving the seafloor with it
Carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere is absorbed by our oceans, and has an important impact on our oceanic ecosystems. When an ocean absorbs CO2 in large quantities its chemistry changes, and it becomes more acidic. However, the oceans have their very own antacid: a... click to read more
A world without lake ice?
Seasonal lake ice cover is rapidly disappearing, and with it, ecosystem services that support human life and culture. Lake ice provides natural resources such as fresh water, food, transportation, and renewable energy. But it also supports emotional wellbeing by connecting remote communities through ice roads... click to read more
Gaseous heavy metals in the atmosphere of an ultra-hot exoplanet
KELT-9 is a hot blue star in the constellation Cygnus. It has a temperature of over 10,000 K and a mass that is over twice larger than the Sun. It is very luminous (though not visible with the naked eye) and as such belongs to... click to read more
The Pacific is drowning in plastic
Halfway between the coastal beaches of Southern California and the paradise islands of Hawaii lies the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) - a patch of plastic debris covering a vast area of the oceanic surface. Despite the name, it is not a compact garbage island... click to read more
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