Behind the Paper
The real stories behind the latest research papers, from conception to publication, the highs and the lows
Filtered by: Earth & Environment
How a simple rule helped Seoul support local businesses—without fueling COVID-19
When COVID-19 hit, governments aimed to protect both health and livelihoods. Stimulus payments supported spending, but raised concerns: would encouraging shopping and dining out increase risky contact and mobility, potentially fueling further virus spread?
Diamond in the Rock: How a Chance Discovery Changed Our View of Earth
In the 1970s, Barry Dawson struck a diamond hidden in mantle rock—the first ever found in its birthplace. His discovery proved diamonds form deep inside Earth. Now, 50 years later, Cambridge scientists are re-examining that rock, still uncovering Earth’s hidden story.
Unravelling the long-term river health status of Kruger National Park Rivers using macroinvertebrate-based monitoring
Freshwater ecosystems face severe threats from pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. This study analyzes a decade of biomonitoring data (2010–2019) from Kruger National Park’s four rivers using SASS5, habitat, and physicochemical metrics to assess resilience against upstream human pressures.
Solving a mystery of Greenland’s melting ice sheet—what happens when models miss refreezing?
New field measurements and modeling show meltwater refreezing in Greenland’s bare ice may reduce runoff to surrounding oceans, highlighting a process climate models can incorporate for improved predictions of future sea-level rise.
