Environment Archives - The Debrief

Giant Hailstones Injured 70 and Destroyed Property During a Catastrophic Storm. Scientists Were Surprised by What They Found Inside.

Micah Hanks·December 7, 2024

Scientists have revealed the interior structure of giant hailstones that pummelled northern Spain in 2022, along with a few surprises.

Scientists Uncover New Way to Generate Green Hydrogen Energy From Water And Sunlight

Ryan Whalen·December 6, 2024

Japanese researchers have developed an innovative method that utilizes sunlight to split water into green hydrogen fuel, effectively leveraging two of humankind's oldest energy sources while helping combat climate change.

AI is Aiding the Effort To Neutralize Hazardous Pollutants Escaping Forgotten Oil and Gas Wells

Ryan Whalen·December 5, 2024

Thousands of lost and forgotten oil and gas wells that may be leaking hazardous pollutants are finally being identified with the help of AI.

Something is Growing in the Ocean’s Deep Submarine Canyons. Now Scientists Have Revealed the Cause.

Micah Hanks·December 2, 2024

Scientists have discovered something concerning in the deep submarine canyons of Earth’s oceans, and it appears to be growing.

“We Didn’t Know What It Was at First.” Buried Beneath Arctic Ice, a Secretive Underground Military Base Emerges in New Radar Images

Micah Hanks·November 25, 2024

Long buried beneath arctic ice in Greenland, a forgotten relic of the Cold War has been rediscovered in new NASA radar images.

Scientists Aiming to Build Massive Underwater Structure to Protect Antarctica Could Face Territorial Challenges

Ryan Whalen·November 21, 2024

The construction of a massive underwater structure to protect Antarctica’s melting ice sheets could be met with unexpected international challenges, new research reveals.

Hurricane Forecasting Could Soon Get a Major Upgrade with Help from Machine Learning

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·November 20, 2024

Researchers have unveiled a new machine-learning approach that could transform the accuracy of hurricane forecasting.

Scientists Say Something Unusual Was Detected Just Before the Massive Hunga Tonga Volcanic Eruption

Micah Hanks·November 19, 2024

Seismic data collected before the massive Hunga Tonga eruption in 2022 could point to a new kind of early warning system for such events.

Geologists Uncover Clues in Colorado That Lend New Weight to Snowball Earth Hypothesis

Ryan Whalen·November 19, 2024

A recent study by Colorado geologists adds weight to the snowball Earth hypothesis, providing what may be the best evidence yet of our planet’s a frozen past.

First-Ever Discovery of Amber in Antarctica Reveals Continent Had Trees 90 Million Years Ago.

Christopher Plain·November 18, 2024

Scientists have discovered the first-ever sample of fossilized tree resin, known as amber, on Earth's southernmost continent of Antarctica.

Can Humanity Sustain Itself Without Destroying the Earth? New Study Examines Ways to Prevent Ecological Collapse

Tim McMillan·November 14, 2024

New research examines if its possible for humanity to continue to thrive on Earth without triggering an ecological collapse.

NASA AWE Instrument on the International Space Station Spots Something in the Atmosphere 55 Miles Above Earth

Christopher Plain·November 11, 2024

NASA says its Atmospheric Waves Instrument (AWE) recorded a series of intense gravity waves at high altitudes during Hurricane Helene.

Antarctica’s “Doomsday Glacier” is Melting Fast. Now Scientists Are Debating a Controversial Solution.

Ryan Whalen·November 6, 2024

Scientists are engaged in international debate over the best solution to averting a potential "Doomsday Glacier" catastrophe, in response to conflicting study results over the summer.

Alcohol Consumption in the Wild? Research Reveals It May Happen More Often than We Realize

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·October 31, 2024

Animals may be getting intoxicated on alcohol produced in nature more often than we realize, new research suggests.

Something is Missing from Deep Within the Ocean, Revealing New Clues to a 34-Million-Year-Old Mystery

Micah Hanks·October 14, 2024

Something scientists expected to find commemorating one of Earth’s most drastic periods of climate change apparently doesn’t exist, according to new findings.

Lightning Strikes May Release Deadly, High-Energy ‘Killer Electrons’ That Can Fry Electronics and Humans

Christopher Plain·October 12, 2024

Scientists say lightning strikes may be releasing deadly high-energy "killer electrons" that can fry electronics and humans alike.

New Study Suggests Impact of Hurricanes Helen and Milton Could Lead to a Rise in Violence Against Women

Chrissy Newton·October 12, 2024

A new study reveals a troubling link between climate change and rising violence against women worldwide.

This Company is Using De-Extinction Tools to Save Endangered Species

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·October 9, 2024

Deextinction company Colossal Biosciences has announced the establishment of the Colossal Foundation, a new nonprofit aimed at applying cutting-edge science.

Solar-Powered Technology Turns Seawater into Fresh Water, Offering Hope for Global Water Crisis

Chrissy Newton·October 8, 2024

A newly developed Canadian technology could help revolutionize access to clean water for over 4 billion people.

Harvard Researchers Reveal ‘Treasure Trove’ of Data on Mysterious Voids in African Rainforest That Appear Out of Nowhere

Christopher Plain·October 4, 2024

Harvard scientists reveal a 'treasure trove' of new information about mysterious voids in the African rainforest that appear out of nowhere.

Vertical Farming Can Help “Future-Proof” Food Production and Reduce Energy Usage Say Scientists

Christopher Plain·October 3, 2024

New study shows how improved vertical farming techniques that also use fewer resources can help future-proof worldwide food production.

Germany Has Installed 550,000 Balcony Solar Panels. The United States Could Do it Too

MJ Banias·October 3, 2024

Germany has outfitted over half a million balconies with solar panels to fight the climate crisis. Can the United States follow suit?

Meals on Heels: These Fish Have Evolved to Taste with their Feet

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·September 27, 2024

In two new studies, researchers reveal that the sea robin, a fish with legs, uses them to detect prey buried in the seafloor.

MIT Engineers Create 3D Printable Glass Bricks That Can Withstand the Same Pressures as Concrete Blocks

Christopher Plain·September 21, 2024

A team of MIT engineers have invented a recyclable glass brick that can withstand similar pressures as a standard concrete block.

4 Billion People Lack Access to Clean Water, Concerning New Study Reveals

Chrissy Newton·August 15, 2024

Half of the planet's population lacks access to clean water, according to new findings that reveal the impact of poor water quality.

In the Era of “Fast Fashion,” New Research Reveals the Environmental Toll of Trendiness

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·August 15, 2024

New research reveals that "fast fashion" has a waste problem, and it's outpacing recycling efforts.

Something Odd is Happening to the World’s Largest Iceberg, and It’s Making Experts Dizzy

Micah Hanks·August 14, 2024

The world’s largest iceberg has been engaged in unusual behavior in recent months that has left some glaciologists dizzy.

Biorepository on the Moon Could Preserve Genetic Material From Endangered Species, Researchers Say

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·August 6, 2024

An international team of scientists has proposed a unique idea to protect the Earth's endangered species: a biorepository on the Moon.

Mysterious Gigantic Features Discovered Beneath Antarctica’s Dotson Ice Shelf by Underwater Robotic Survey

Micah Hanks·August 1, 2024

New imagery from beneath Antarctica's Dotson Ice Shelf has revealed the existence of previously unknown features.

Researchers Reveal the Secret Ingredient That Causes Volcanoes to Make Precious Sapphires

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·July 31, 2024

Researchers from Heidelberg University have discovered the secret ingredient that allows some volcanoes to make sapphires.

Bad News, Car Lovers: New Research Suggests “New Car Smell” Might Be More Harmful Than We Thought.

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·July 25, 2024

Bad news car lovers: new research suggests that “new car smell” can actually be emitted at toxic levels, particularly on hot days.

Trees Are Now Moving Due to Climate Change, But It’s Not the First Time

MJ Banias·July 23, 2024

Trees in Brazil's Atlantic Forest are moving in response to climate change, according to new studies into an ancient phenomenon.

Environment