Earth

  1. Physics

    Radioactive cigarettes

    Polonium remains an underappreciated factor in the lung-cancer risk posed by cigarettes.

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  2. Earth

    Arctic ice more vulnerable than ever

    Ocean’s ice cap is smaller than long-term average and thinnest yet as melt season begins.

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  3. Chemistry

    Leaden blood hikes granny’s heart risks

    Featured blog: Even low concentrations of lead circulating in blood may pose lethal heart risks, a new study finds.

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  4. Ecosystems

    Exxon Valdez: Tidal waters still troubled

    From birds and clams to herring, many species continue to show persistent impacts of an oil spill that occurred two decades ago.

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  5. Tech

    Urban Heat: Recycling waste heat

    In the United States, only about one-eighth of the fuel people burn is converted into useful work. Recycling such wasted heat could be one of the best solutions to problems posted by growing cities.

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  6. Earth

    Tallying emissions in ports and at sea

    Ships are major contributors to acid rain and ground-level ozone concentrations in some parts of the world.

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  7. Ecosystems

    Exxon Valdez killed future for some killer whales

    An Alaskan oil spill disrupted family structure in killer-whale groups, with lasting and dramatic repercussions.

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  8. Earth

    Exxon Valdez 20 Years Later

    March 24 marked the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The effects are still obvious today. A series of blogs from senior editor Janet Raloff describes the continuing aftermath.

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  9. Humans

    Otters and oil: Problems remain

    The behavior of Alaska's southern sea otters may unwittingly expose them to toxic oil-spill residues.

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  10. Chemistry

    Exxon Valdez oil lingers, as does its toxicity

    Even 20 years after a major oil spill, barely degraded pockets of the oil persist within some intertidal beaches, research shows.

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  11. Agriculture

    Fighting fungal weapons, not fungi

    Scientists have engineered several compounds that target an enzyme that blackleg and black spot fungi use to thwart plant defense systems. The selective compounds are designed not to harm beneficial species while still protecting valuable crops.

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  12. Humans

    America’s worst oil disaster still isn’t over

    Impacts of the Exxon Valdez oil spill linger.

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