Earth
- Animals
Pandamonium over a Tiny Pest
A parasite threatens efforts to protect China's endangered icon.
By Janet Raloff - Climate
Ocean reflux
Upwelling off Californian coast offers taste of predicted ocean acidification.
By Susan Milius - Earth
Asbestos-like nanotubes
Some carbon nanotubes show signs of asbestos-like toxicity.
By Janet Raloff - Health & Medicine
Nonstick toxicity
By mimicking the action of estrogen, a widely used nonstick chemical promotes cancer development in animals.
By Janet Raloff - Chemistry
Help the Climate: Empty the Fridge
Yesterday, I reported that in hopes of slowing down global warming, some nations were interested in strengthening the Montreal Protocol – a United Nations treaty to curb releases of chemicals that endanger stratospheric ozone. But I didn’t really get into what they had up their sleeves. It turns out they want signatory nations to eliminate […]
By Janet Raloff - Climate
When Is a Consensus on Climate Not a Consensus?
A protein chemist reported he had assembled a list of more than 30,000 scientists who challenge the idea that human releases of greenhouse gases are warming Earth's climate.
By Janet Raloff - Chemistry
Freon’s Cool Link to Climate
Quick: What’s the name of the big UN global climate treaty? If you said the Kyoto Protocol – you’d be wrong. Because it’s a trick question. Although the Kyoto Protocol is indeed the treaty developed to address the issue of arresting global warming and the climate perturbations that will be spawned by such a growing […]
By Janet Raloff - Earth
Eddies in the deep Earth
The flow of molten material in our planet's outer core is the prime source of Earth's magnetic field. Localized blips in the magnetic field suggest this flow can fluctuate rapidly over large areas.
By Sid Perkins - Earth
Froggie Needs a Name – and Help
To help raise awareness about the plight of frogs and toads, which are disappearing globally, Amphibian Ark is selling formal naming rights to an unusual frog.
By Janet Raloff - Climate
Boreal forests shift north
As forests move northward and to higher elevations, they alter ecosystems and threaten to further heat the Arctic's already warming climate.
By Janet Raloff - Animals
Polar bears listed
Polar bear declared "threatened," but Secretary limits decision's impact.
By Susan Milius - Earth
Climate clues in ice
A kilometers-long ice core from Antarctica has been recording climate information for the past 800,000 years and has revealed a three millennia–long period when carbon dioxide levels in the air were lower than any previously measured.
By Sid Perkins