Behind the Paper
The real stories behind the latest research papers, from conception to publication, the highs and the lows
Filtered by: Earth & Environment
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.
New study reveals diversity of blue carbon in mangrove soils across geomorphic settings
The nature of mangrove soil carbon varies significantly depending on the coastal landscape where mangroves grow. These findings challenge the "one-size-fits-all" approach to mangrove conservation and restoration for blue C, with major implications for climate policy & mangrove restoration projects.
A Simple Equation for a Long-Standing Challenge in Ocean Science
We rely on P-I models to scale phytoplankton light response into global primary production, yet half of the time photoinhibition disrupts the picture. Current models either sidestep or mischaracterize this phenomenon, introducing hidden uncertainty into climate-relevant estimates.
