While scientists have long studied currents of large eddies, the smaller ones — called submesoscale eddies — are notoriously difficult to detect. These currents, which range from several kilometers to 100 kilometers wide, have been the “missing pieces” of the ocean’s puzzle — until now. Using data from the new Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, a Texas A&M researcher and his collaborators at JPL, CNES and Caltech finally got a clear view of these hard-to-see currents, and they are a lot stronger than anyone thought.

If global temperatures rise by 2.7 degrees Celsius – in line with current climate policy – only a quarter of the glacier masses will be left. This is the result of an international study involving the University of Bremen, which has been published in Science journal. If global temperatures rise by 2.7 degrees Celsius – in line with current climate policy – only a quarter of the glacier masses will be left. This is the result of an international study involving the University of Bremen, which has been published in Science journal.

The fossils of ancient salamander-like creatures in Scotland are among the most well-preserved examples of early stem tetrapods — some of the first animals to make the transition from water to land. Thanks to new research out of The University of Texas at Austin, scientists believe that these creatures are 14 million years older than previously thought. The new age — dating back to 346 million years ago — adds to the significance of the find because it places the specimens in a mysterious hole in the fossil record called Romer’s Gap.

A new Science study warns that if temperatures rise to 2.7°C by 2100, only 24% of glacier mass would remain, contributing over nine inches to sea-level rise. Even with no further warming, 39% of glaciers are projected to vanish. However, if global targets like the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal are met, more than half of that loss could be avoided. The findings highlight what’s at stake for water, coastlines, and ecosystems in the UN’s International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation.