Earth

  1. Science & Society

    Many plans for green infrastructure risk leaving vulnerable people out

    Green infrastructure is one way to help combat climate hazards like flooding. But without equitable planning, only some communities will benefit.

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  2. Life

    How plant ‘muscles’ fold up a mimosa leaf fast

    A mimosa plant revs up tiny clumps of specially shaped cells that collapse its leaflets, though why isn’t clear.

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  3. Life

    A new metric of extinction risk considers how cultures care for species

    Conservation efforts should consider relationships between cultural groups and the species important to them, researchers argue.

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  4. Climate

    It’s possible to reach net-zero carbon emissions. Here’s how

    Cutting carbon dioxide emissions to curb climate change and reach net zero is possible but not easy.

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  5. Earth

    Earth’s inner core may be reversing its rotation

    In the past 13 years, the rotation of the planet’s solid inner core may have temporarily stopped and then started to reverse direction.

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  6. Environment

    Recycling rare earth elements is hard. Science is trying to make it easier

    As demand grows, scientists are inventing new — and greener — ways to recycle rare earth elements.

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  7. Environment

    Rare earth elements could be pulled from coal waste

    The scheme would provide valuable rare earth metals and help clean up coal mining’s dirty legacy.

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  8. Astronomy

    New data show how quickly light pollution is obscuring the night sky

    Tens of thousands of observations from citizen scientists spanning a decade show that the night sky is getting about 10 percent brighter every year.

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  9. Climate

    Cyclones in the Arctic are becoming more intense and frequent

    Over the last 70 years, boreal storms have steadily grown stronger. And climate change may make them worse, threatening both people and sea ice.

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  10. Physics

    A powerful laser can redirect lightning strikes

    In a mountaintop experiment, a laser beamed into the sky created a virtual lightning rod that snagged several bolts before they hit the ground.

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  11. Chemistry

    How rare earth elements’ hidden properties make modern technology possible

    Because of their unique chemistry, the rare earth elements can fine-tune light for many different purposes and generate powerful magnetic fields.

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  12. Science & Society

    Sea life offers a lens for self-exploration in ‘How Far the Light Reaches’

    In a collection of essays profiling 10 marine animals, author Sabrina Imbler mixes in stories of their own family, self-discovery, sexuality and healing.

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