Earth

  1. Chemistry

    Fighting flames with greener materials

    New, nano-thin coatings for fabrics and plastics are relatively nontoxic flame retardants.

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  2. Earth

    Earth & Environment

    BPA triggers gene changes in people, cleaning drain waters and more in this week's news.

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  3. Climate

    El Niños may inflame civil unrest

    Weather extremes associated with this climate phenomenon appear to double the risk that conflict will erupt in any given year.

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  4. Earth

    Magnitude 5.8 earthquake hits Virginia

    The region's largest tremor in recent history hit northwest of Richmond, felt over much of the East Coast.

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  5. Earth

    Earth & Environment

    Antarctic ice flows, atmospheric response to nuclear fallout and more in this week's news.

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  6. Earth

    Stature’s heightened risk of cancer

    My daughter is always shopping for 4-inch heels or other elevating footwear to make her appear taller. But a new study suggests that diminutive stature has at least one major perk: a lower risk of cancer.

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  7. Tech

    Growing need for space trash collectors

    On April 2, for the fifth time in less than three years, the International Space Station fired its engines to dodge a piece of orbital debris that appeared on a collision path. Other spacecraft also regularly scoot out of the way of rocket and satellite debris. Such evasive action will be needed increasingly frequently, a new study finds.

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  8. Earth

    Earth & Environment

    Methane from rice, killer fungus and more in this week’s news.

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  9. Humans

    Big fish return to Mexican marine park

    Most effects of overharvesting reversed within a decade.

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  10. Tech

    Sparing the rare earths

    Potential shortages of useful metals inspire scientists to seek alternatives for magnet technologies

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  11. Humans

    Bag lunches invite disease, study finds

    “Sack” lunches often pose a ticking bacterial bomb, a new study indicates. And including an ice pack or two — ostensibly to keep perishables at safe temperatures — won’t necessarily eliminate the risk.

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  12. Earth

    Earth/Environment

    Ancient monster eruption found, plus balancing sea ice, Bt-resistant beetles and more in this week’s news.

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