Earth

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.

Earth

Study finds low battlefield hazard in depleted uranium

A calculation of the health impacts from the use of depleted uranium in antitank munitions projects small increases in the risk of lung cancer and colon cancer, but only for the most heavily exposed individuals.

Agriculture

Feds pull approval of poultry antibiotic

The FDA has announced its intent to ban an antibiotic used by poultry farmers because of concerns that continued use of the drug could make it harder to successfully treat food poisoning in people with products from the same class of antibiotics.

Earth

Infants pick up toxic chemicals in intensive care

Newborns in intensive care units absorb high concentrations of a potentially toxic phthalate from the plastic tubing and other equipment used in treating them.

Earth

Multifaceted Mineral: Intense heat, pressure bear new form of silica

By squeezing a mineral sample to pressures higher than those deep within Earth, then zapping it with a laser, scientists have created a crystalline form of silicon dioxide previously unknown on Earth.