Earth Science
How Weather Models and Google Could Help Forecast Flu Season
Principles from the weather models that predicted Sandy a week ahead of time might be used to warn about the flu before it arrives
November 27, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Gas Tanker to Cross Autumn Arctic Ocean Carrying Natural Gas to Japan
A tanker, carrying natural gas to Japan, has set out on a dangerous autumn trip through the Northeast Passage
November 26, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Mexico Is Technically the ‘United Mexican States’ And Isn’t Too Happy About It
Mexico is sick of having to correct people on its name all the time
November 23, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
The Arctic Is Running Out of Snow Even Faster Than It’s Running Out of Ice
The Arctic is losing snow cover twice as fast as it is losing sea ice
November 23, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Trash as Treasure: Crocheting Plastic Coral Reefs
With yarn made from discarded plastic bags, Australian artist Helle Jorgensen stitches delicate sculptures of corals
November 16, 2012 |
By Megan Gambino
Video: This 750-Leg Millipede is the Leggiest Creature in the World
Illacme plenipes, an extremely rare species endemic to just a few wooded areas in Northern California, is fully described for the first time
November 15, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
A Four-Point Plan For Feeding Nine Billion People
The world is set for food shortages as the population continues to climb. Here are four things we can do to stop it
November 09, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
When Attacked, Corals Send Out Chemical Signals to Recruit Bodyguard Fish
New science reveals that, when threatened by toxic seaweed, corals send out chemical signals to small goby fish that remove the coral-choking greenery
November 08, 2012 |
By Hannah Waters
Researchers Find Fracking Might Cause Earthquakes After All
New research makes the previously-tangential relationship between fracking and earthquakes much more firm
November 07, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Here’s Why We’re Not Living in an Ice Age (And Why That Matters for the Future)
The same feedback systems that took us from ice age to modern warmth are still around
November 05, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
The World’s Rarest Whale Species Spotted in New Zealand
A pair of spade-toothed whales washed ashore on a beach, the first time the complete body of a member of this species has ever been seen
November 05, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Why We May Not See the Next Sandy Coming
Failing weather satellites will reduce our ability to forecast and track future storms
October 30, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
While the East Coast Focused on Sandy, Typhoon Son-tinh Battered East Asia
Sandy was not the only tropical cyclone this week
October 30, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Can We Link Hurricane Sandy to Climate Change?
Models indicate that climate change will cause more frequent and intense hurricanes, but the overall trend can't be linked with any particular storm
October 29, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Nikon Announces the Winners of its “Small World” Competition
See a selection of beautiful images captured by scientists gazing through light microscopes
October 29, 2012 |
By Megan Gambino
Not Even the Greeks Thought the World Was Flat, But These People Do
There are some people today who claim to still believe that the Earth is flat
October 26, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
A Massive Field Of Frozen Greenhouse Gas Is Thawing Out
Vast stores of methane hydrates off the US east coast are thawing out, but what this means is still up in the air
October 25, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Live Wires: Newly Discovered Seafloor Bacteria Conduct Electricity
Scientists have found ultrathin multicellular bacteria that create electrical circuits several centimeters long
October 25, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Tropical Storm Sandy Could Bring Extreme Weather to the East Coast for Halloween
A nascent hurricane in the Caribbean could bring flooding and high winds to the East Coast—or could take a turn and head out to sea
October 24, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Italian Scientists Sent to Jail Because They Downplayed the Risk of an Earthquake
Six scientists and one former government official will do time for failing to accurately convey the risk of an earthquake
October 22, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
