Environment

Natural phenomenon on California shores: Velella Velella take over the beaches

SMGN May 9, 2025

California beaches have seen some tragic events this year, with dead sea lions, dolphins, seagulls, pelicans, and even a minke whale washing ashore from San Diego to Santa Barbara. Recently, however, beachgoers have witnessed a beautiful marine life phenomenon: hundreds of thousands of Velella velella, also known as by-the-wind sailors,

Most of the Deep Seafloor Remains Unexplored

SMGN May 7, 2025

The vast majority of the planet’s deep seafloor remains unexplored, according to a new study. Less than 0.001% of this expansive area has been directly observed by humans, an area roughly the size of Rhode Island. While tools like sonar can map the seafloor’s shape, deploying cameras beyond 200 meters,

Air pollution still affects millions in the U.S. despite decades of improvement

SMGN April 30, 2025

Over the past several decades, air quality in the United States has seen significant progress, contributing to increased life expectancy and reduced respiratory conditions. However, a recent report indicates that around 156 million people — nearly half the population — still live in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution.

The U.S. moves toward authorizing mining on the ocean floor, a fragile ecosystem

SMGN April 28, 2025

Former president Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at facilitating mining activities on the deep ocean floor, stating that it would strengthen the domestic supply of critical minerals. Currently, no commercial-scale deep-sea mining operations exist worldwide. However, companies have long viewed the ocean floor as a potential source of

NOAA Cuts Threaten Hurricane Forecasts and Climate Research

SMGN April 25, 2025

Recent administrative decisions have led to significant layoffs and budget reductions at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), affecting weather and climate-related research, including hurricane forecasting efforts. Several employees, including probationary scientists like Andy Hazelton, were terminated earlier this year, temporarily reinstated following a federal court order, and then

Tornado-producing storm causes deaths and damage in Oklahoma and Texas

SMGN April 21, 2025

A slow-moving, active storm system brought heavy rain, large hail, and tornadoes to parts of Texas and Oklahoma, leaving three people dead. Severe weather warnings continued on Sunday, affecting parts of the south-central and Midwest U.S. On Easter Sunday, communities in Texas and Oklahoma began assessing the damage caused by

Underwater camera in Miami offers rare glimpse into resilient urban reef

SMGN April 16, 2025

For over five years, a livestream from Biscayne Bay has been documenting daily life on a coral reef located in the heart of Miami’s busy port. The Coral City Camera has attracted more than 3.7 million views on YouTube and is offering new insights into what researchers are calling “urban

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Kendrick Lamar Tops 2026 Grammy Nominations with Nine Nods

SMGN November 7, 2025

The Los Angeles rapper leads the field with his album “GNX” and hit single featuring SZA Kendrick Lamar’s dominance in the music industry shows no sign of slowing. The Los Angeles rapper received nine nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards, marking another milestone in his celebrated career. His name appears

Trump Renominates Jared Isaacman as NASA Administrator

SMGN November 7, 2025

The White House reinstates nomination after previous withdrawal President Donald Trump has once again nominated tech entrepreneur and astronaut Jared Isaacman to serve as NASA administrator, months after initially withdrawing his name over concerns related to political affiliations. The earlier withdrawal, announced in May, followed what Trump described as a

ADL Explains Its Monitoring Initiative on New York Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani

SMGN November 7, 2025

New project aims to observe policies affecting Jewish community safety The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has announced the creation of a special initiative to monitor the policies and appointments of New York City’s mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani. The organization, which focuses on combating antisemitism, stated that the program seeks to “track actions