Earth

Earth

Dim View: Darkening skies a regional phenomenon

The decline in the solar radiation reaching Earth's surface in the latter half of the 20th century turns out to have been mostly a regional phenomenon.

Earth

Steep Degrade Ahead: Road salt threatens waters in Northeast

Using road salt to clear icy highways in the northeastern United States is increasingly tainting streams throughout the region.

Earth

Liquid-detergent packets threaten children’s eyes

Sealed bags containing liquid detergent for single loads of laundry may be convenient, but if squeezed, they're liable to burst and spray their caustic contents into people's eyes.

Earth

Sow what? Climate reviews help farmers choose

African subsistence farmers are far likelier to leverage rainfall forecasts into better crop yields after attending workshops explaining the basis for the rain predictions.

Agriculture

Using Light to Sense Plants’ Health and Diversity

Laser scanners may help farmers better tailor when and how much to fertilize their crops, with side benefits for the environment.

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 […]