EarthSky’s top photos from 2021

Enjoy EarthSky's top photos from 2021. All these photos were taken by members of the EarthSky community from all around the globe.

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."

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Big-nosed dinosaur species discovered

Scientists have identified a new big-nosed dinosaur species among a collection of bones discovered on the Isle of Wight in southern England. This dinosaur had a much larger snout than either of the other two known species at the time.