Earth

Earth

Faulty thermometers exaggerated western U.S. mountain warming

Defective thermometers used in snowpack and ecology research overstated warming in western U.S. mountains.

Environment

More toxic chemicals found in oil and gas wastewater

High levels of ammonium and iodide found in wastewater from oil and gas exploration can harm aquatic life and form dangerous byproducts in tap water.

Neuroscience

Feedback

Readers discuss volcanoes and brain studies involving chocolate, and recommend some science-based options for game night.

Climate

Warming climate will force airlines to shed weight, increase costs

More frequent hot days coming with climate change will require airlines to reduce aircraft takeoff weight.

Earth

Pumping carbon dioxide deep underground may trigger earthquakes

Injecting carbon dioxide deep underground offers a promising way to curb global warming, but the extra pressure may cause faults to slip or fractures to release the buried gas.

Climate

Galápagos waters preview future for corals

Posthumous analysis of Galápagos coral reefs reveals how climate change, carbon dioxide and pollution could kill off reefs worldwide by 2050.

Climate

Stalled global warming linked to North American drought

Strong Pacific Ocean winds blamed for the global warming hiatus also boosted the odds of severe drought in the southwestern United States.

Climate

‘Storm Surge’ revisits Sandy, looks to future hurricanes

Superstorm Sandy deluged New York City and could be a harbinger of future coastal flooding.

Oceans

Feedback

Readers discuss oil spills, the dangers of fracking and what teams need to succeed on long space missions.

Ecosystems

Lessons for the new year

SN Editor in Chief, Eva Emerson, reflects on looking to nature for insights on how to constructively look ahead - even if just a year -drawing from a handful of this issues natural science stories for her 2015 resolutions.

Environment

Trash researcher tallies ocean pollution

Marcus Eriksen has always had a thing for trash, and now he tallies ocean pollution.

Health & Medicine

Online favorites of 2014

Science News' website traffic reveals the most-read news stories and blog posts of 2014.