Earth

  1. Chemistry

    Styrofoam degrades in seawater

    Study suggests besides the visible plastic, smaller bits are fouling the waters

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  2. Earth

    Scanning the land

    Quake data analyses yield an improved model of Southern California’s crust.

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  3. Animals

    Back off, extinct moa

    A New Zealand tree’s peculiar leaves may have served as defenses against long-gone giant birds.

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  4. Animals

    Vocal abilities lost, found and drowned out

    Reports from the meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union

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  5. Earth

    Bubblin’ plume

    Sonar survey spots previously unknown plume in the depths off California.

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  6. Earth

    Rapid evolution may be reshaping forest birds’ wings

    Logging during the last century might have driven birds in mature boreal forests toward pointier wings while reforestation in New England led to rounder wings.

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  7. Earth

    Hazy changes on high

    A big boost in coal burning, especially in China, is adding aerosols to the stratosphere.

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  8. Earth

    Shaky Forecasts

    Despite past failures, geophysicists think earthquake prediction might still be possible.

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  9. Earth

    Big Gulp, Asian style

    Satellite data reveals that increased irrigation pressure is rapidly depleting groundwater in northern India.

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  10. Agriculture

    Pesticide potency can depend on bug’s clock

    The daily rhythms in gene activity can affect the toxicity of some poisons.

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  11. Earth

    Spotting danger from on high

    Airborne sensors can identify mineral outcrops and soil that may contain natural asbestos.

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  12. Earth

    A source of haze

    Scientists identify how a hydrocarbon commonly emitted by plants is converted to light-scattering aerosols.

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