An international team of scientists conducting a periodic assessment of Earth's systems found that seven of nine defined 'planetary boundaries' have been crossed, according to the report. These boundaries cover areas such as climate, biodiversity and freshwater that researchers consider critical to maintaining a stable environment for human life.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-09-22
Researchers warn that this year's El Niño event, combined with ongoing global warming, resembles a rare pattern last observed in the late 1990s. They caution that the interaction between these two forces could produce extreme weather events that fall outside the range of existing climate models and historical data.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-09-14
Scientists reportedly produced a previously unknown crystalline form of water ice while subjecting samples to temperatures near 2,357 degrees Celsius, conditions far beyond those where ice normally exists. The extreme heat was paired with high pressure to force water molecules into a novel structural arrangement not seen in standard ice phases.
science.slashdot.org
· 2026-09-12
Geologists have identified a long-dormant supervolcano beneath England as the origin of the Kinnekulle tephra, a volcanic ash layer found across parts of Europe. The discovery resolves a decades-old mystery about the source of this widespread ash deposit, which had puzzled scientists studying the region's geological history.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-08-31
South Africa's government has proposed a law requiring 'practising natural scientists' to register with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions, covering anyone providing scientific services or advice, whether paid or unpaid. Exceptions apply to educators at recognized institutions and those crafting government science policy, but failure to comply could result in up to a year in prison.
nature.com
· 2026-08-26