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!["Traffic jams” of boats and floating houses on the dry bed of Lake Puraquequara, in the outskirts of Manaus.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZAEs8N8hVSPwJ2mt5uki35-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZAEs8N8hVSPwJ2mt5uki35-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZAEs8N8hVSPwJ2mt5uki35-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZAEs8N8hVSPwJ2mt5uki35-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZAEs8N8hVSPwJ2mt5uki35-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZAEs8N8hVSPwJ2mt5uki35-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZAEs8N8hVSPwJ2mt5uki35-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZAEs8N8hVSPwJ2mt5uki35-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Amazon's 'flying rivers' of vapor are drying up in an unprecedented drought. Here's how to save them.
By Lucas Ferrante published
A record drought, combined with a strong El Niño, is wreaking havoc on the Amazon. If steps aren't taken to curb illegal mining and deforestation, the ecosystem could collapse.
![3D model of Lorrainosaurus against a black background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dewvf3LWUZ6cUBgm3T2Sca-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dewvf3LWUZ6cUBgm3T2Sca-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dewvf3LWUZ6cUBgm3T2Sca-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dewvf3LWUZ6cUBgm3T2Sca-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dewvf3LWUZ6cUBgm3T2Sca-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dewvf3LWUZ6cUBgm3T2Sca-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dewvf3LWUZ6cUBgm3T2Sca-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dewvf3LWUZ6cUBgm3T2Sca-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Jurassic pliosaur 'megapredator' was a giant 'sea murderer'
By Patrick Pester published
The earliest pliosaur 'megapredator' helped rule the oceans 170 million years ago during the age of dinosaurs.
![Many valuable diamonds, raw and cut, for further processing for the jewelry industry.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dx7xbdwdTdTyKa8XdBwrSg-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dx7xbdwdTdTyKa8XdBwrSg-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dx7xbdwdTdTyKa8XdBwrSg-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dx7xbdwdTdTyKa8XdBwrSg-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dx7xbdwdTdTyKa8XdBwrSg-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dx7xbdwdTdTyKa8XdBwrSg-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dx7xbdwdTdTyKa8XdBwrSg-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dx7xbdwdTdTyKa8XdBwrSg-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
What's the deepest-occurring gemstone on Earth?
By Amanda Heidt published
Very few gems can withstand the intense pressure of Earth's mantle, but some require it to crystallize.
![illustration showing earth being bombarded with huge space rocks](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Njdxm8xFyTesqm768sLDKZ-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Njdxm8xFyTesqm768sLDKZ-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Njdxm8xFyTesqm768sLDKZ-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Njdxm8xFyTesqm768sLDKZ-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Njdxm8xFyTesqm768sLDKZ-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Njdxm8xFyTesqm768sLDKZ-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Njdxm8xFyTesqm768sLDKZ-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Njdxm8xFyTesqm768sLDKZ-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Mystery blobs in Earth's mantle may be linked to ancient gold and platinum that arrived from space
By Stephanie Pappas published
The gold and platinum that came from giant space rocks should have sunk into Earth's core instead of rising to the crust. Scientists have now worked out how this happened — and it may explain some really weird blobs deep in our planet's mantle.
![Sipuncula, Peanut Worm](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oMGbV7SzymgoMphWYux4jG-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oMGbV7SzymgoMphWYux4jG-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oMGbV7SzymgoMphWYux4jG-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oMGbV7SzymgoMphWYux4jG-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oMGbV7SzymgoMphWYux4jG-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oMGbV7SzymgoMphWYux4jG-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oMGbV7SzymgoMphWYux4jG-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oMGbV7SzymgoMphWYux4jG-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
10 phallic flora and fauna that look just like penises
By Patrick Pester published
Nature must think willies are funny, too.
![A color-enhanced image of surface water temperatures shows the Gulf Stream crossing the Atlantic Ocean from the Florida Straits.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DHRJHknrLyTQ8KPG287vKA-320-80.png 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DHRJHknrLyTQ8KPG287vKA-450-80.png 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DHRJHknrLyTQ8KPG287vKA-500-80.png 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DHRJHknrLyTQ8KPG287vKA-650-80.png 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DHRJHknrLyTQ8KPG287vKA-840-80.png 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DHRJHknrLyTQ8KPG287vKA-970-80.png 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DHRJHknrLyTQ8KPG287vKA-1024-80.png 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DHRJHknrLyTQ8KPG287vKA-1200-80.png 1200w)
Gulf Stream weakening now 99% certain, and ramifications will be global
By Ben Turner published
A new analysis has concluded that the Gulf Stream is definitely slowing, but whether it's due to climate change is hard to tell.
![The El Niño pattern stands out in the warm sea surface temperature anomalies in the Pacific in 2023.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XU6vkj5jds49gD5MiActhf-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XU6vkj5jds49gD5MiActhf-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XU6vkj5jds49gD5MiActhf-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XU6vkj5jds49gD5MiActhf-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XU6vkj5jds49gD5MiActhf-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XU6vkj5jds49gD5MiActhf-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XU6vkj5jds49gD5MiActhf-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XU6vkj5jds49gD5MiActhf-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
A strong El Niño is coming this winter. What does that mean?
By Aaron Levine published
Thanks to El Niño, meteorologists are predict a snowy winter in the Rockies, storms and wet weather in the South and drier conditions in the Northwest and Uppder Midwest.
!['The Fram in the Ice', 1895, (1897). Fram (Forward) was a ship used in northern and southern polar expeditions by the Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen. It was launched in 1892 and used until 1912. Currently it is preserved at the Fram Museum, Oslo. From Farthest North, Vol. 2 by Fridtjof Nansen. [Archibald Constable and Company, London, 1897]. Artist Unknown. (Photo by Print Collector/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hqJT5wnJrTyPKZyoGti7Fb-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hqJT5wnJrTyPKZyoGti7Fb-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hqJT5wnJrTyPKZyoGti7Fb-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hqJT5wnJrTyPKZyoGti7Fb-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hqJT5wnJrTyPKZyoGti7Fb-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hqJT5wnJrTyPKZyoGti7Fb-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hqJT5wnJrTyPKZyoGti7Fb-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hqJT5wnJrTyPKZyoGti7Fb-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
The Fram: A Victorian expedition to the North Pole that was as brilliant as it was bonkers
By Helen Czerski published
British physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski explains how Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen's expedition to the North Pole was 'one of the most bonkers and brilliant experiments ever devised'.
![A beautifully detailed image of a leatherback turtle nesting at sunrise on the beach.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pa2m7CkYqEaa2MuqfLqMSg-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pa2m7CkYqEaa2MuqfLqMSg-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pa2m7CkYqEaa2MuqfLqMSg-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pa2m7CkYqEaa2MuqfLqMSg-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pa2m7CkYqEaa2MuqfLqMSg-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pa2m7CkYqEaa2MuqfLqMSg-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pa2m7CkYqEaa2MuqfLqMSg-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pa2m7CkYqEaa2MuqfLqMSg-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
'This is the cost of living in seawater': The ingenious and (to us) heartbreaking way turtles survive the salty oceans
By Helen Czerski published
In this extract from the new book Blue Machine: How the Ocean Works, oceanographer Helen Czerski explains the ingenious way turtles contend with the extreme saltiness of the sea.
![Deep sea water abyss with blue sun light.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b9hixJoxPvg7fAVfdtaX8B-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b9hixJoxPvg7fAVfdtaX8B-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b9hixJoxPvg7fAVfdtaX8B-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b9hixJoxPvg7fAVfdtaX8B-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b9hixJoxPvg7fAVfdtaX8B-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b9hixJoxPvg7fAVfdtaX8B-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b9hixJoxPvg7fAVfdtaX8B-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b9hixJoxPvg7fAVfdtaX8B-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
'Earth's civilizations are shaped by what the ocean engine does,' says oceanographer Helen Czerski
By Alexander McNamara published
In this interview, British oceanographer Helen Czerski explains the systems driving our ocean, compares it to a fancy cocktail, and explains what the next great ocean frontier is.
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