Recent Features
Correcting Ocean Cooling
November 5, 2008
Scientists revise their conclusion that the ocean has cooled since 2003.
When the Earth Moved Kashmir
October 22, 2008
Science and relief efforts come together in the aftermath of the Kashmir Earthquake.
Rapid Retreat: Ice Shelf Loss along Canada's Ellesmere Coast
September 5, 2008
Beginning in late July 2008, the remaining ice shelves along the northern coast of Canada's Ellesmere Island underwent rapid retreat, losing a total of 214 square kilometers (83 square miles).
- read more Features
From the Archives
- Forest on the Threshold
April 18, 2006
NASA data reveal that Arctic forests are getting browner as temperatures rise. The downward trend in the forests' health may be a sign that global warming is impacting the forests sooner than scientists predicted.
- The Art of Science
October 18, 2005
Astronauts onboard the International Space Station (ISS) have many tasks, but a consistent favorite is taking photographs of Earth.
- Finding Fossils from Space
May 15, 2000
Satellite imagery helps fossil hunters find dinosaurs in the Gobi Desert.
- John Tyndall
October 8, 1999
In 1859, John Tyndall's experiments showed that even in small quantities, water vapor, carbon dioxide, and ozone absorbed much more heat than the rest of the atmosphere.
Most Popular
- Cities at Night: The View from Space
April 22, 2008
Astronauts onboard the International Space Station capture nighttime photographs of city lights, spectacular evidence of humanity's existence, our distribution, and our ability to change our environment.
- Global Warming
May 21, 2007
Global warming is happening now, and scientists are very confident that greenhouse gases are responsible. This article explains what global warming is, how scientists know it's happening, and how they predict future climate.
- Tropical Deforestation
March 30, 2007
Tropical forests are home to half the Earth's species, and their trees are an immense standing reservoir of carbon. Deforestation will have increasingly serious consequences for biodiversity, humans, and climate.
- Hurricanes: The Greatest Storms on Earth
November 1, 2006
Few things in nature can compare to the destructive force of a hurricane. Called the greatest storm on Earth, a hurricane is capable of annihilating coastal areas with sustained winds of 155 mph or higher and intense areas of rainfall and a storm surge. In fact, during its life cycle a hurricane can expend as much energy as 10,000 nuclear bombs!
- How on Earth was this Image Made?
March 25, 2003
Remotely sensed Earth observations can include everything from sonar measurements used to map the topography of the ocean floor to satellite-based observations of city lights. Combining observations collected by a variety of instruments at different times and places allow scientists to create an otherwsie impossible view of the Earth, showing underwater mountain ranges, cloud-free skies, and city lights that are brighter than daylight. Such visualizations are invaluable for interpreting complex data and communicating scientific concepts.