Why the planet doesn’t dry out together: scientists solve a global climate puzzle
Peer-Reviewed Publication
This June, we’re turning our attention to the ocean in honor of World Ocean Day on June 8. Covering more than 70% of our planet, the ocean is full of discovery, wonder, and life. Join us as we explore the science behind marine ecosystems and the important role oceans play in shaping our world.
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 21-Jun-2026 09:16 ET (21-Jun-2026 13:16 GMT/UTC)
Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Leipzig) have shown how natural ocean cycles and rainfall patterns prevent a synchronised, planet‑wide drought and global-scale agricultural collapse. Based on over 100 years of climate data, the study finds that though warming increases drought severity, synchronised droughts are rarer than expected, affecting only 1.8–6.5% of land at any time. By treating droughts as a connected global system, the research team has identified key “drought hubs” and early‑warning regions that can help stabilise food markets.
Fossils that lay almost forgotten in museum collections for over 40 years have now shed light on the earliest global radiations of land-living animals adapting to life in the sea. Around 250 million years ago, what is today scorching desert in remote northwestern Australia was the shore of a shallow bay bordering a vast prehistoric ocean. A new study has uncovered evidence of a surprisingly diverse ancient marine amphibian community with unexpectedly worldwide trans-oceanic links.
Researchers from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment found that variability in ocean salt content affects El Niño intensity.
The first indisputable evidence of a new species of Spinosaurus in over a century belongs to S. mirabilis, named for its scimitar-shaped crest and found at a locality far from the ocean’s edge.
Pygmy sperm whales are elusive deep divers rarely seen alive. Scientists rely on stranded individuals, especially along the southeastern U.S., to study them. Researchers analyzed more than 20 years of stranding data and identified three previously unknown Helicobacter genotypes in whale stomach tissue. Detected through histopathology, molecular diagnostics and DNA sequencing, the bacteria were linked to ulcers and inflammation, expanding knowledge of this little-known species and ocean microbes.
Rutgers researchers have made a discovery that could change the future of seafood farming in New Jersey.
A study led by marine scientist Daphne Munroe has shown that Atlantic surfclams can be successfully farmed in the open ocean.
Her research, published in the North American Journal of Aquaculture, proves that offshore aquaculture is not only possible but promising. This method could help meet the increasing demand for seafood while protecting wild clam populations.
Combining wind turbines with wave, solar and tidal devices on shared platforms reduces construction costs, improves stability and generates more reliable power, according to researchers from the University of Surrey.
Separated by an ocean and more than a decade, innovative experiments with 31 tin isotopes having either a surplus or shortage of neutrons show how neutrons influence nuclear stability and element formation. The experiments, conducted between 2002 and 2012 at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and more recently at CERN, provide knowledge that impacts nuclear energy and national security applications.