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A nameless grasshopper, found via social media
Old photos on social media helped citizen scientists discover a new species of nameless grasshopper. Its nickname is "the nameless Scaria."
December 22, 2021
Why do pine trees smell good?
Pine trees - as well as spruce and fir, all Christmas tree favorites - produce chemicals called terpenes, giving them their special, distinctive scent.
December 22, 2021
Atmospheric lakes bring much-needed rain
Atmospheric lakes form in the Indian Ocean and bring much-needed rain to dry areas of Africa's eastern coast. They are peaceful cousins to atmospheric rivers.
December 17, 2021
Barreleye fish shows a transparent head
On December 9, 2021, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute shared this rare video of a barreleye fish, or Macropinna microstoma.
December 17, 2021
Hole punch clouds are made by jets. Photos here
Hole punch clouds are a type of cloud that features a flat cloud layer interrupted by a big hole, often with wisps at the center, created by aircraft.
December 17, 2021
December tornadoes: What caused the deadly US outbreak?
December tornadoes in a historic outbreak overnight from December 10 to 11, 2021, may have produced the longest-track tornado on record.
December 14, 2021
Is the Oregon earthquake swarm tapering off?
The USGS Latest Earthquakes page is displaying more than 40 small-to-moderate earthquakes on December 7 and 8, 2021, off the coast of Oregon.
December 9, 2021
Tides, and the pull of the moon and sun
Expect higher-than-usual tides a day or two after the December 3-4, 2021, total eclipse of the sun. The moon will be both new and closest to Earth.
December 3, 2021
Intense storms from global warming, and a mission to study them
Have you noticed that, as climate warms, we're having more intense storms? NASA's upcoming INCUS mission will investigate.
December 2, 2021
Hurricanes expected to linger over cities in US Northeast
More hurricanes - like Sandy in 2021 - could be in the East Coast's future, potentially costing billions of dollars in damage and economic losses.
December 2, 2021
