Earth
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Planetary Science
Solar system’s future could be bumpy
A new study assesses the chances that two planets will collide or a planet will plunge into the sun in the next 5 billion years.
By Sid Perkins -
Health & Medicine
Hospitals’ drug problem
Hospitals often don't know pharmaceutical-waste rules, and even those that do often release huge quantities of drugs into the environment.
By Janet Raloff -
Earth
The Maine way to get rid of drugs
Maine residents can soon send away old and unwanted drugs for free, "green" disposal.
By Janet Raloff -
Earth
When the Great Lakes were lower
New archaeological evidence shows signs of prehistoric hunting and other human activities on now-submerged portions of Lake Huron.
By Sid Perkins -
Earth
Unexplained atmospheric chemistry detected
A field study in China reveals an unusually high and unexplained production of hydroxyl radicals.
By Sid Perkins -
Agriculture
Pesticide may seed American infant formulas with melamine
An insecticide may underlie traces of melamine, a toxic constituent of plastics and other materials, now being found in infant formulas.
By Janet Raloff -
Climate
Cultivation changed monsoon in Asia
The loss of forests in India, China during the 1700s led to a decline in monsoon precipitation.
By Sid Perkins -
Health & Medicine
Pancreatic cancer linked to herbicides
Featured blog: Some weed killers may need to be treated with more respect.
By Janet Raloff -
Earth
Phytoliths as climate clues
Tiny silica plant structures from soil could track temperature changes.
By Sid Perkins -
Earth
Bricks, mortar and magnetism
Medieval French castle, churches yield new data about Earth’s changing magnetic field.
By Sid Perkins -
Earth
A more organic meteorite
Some meteorites may contain a higher concentration of organic chemicals than previously thought.
By Sid Perkins -
Health & Medicine
Air pollution makes chromosomes look older
Traffic exhaust appears to shorten telomeres, a sign of cellular aging.
By Janet Raloff