Earth

Earth

Protective Blanket: Atmosphere blocks many small stony asteroids

A new computer model that more realistically simulates the aerodynamic forces on an object as it passes through Earth’s atmosphere suggests that the thin layer of air is an even better shield than previously thought.

Earth

National Atlas

Provided by the U.S. Department of the Interior, this Web site features an interactive map generator that allows users to view and download custom maps of the United States. The maps access a database that includes information about the nation’s agriculture, biological resources, climate, environment, geology, history, transportation, watersheds, population distribution, county boundaries, and other […]

Earth

Digging for Fire: Burning peat underlies Mali’s hot ground

Superheated ground and smoking potholes in northern Mali are evidence not of volcanic activity but of a layer of peat that is burning 2 feet below the desert surface.

Earth

More Than a Miner Problem: Asbestos exposure is prevalent in mining community

A new study of the residents of Libby, Mont., confirms that even people who don't work with asbestos can have lung abnormalities caused by the mineral.

Earth

Double Trees: City trees grow bigger than country cousins

Clones of an Eastern cottonwood grow twice as well in the New York metropolitan sprawl as in rural New York State.

Earth

Antimosquito coils release toxic fumes

Researchers have measured several pollutants in smoke emitted from so-called mosquito coils, which people burn at night to fend off insects.

Earth

Satellites show Earth is greener

Daily observations from space for nearly 2 decades indicate that our planet is getting greener.

Earth

Second cancer type linked to shift work

Women who have worked at least a few nights a month for many years appear to face a somewhat increased risk of colorectal cancer.

Earth

Suspended Drugs: Antibiotics fed to animals drift in air

Borne on dust floating in and around farm buildings, antibiotics given to animals may later be inhaled by people—with possibly detrimental health effects.

Earth

Girls may face risks from phthalates

The high incidence of premature breast development in Puerto Rican girls has been linked with phthalates, a family of ubiquitous pollutants found in plastics, lubricants, and solvents.

Earth

Slow Turnover: Warming trend affects African ecosystem

Over the past 90 years, rising water temperatures in Lake Tanganyika have led to dramatic losses of productivity among the microorganisms that form the base of the lake's food chain.

Earth

Germs Begone: New technology cleans dangerous water

For a penny per liter, people in the developing world should be able to remove most pathogens and toxic pollutants from their home drinking water.