Earth
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Chemistry
HIPPO reveals climate surprises
A major pollution-mapping program that ends September 9 has turned up startling trends in climate-warming gases and soot.
By Janet Raloff -
Earth
Earthly riches heaven sent
A period of heavy meteorite bombardment after Earth's formation may have peppered Earth's outer layers with useful metals.
By Devin Powell -
Paleontology
Acidifying oceans helped fuel mass extinction
The great die-off 250 million years ago could trace in part to hostile water conditions, a modeling study suggests.
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Earth
Earth & Environment
The supercontinent of the future, pollutants from laundry detergent and more in this week’s news
By Science News -
Chemistry
Fighting flames with greener materials
New, nano-thin coatings for fabrics and plastics are relatively nontoxic flame retardants.
By Janet Raloff -
Earth
Earth & Environment
BPA triggers gene changes in people, cleaning drain waters and more in this week's news.
By Science News -
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.
By Janet Raloff -
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.
By Devin Powell -
Earth
Earth & Environment
Antarctic ice flows, atmospheric response to nuclear fallout and more in this week's news.
By Science News -
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.
By Janet Raloff -
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.
By Janet Raloff -
Earth
Earth & Environment
Methane from rice, killer fungus and more in this week’s news.
By Science News