Clik here to view.
A weird upside-down world lurks beneath Antarctica’s ice
One of the least-explored places on Earth lies just off the coast of Antarctica. Some 1.5 million square kilometers (580,000 square miles) of ocean there — a vast area the size of Alaska — sits in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Which way is up? Insects may lose track near artificial lights
People have long watched moths and other flying insects flock to streetlamps, porch lights and flames. These insects appear captivated by the light. But new data suggest they may just lose track of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The weird sky glow called STEVE is really confusing scientists
Nearly a decade ago, Neil Zeller spied a mysterious purple glow in the night sky. Zeller was on a family vacation in British Columbia, Canada. One August 2014 night, he glimpsed something strange...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Analyze This: Climate change may worsen the spread of ocean noise
From the rumble of boats to the din of oil drilling, sounds from human activity cascade across the oceans. This noise can bother ocean creatures. And climate change may make some spots even louder....
View ArticleScientists Say: Model
Model (noun, “MAH-del”) A model is a representation of how something in the real world works. Scientists use models to ask questions, make predictions, explain phenomena and test our current...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Bottled water hosts many thousands of nano-sized plastic bits
Tiny plastic bits are everywhere — wafting in the air, riding ocean currents, raining down on plants and swirling in bottled water. The smallest of these — nanoplastics — have been hard for scientists...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Get ready for the 2024 total solar eclipse
Solar eclipses are dramatic events, as a rule. The moon moves between the Earth and the sun to block out our star. For a few minutes, the world around you will go eerily dark. But the total eclipse...
View ArticleLet’s learn about useful bacteria
When you read the word “bacteria,” what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Maybe germs or sickness. That would be fair — some bacteria can infect people and make them ill. But most bacteria are not...
View ArticleClik here to view.
9 things to know about lead’s health risks — and how to curb them
Lead is a toxic heavy metal. No level of exposure is considered safe. And that’s a problem, because lead can be found in many places where people live, work and play. Lead is best known for its risks...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Health problems persist in Flint 10 years after water poisoning
When Everett Graham was in grade school, news broke of a sharp spike in levels of lead in kids’ blood. Lead is a toxic heavy metal that can cause a variety of health and learning problems. His...
View ArticleScientists Say: Carbon capture
Carbon capture (noun, “KAR-bun KAP-ture”) Carbon capture refers to technology that tries to tackle climate change by capturing carbon dioxide, or CO2. In Earth’s atmosphere, CO2 works like a blanket....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Explainer: Sprites, jets, ELVES and other storm-powered lights
Paul Smith recalls the first time he captured a sprite. He was shocked. It was the summer of 2017. Smith had gone out to California’s Mojave Desert to photograph a meteor shower. While driving, “I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
This urban gardener is mimicking nature to create healthier plants
Kwesi Joseph’s passion for soil health started while trying to fix his backyard garden. He turned to a local community garden for help. That’s where he learned about natural farming. This type of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Rampaging vines are slowly strangling tropical forests
Evan Gora still remembers the first time he climbed a tree that had been struck by lightning. The trunk of this strangler fig was as wide as a car. Its leaves were waxy and boat-shaped. At first...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Many natural underground stores of freshwater are shrinking
Across the globe, precious natural stores of underground freshwater have been shrinking. In nearly one-third of these aquifers, that loss has been speeding up over the last couple of decades. That’s...
View ArticleForests could help detect ‘ghost particles’ from space
Neutrinos are extra hard to spot. These subatomic particles have almost no mass, making them especially difficult to find and study. If only neutrino detectors could grow on trees, thought Steven...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Experiment: Can plants stop soil erosion?
Objective: Find out if plants can reduce the amount of soil that is eroded from a hill due to rainfall Areas of science: Environmental engineering, geology, plant biology, environmental science...
View ArticleScientists Say: Supercontinent
Supercontinent (noun, “SOOP-er-con-ten-ent”) A supercontinent is a continent containing most or all of Earth’s land. When a continent contains at least 75 percent of the Earth’s land, researchers call...
View ArticleTurning jeans blue with sunlight might help the environment
With a little help from the sun, blue jeans are going “green.” By accident, researchers stumbled on a new way to give jeans their iconic blue hue. The light-driven process could help dye denim with...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Air pollution can make it harder for pollinators to find flowers
Air pollution may rob some night-blooming flowers of their signature scent, researchers show. This could make it hard for pollinators to find the blooms. Researchers at the University of Washington in...
View Article
