Earth

Genetics

Epigenetic marks may help assess toxic exposure risk — someday

Exposure to things in the environment may change chemical tags on DNA and proteins, but it’s still unclear how to use that data to assess health risks.

Earth

Third kind of quasicrystal found in Russian meteorite

A new quasicrystal found inside a Russian meteorite is the first ever found in nature before being synthesized in the lab.

Climate

Solar panels are poised to be truly green

Solar panels are about to break even on their energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions.

Earth

Wastewater cap could dunk Oklahoma quake risk

Regulation limiting the injection of wastewater into underground wells could return Oklahoma’s earthquake risk to historical background levels within a few years.

Oceans

Coral die-off in Great Barrier Reef reaches record levels

Bleaching has killed more than two-thirds of corals in some parts of the Great Barrier Reef, scientists have confirmed.

Earth

50 years ago, nuclear blasting for gas boomed. Today it’s a bust.

50 years ago, scientists made plans to use nuclear explosions to extract natural gas from underground. In one such experiment, the gas was released but turned out to be radioactive.

Plants

Tweaking how plants manage a crisis boosts photosynthesis

Shortening plants’ recovery time after blasts of excessive light can boost crop growth.

Earth

How a ring of mountains forms inside a crater

Rocks drilled from the Chicxulub crater linked to the demise of the dinosaurs reveal how mountainous peak rings form within large impact craters.

Animals

Skimpy sea ice linked to reindeer starvation on land

Unseasonably scant sea ice may feed rain storms inland that lead to ice catastrophes that kill Yamal reindeer and threaten herders’ way of life.

Climate

Skimpy sea ice linked to reindeer starvation on land

Unseasonably scant sea ice may feed rain storms inland that lead to ice catastrophes that kill Yamal reindeer and threaten herders’ way of life.

Climate

There’s something cool about Arctic bird poop

Ammonia from seabird poop helps brighten clouds in the Arctic, slightly cooling the region’s climate.

Climate

CO₂ emissions stay steady for third consecutive year

Global emissions of carbon dioxide from human activities will probably see almost no increase in 2016 despite economic growth.