Environment

Climate

Ice rafts traveling farther and faster across the Arctic Ocean

Climate change may be causing Arctic sea ice to travel farther and faster than it did 15 years ago, taking pollutants and other material along for the ride.

Environment

Year in review: BPA alternatives aren’t benign

Evidence is accumulating that at least one popular alternative to bisphenol A can enter the body and trigger developmental and physiological changes.

Climate

195 nations approve historic climate accord

The Paris climate talks end with delegates from 195 nations releasing a hard-fought agreement to curb climate change and limit warming to 2 degrees Celsius.

Climate

Global carbon emissions fell in 2015, despite economic growth

Society’s carbon footprint fell slightly in 2015, largely due to decrease coal consumption in China, researchers report.

Earth

Humankind’s water use greater than thought

Humans’ global water footprint increases when accounting for water losses from water management practices.

Life

Truffles aren’t laced with radioactive cesium

Fallout from the Chernobyl disaster hasn’t made truffles dangerously radioactive, scientists find.

Oceans

Rising temperatures complicate efforts to manage cod fishery

Higher water temperatures in the Gulf of Maine could play a role in Atlantic cod crashes.

Environment

Air pollutants enter body through skin

Although scientists have largely viewed skin as an unimportant portal to blood for toxic air pollutants, new human data show that skin can surpass lungs as a route of entry.

Earth

Surface spills near fracking sites implicated in water contamination

Chemical spills from fracking operations are the likely source of chemicals found in drinking water wells in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Environment

Home fires, farm fumes are leading causes of air-pollution deaths

Deadly air pollution comes from surprising sources, but toxicity of different types is still up in the air.

Animals

Shipwreck provides window into Tudor-era cod fishing

In the 1500s, England was feeding its navy with fish caught far from home, a new study finds.

Environment

Molting seals shed mercury along with fur

Seals spew amassed mercury when they shed, creating hotbeds of pollution in otherwise pristine coastal environments.