Earth

Earth

More Waters Test Positive for Drugs

Traces of drugs, excreted by people and livestock, pollute surface and ground waters in the United States, as had already been confirmed in Europe.

Earth

Much that glitters is really old

New isotopic analyses of rock samples from one of the world's richest gold-mining regions suggest that the flecks of gold in those ores are more than 3 billion years old.

Agriculture

Toxic bugs taint large numbers of cattle

U.S. cattle have dramatically higher rates of infection with a virulent food-poisoning bacterium than had been realized, a factor that leads to widespread carcass contamination during slaughter.

Earth

Greenhouse Gassed

Scientists are discovering that more carbon dioxide in the air could spell disaster for plants and the animals that love to eat them.

Agriculture

A Dairy Solution to Mildew Woes

Milk may prove the savior of some organic wines. Gray areas on these untreated grapes at Temple Bruer Wines reflect heavy powdery mildew damage. The grapes show splitting and “are useless,” notes Peter Crisp. Crisp This vine, treated with whey sprays, shows minimal mildew. Its grapes are acceptable for winemaking. Crisp This milk-sprayed vine also […]

Earth

Cancer Causer? Researchers zero in on leukemia risks

Researchers add to mounting evidence that household pesticide exposure may be a significant risk factor for childhood leukemia.

Earth

Leaden impacts of gum disease, smoking

Subtle bone loss associated with advanced gum disease can be linked to elevated lead concentrations in the blood.

Earth

Ice age forest spruces up ecology record

Scientists have recently discovered a 10,000-year-old forest buried in the sand in Michigan.

Earth

Undersea volcano: Heard but not seen

The search is on for an undersea eruption near the Japanese volcanic island chain.

Agriculture

Apple pests stand up to antibiotics

Scientists are concerned about new forms of antibiotic resistance cropping up in fire blight—a deadly disease of apple trees.

Agriculture

Cocoa yields are mushrooming—downward

A mushroom epidemic in Brazilian cacao trees, which has cut the production of cacao by 25 percent in 5 years, may be treatable with another fungus.

Earth

Plants seen as unpredictable carbon sponge

Changing land-use practices—especially in forests, croplands, and fallow areas—appear to play a far bigger role than anticipated in determining how much carbon gets removed from the air by vegetation.