Earth

  1. Humans

    Columbus’ arrival linked to carbon dioxide drop

    The depopulation of the Americas due to introduced European diseases may have spurred Europe's Little Ice Age.

    By
  2. Chemistry

    Cloud seeding by trees could alter precipitation, climate

    Some tree pollens shed molecules that can affect precipitation.

    By
  3. Earth

    Solar changes help create cold northern winters

    Fluctuations in ultraviolet light can set up frigid, snowy conditions across parts of the Northern Hemisphere.

    By
  4. Life

    When snowpack shrinks, elk can binge on aspen

    As winters warm in the Rockies, majestic grazers may be threatening iconic Western tree.

    By
  5. Humans

    Really bad year for Arctic sea ice

    On October 4, the National Snow and Ice Data Center posted information on its website indicating that the summer melt of sea ice in the Arctic, this year, approached — but did not quite match — the record set four years ago. A team of European scientists now concludes NSIDC underestimated those Arctic losses.

    By
  6. Humans

    Study recalibrates trees’ carbon uptake

    Photosynthesis appears to be somewhat speedier than conventional wisdom had suggested, a new study finds. If true, this suggests computer projections are at risk of overestimating the potential for trees to sop up carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas.

    By
  7. Humans

    Arctic ozone: ‘Hole’ or just not whole?

    This past spring, the Arctic stratosphere’s ozone layer suffered unprecedented depletion. But whether the record loss constituted a “hole” depends on which experts you consult.

    By
  8. Earth

    Arctic ozone loss in 2011 unprecedented

    Report describes a ‘hole’ comparable to conditions observed over Antarctica during the mid-1980s.

    By
  9. Earth

    Earth/Environment

    Diamonds from the depths have shallow elements, New Zealand earthquake helped triggered its successor and more in this week’s news.

    By
  10. Earth

    Pole flips tied to plate tectonics

    A lopsided arrangement of continents could lead to reversals in Earth's magnetic field.

    By
  11. Humans

    BPA: What to make of pollutant-laced kids’ foods

    The San Francisco-based Breast Cancer Fund has just released some provocative data on the presence of bisphenol A — a hormone-mimicking pollutant — in every brand-name canned food it tested.

    By
  12. Earth

    Pacific volcanoes share split personality

    The dual chemistry of island chains reflects variations in the distribution of ancient material bubbling up from deep within the Earth.

    By