Earth

  1. Climate

    Glacial microbes gobble methane

    While some bacteria produce methane in Greenland’s melting ice sheet, others may consume the greenhouse gas as it escapes.

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  2. Animals

    Secrets of a sailfish attack

    The large, long-nosed sailfish use their rostrums more like a sword than a spear to attack prey.

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  3. Environment

    Lead levels in ancient Rome’s water were high, but not toxic

    Ancient Romans probably drank tap water with up to 100 times more lead than the levels found in local spring water.

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  4. Earth

    Surge seen in number of U.S. wildfires

    The number and size of wildfires in the western United States has steadily risen over the last three decades.

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  5. Climate

    Feedback

    Readers discuss the influence of clouds on climate, how to treat addiction and which human-made hazards are the biggest bird-killers.

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  6. Health & Medicine

    Triclosan aids nasal invasions by staph

    The antimicrobial compound triclosan, commonly found in soaps and toothpaste, may help Staphylococcus aureus stick around.

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  7. Earth

    Huge space rock rattled Earth 3 billion years ago

    An asteroid almost as wide as Rhode Island may have plowed into Earth 3.26 billion years ago, leaving a trace in South Africa’s Barberton greenstone belt.

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  8. Climate

    Reef fish act drunk in carbon dioxide–rich ocean waters

    In first test in the wild, fish near reefs that bubble with CO2 lose fear of predators’ scent.

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  9. Oceans

    The surprising life of a piece of sunken wood

    Timber and trees that wash out to sea and sink to the bottom of the ocean hold a diverse community of organisms.

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  10. Climate

    Ocean bacteria may have shut off ancient global warming

    Ocean-dwelling bacteria may have helped end global warming 56 million years ago by gobbling up carbon from the CO2-laden atmosphere.

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  11. Climate

    IPCC calls for swift switch to alternative power

    Rapid adoption of green power production will be necessary to avert a climate crisis, latest IPCC report says.

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  12. Earth

    Huge space rock rattled Earth 3 billion years ago

    An asteroid almost as wide as Rhode Island may have plowed into Earth 3.26 billion years ago, leaving its mark in South Africa’s Barberton greenstone belt.

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