Earth

Earth

The river’s rising: A depressing effect

When the Amazon River swells in flood each rainy season, the immense weight of the water causes Earth's surface in the region to sink dozens of centimeters.

Earth

The Wind and the Fury

New research suggests that, as global warming proceeds, hurricane winds will gain speed and the storms will dump more rain, but controversy lingers as to how much more violent the storms will become and when they will occur.

Earth

Cancer-fighting e-mails

A new federal service, offered jointly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Weather Service, will notify individuals, via e-mail, when the sun's cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation is forecast to be unusually high.

Earth

Changing Earth

Developed by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, this Web site focuses on Earth’s history. Visitors learn basic concepts of geological processes and evolution as well as gain a deeper understanding of how and why Earth changes and the impact of these changes on living organisms throughout its history. The site includes a […]

Earth

Can polluted air cause birth defects?

For the second time, scientists have found evidence suggesting that prenatal exposure to air pollution may cause certain birth defects.

Earth

Nonstick Pollution Sticks in People

A new study reveals high blood concentrations of a potentially toxic component of nonstick products in people near a plant making Teflon.

Earth

Sea Monitors

Developed by researchers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, SeaMaven is a new Web portal that gives students access to data collected from naval platforms 60 miles off the coast of Georgia. Eight platforms, currently operated by the U.S. Navy for flight training, have been equipped with sophisticated sensors to monitor various ocean and meteorological […]

Earth

Seafloor features steered tsunamis

Tsunamis circled the globe after a magnitude 9.3 earthquake struck the Indian Ocean last Dec. 26, but the waves didn't spread evenly.

Earth

Spores record changes in ozone concentration

Decreasing concentrations of atmospheric ozone over Antarctica have triggered changes in the spores of a plant that grows in the region, a trend that could give scientists insight into ancient extinctions.

Earth

Earthshaking Event

Seismic instruments have provided a wealth of information about the earthquake that rocked Sumatra on Dec. 26, 2004.

Earth

Inhaling salt raises blood pressure

People who work in environments where large amounts of salt particles hang in the air may literally breathe their way to high blood pressure.

Earth

Methane Maker: Method gets to root of gas from rice paddies

Scientists have singled out microorganisms that appear to be largely responsible for natural emissions of the greenhouse gas methane from rice paddies.