Earth
We summarize the week's science breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Life
Mild winters may shift spread of mosquito-borne illness
By pushing insects to start biting mammals earlier in the year, warmer cold months could increase the transmission of a brain virus affecting people and horses.
- Earth
Fault’s twists may shake up earthquake forecasts
Deep angles along the southern San Andreas mean future temblors may be stronger than predicted.
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- Life
Sardine fishery may be in peril
Cool ocean cycle, population slide evoke collapse of Pacific resource in the late 1940s.
- Earth
Less sea ice brings more snow
A melting Arctic shifts atmospheric patterns across much of the Northern Hemisphere, causing severe weather elsewhere.
- Health & Medicine
2012 AAAS Meeting
Highlights from the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting in Vancouver, February 16-20.
- Climate
Carbon dioxide breaking down marine ecosystems
Scientists capitalize on 'natural’ experiment to chronicle how ecosystems will change as oceans continue to acidify.
- Humans
Oceans set stage for human evolution
Temperature changes off the coast dried out East Africa and allowed grasslands to spread starting around 2 million years ago.
- Earth
Natural gas wells leakier than believed
Measurements at Colorado site show methane releases are twice as high as previously estimated.
- Humans
Food exports can drain arid regions
Many dry regions ‘export’ large amounts of water in the form of agricultural products.
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- Earth
BPA fosters diabetes-promoting changes
Exposures typical of the general public are enough to alter insulin secretion.
