The Planet Now Has More Trees Than It Did 35 Years Ago
Tree cover loss in the tropics was outweighed by tree cover gain in subtropical, temperate, boreal, and polar regions.
Earth
Could Common Earthly Organisms Thrive on Mars?
Emerging research suggests that methanogens might be able to withstand the temperature swings and low pressures of a Martian existence.
The Man Who Wants to Fix the Climate. Can Anyone Stop Him?
Most scientists oppose Russ George's efforts to fix the world's climate. But who's going to do something about it?
Better-Bred Crops Could Send Global Warming Out to Space
Scientists have used computer models to imagine a world where crops are specially bred to reflect away more light and heat, without compromising productivity.
What Animal Species Is Most Likely to Rise Up and Overthrow Humans?
It's not something we need to worry too much about, but....
10 Misconceptions About Planet Earth on Earth Day
For starters, let's stop calling it "Earth Day."
Lessons From the Reverse Engineering of Nature
A Miller-McCune Research Essay by Columbia University professor Shahid Naeem on the importance of biodiversity and the true significance of the human species.
Space Probe to Measure How Sloshed Mother Earth Is
A European satellite scheduled to launch today will provide hard data on rising seas.
The Search for Intelligent Light
Planet hunter Geoff Marcy scans the skies for answers to the universal question of other life.
A Take on Earth's Temperature, Post-Bali
A round-up of research taken in the wake of the Bali summit on climate change finds little to warm the heart with the one exception that Atlantic hurricanes may grow more numerous but less fierce.