Soil

The photographer lets soil the texture of dry sand slip through his fingers at a farmer's field on April 25th, 2019, near Liebenwalde, Germany.

By Pacific Standard Staff

Environment

Forest soils recover from disturbances slowly over many years—up to 80 years following a wildfire and as many as 30 years after logging, much longer than previously thought.

By Mike Gaworecki

Environment

A new study found that, during drought conditions, increased termite activity led to considerably higher leaf litter decomposition, increased soil moisture, and greater diversity in soil nutrient distribution.

By Shreya Dasgupta

Environment

The combination of moisture and particular chemicals is behind our ability to smell a rainstorm.

By Tim Logan

Dispatches

News and notes from Pacific Standard staff and contributors.

A farmworker labors in a field on August 11th, 2004, near the town of Arvin, California.

Environment

A new study uncovers an underappreciated source of air pollution in the Golden State: fertilized soil.

By Francie Diep

Environment

Small, soil-dwelling animals may help ease climate change, a new study shows.

By Nathan Collins

Environment

Cattle aren't bovine planet-wreckers, they're our green buddies. But that counter-intuitive land management message has lots of haters.

By Michael Todd

Environment

On the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, we look at two pioneering ways to stave off the loss of fertile land by challenging the conventional wisdom of merely planting more trees.

By Judith D. Schwartz

Environment

Researchers have drilled into the middle of America in hopes of understanding past eras when the Earth burped out huge amounts of greenhouse gases.

By Bruce Dorminey

Environment

A smarter way of raising herd animals, known as holistic management, may be a catalyst to helping the soil reclaim its role as a global carbon sponge.