Earth

Earth

School buses spew pollution into young lungs

Children riding on school buses inhale heavy doses of diesel fumes, and reducing these emissions could be a cost-effective means of improving their health, a new study suggests.

Earth

Portrait of destruction

A new simulation suggests where the most damaging ground motions would occur if a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the San Andreas fault east of Los Angeles.

Earth

Air pollution linked to wheat diseases

The abundance of the air pollutant sulfur dioxide appears to influence which of two fungal pathogens plague more wheat plants.

Earth

Mind the Gap: Inadequate monitoring at many U.S. volcanoes

A report just released by the U.S. Geological Survey ranks the threats posed by the nation's volcanoes.

Earth

Nanowaste: Predicting the environmental fate of buckyballs

The potentially harmful effects of buckyballs in aquatic environments could vary depending on the chemistry of the water.

Earth

Bed of Armor: Large rocks hold fast in flooding streams

The relative proportions of rocks of various sizes in gravel-lined streams remain constant, even during substantial floods.

Agriculture

Insecticide Inside: Gene-modified rice cuts chemical spraying in China

In the hands of Chinese farmers, varieties of rice genetically modified to fend off insects reduce pesticide use and increase crop yields.

Earth

Oysters under siege: Heat and pollution

With global warming, some polluted waters could become graveyards for certain shellfish.

Earth

Coming Storms: Method predicts intensity of U.S. hurricane seasons

A new computer model that analyzes summer-wind patterns can help predict whether the United States will suffer a damaging hurricane season.

Earth

Balloons, condoms release likely carcinogens

Balloons and condoms that come in contact with body fluids discharge chemicals suspected of being human carcinogens.

Earth

Rice with a Human Touch: Engineered grain uses gene from people to protect against herbicides

A human gene inserted into rice enables that plant to break down an array of chemicals used to kill weeds.

Earth

Blowflies shed mercury at maturity

Blowflies that absorb mercury from fish carcasses they feed on as larvae rid themselves of much of that toxic metal when they become adults.