Feature

  1. Earth

    Dirty Little Secret

    Recognition is growing that many communities have soils laced with asbestos, which has prodded several federal agencies to probe the hazards they might pose.

    By Janet Raloff
  2. Astronomy

    Astronomy Gets Polarized

    Studies using polarized light, an endeavor once considered astronomy's stepchild, are now elucidating the shape of supernovas as well as providing new details about the early universe.

    By Ron Cowen
  3. Astronomy

    Galactic de Gustibus

    About 13 billion years after its birth, our galaxy is still packing on the stars.

    By Ron Cowen
  4. Tech

    Pumping Alloy

    A new way to power artificial muscles improves the prospects for making lifelike humanoid robots and prosthetic limbs.