Climate-Resistant Glaciers Hold Water Cooler Temperatures
Scott Hotaling hikes through the Wasatch Mountains towards White Pine Lake, aiming for a towering rock glacier that hides immense water resources beneath its rocky surface. Unlike typical glaciers, these rock glaciers are insulated from the climate’s impacts, which may enable them to survive longer amidst global warming. As Utah faces dwindling snowpack, these glaciers could become essential water reserves for the region. Read more.
River Piracy Gave Towering Everest Unexpected Gains
Researchers reveal that Mount Everest’s incremental height increase can be traced back to an event known as river piracy. Approximately 89,000 years ago, the Kosi River captured a tributary, resulting in accelerated erosion of surrounding rocks and lifting Everest and other peaks through a process known as isostatic rebound. This discovery underscores the complex interactions between geology and hydrology over millennia. Read more.
Exploring Bird Survival After the Dinosaurs
Scientists continue to investigate how some bird species survived the mass extinction event caused by an asteroid impact. Contrary to their toothy relatives, toothless birds might have thrived due to their foraging abilities that enabled them to seek out seeds and nuts as food sources when other resources diminished. This ongoing research is crucial to understanding evolutionary resilience in the face of catastrophic change. Read more.
