Earth

  1. Earth

    Lack of spring snowpack bodes ill for many

    NASA satellite images released last week confirmed that the northern United States had much less snow cover than normal this spring, following North America's warmest winter on record.

    By
  2. Earth

    Wrong Number: Plastic ingredient spurs chromosomal defects

    The primary chemical in some plastics causes female mice to produce eggs with abnormal numbers of chromosomes.

    By
  3. Earth

    Ssshhh! South Pole has a new seismic station

    Seismometers recently installed near the South Pole reveal that the area is the quietest spot on the planet for eavesdropping on earthquakes.

    By
  4. Earth

    Dioxin Dumps: Burning exposed trash pollutes soil

    The practice of burning refuse in the open in many underdeveloped countries creates prodigious quantities of harmful polychlorinated compounds.

    By
  5. Earth

    Clean Casualties: Everyday chemicals may shift ecosystems

    Trace amounts of the chemical concoctions used to battle bacteria in kitchens and bathrooms may kill off algae, an effect that researchers say may have far-reaching consequences.

    By
  6. Earth

    Dust up north

    Strong northeasterly winds blowing across coastal regions of southern Alaska recently exposed by melting snow launched massive clouds of dust over the Gulf of Alaska.

    By
  7. Earth

    Undersea Mountain Descent

    Join an international expedition in exploring an underwater mountain in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Twice-weekly dispatches highlight the scientific team’s findings for the duration of the expedition from Nov. 14 to Dec. 14. Hosted by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the expedition’s Web site also includes colorful diagrams illustrating various geological concepts and […]

    By
  8. Earth

    Energy-Saving Stars

    This Web site documents progress in a program set up by the U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency to encourage companies to reduce the energy consumed by their products. More than 3,000 companies have participated in efforts to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and lower energy costs for consumers. Site visitors can find […]

    By
  9. Earth

    Composted sewage captures dirt’s lead

    Lead-contaminated soil in urban parks, gardens, and schoolyards could be made safer by adding composted organic waste.

    By
  10. Earth

    When do EMFs disturb the heart?

    Whether electromagnetic fields can blunt the healthy variability in heart rate may depend on an exposed individual being aroused or stressed during exposure.

    By
  11. Earth

    Methylmercury’s toxic toll

    More than 60,000 children are born each year with neurodevelopmental impairments due to their prenatal exposure to methylmercury.

    By
  12. Earth

    China: A mercury megapolluter

    China's heavy reliance on coal burning makes it a world leader in mercury air pollution.

    By