Earth
-
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 -
Life
Life on Earth took a licking, kept on ticking
Earth's early organisms may not have had to restart after a long spell of asteroid impacts.
By Sid Perkins -
Chemistry
BPA: On the way out? Sort of
Half-hearted bans won't really protect babies, much less the rest of us.
By Janet Raloff -
Psychology
School-age lead exposures most harmful to IQ
New studies find lead exposure has greater potency in school-age children than in infants and toddlers, including effects on brain volume.
By Janet Raloff -
Chemistry
Nonstick chemical pollutes water at notable levels
Residues of nonstick chemicals — from unknown sources — appear to be approaching concentrations associated with adverse effects in laboratory animals.
By Janet Raloff -
Animals
Controversial polar bear rule stands
Creature’s plight remains separate from decisions on greenhouse gas emissions.
By Susan Milius -
Earth
Federal budget’s new ‘black book’
The administration details a proposed $17 billion in budget savings in a new book.
By Janet Raloff