Earth
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Earth
Life down deep
Deep-sea sediments provide a habitat for diverse and abundant populations of microorganisms and may be home to as much as 70 percent of the bacteria on the planet, new studies suggest.
By Sid Perkins -
Health & Medicine
Lead’s legacy
High levels of lead in the blood during childhood are associated with smaller brains and with an increased risk for violent criminal behavior, report two new studies.
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Ecosystems
That sinking feeling
The sea level rise expected in the coming century will swamp the Everglades unless current management is adjusted or climate change is curbed.
By Sid Perkins -
Health & Medicine
Insects (the original white meat)
Dining on insects, usually more by choice than necessity, occurs in at least 100 countries — and may be better than chicken for both people and the environment.
By Janet Raloff -
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