The Arctic covers about 20 percent of the planet, but we know very little about its soil, specifically its permafrost. This layer holds vast amounts of carbon, and thanks to researchers from the University of Texas, Austin, we now have a much more complete dataset on Arctic soil Read More...
Along with polar ice and glaciers, warming temperatures have also been having a melting effect on permafrost — the frozen layer of soil in the Arctic. In an attempt to protect this frozen ground, a team of scientists has come up with a rather unorthodox plan. The idea is to fill the Arctic Read More...
As the climate warms up, polar ice and glaciers aren’t the only things at risk melting. Permafrost — the frozen layer of soil that underlies the Arctic tundra — is beginning to thaw as well, with scientists concerned that this will release huge amounts of greenhouse gases stored there. But Read More...
At about the size of small bacteria, the Pithovirus is the largest virus ever discovered, and represents a new family of “giant” viruses. Pithovirus poses no direct threat to humans; it only infects amoebas. But this big virus still has big implications for public health. Writing in the Read More...