Behind the Paper
The real stories behind the latest research papers, from conception to publication, the highs and the lows
Filtered by: Earth & Environment
Seeing the hidden architecture of environmental interfaces by bioCP-SEM
How can we observe roots, microbes and soil particles together without disrupting their spatial relationships? This post shares the story behind bioCP-SEM, a workflow that combines biological electron microscopy with cross-sectional polishing to visualize intact plant–microbe–soil interfaces.
Increasing successive sudden stratospheric warmings linked to Arctic sea ice decline
Winter Arctic stratosphere is usually dominated by a strong polar vortex that helps to isolate cold air over the polar region. Sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs) represent a dramatic breakdown of this vortex. New evidence shows increasing successive SSWs are linked to the declined sea ice trend.
Beyond the "Plunger": How the Stratospheric Polar Vortex Uses a "Cloud Blanket" to Warm the Arctic
Xia Yan, Xie Fei*, Luo Fuhai, Hu Yongyun, Huang Yi, Bian Jianchun, Zhou Lingyu, Zhao Chuanfeng*. Stratospheric polar vortex shapes Arctic surface climate via a radiative pathway. Nature Communications (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-72698-w
Political economy of administrative responses to informal housing and land tenure security in Sheger City Ethiopia
The rapid urbanisation of Sheger City, Ethiopia, has led to a proliferation of informal housing and a growing struggle for land tenure security among its residents. This research, published in Discover Cities, delves into the political economy of administrative responses to this phenomenon.
Can we really have a “global” research agenda for peatlands?
Peatlands store more carbon than all the world's forests, yet major scientific gaps remain. We brought together 467 participants from 54 countries to identify the most important research priorities for peatland science.
