Earth

Earth

The facts behind the frack

The gas, primarily methane, is cheap and relatively clean. Because America is brimful of the stuff, harvesting the fuel via fracking could provide the country jobs and reduce its dependence on foreign sources of energy.

Earth

Himalayan melt may be less than thought

Satellite data suggest net ice loss has been modest.

Earth

Nanosized pollutants pose crop risks

Nanoparticles in exhaust and common consumer products can end up in soil and harm the growth and health of crops.

Earth

When studying a monster volcano, poke softly with a sensitive stick

Earth

Antibacterial agent can weaken muscle

Triclosan impairs the power of the heart and other muscles in two species and at relatively low doses.

Earth

Global groundwater use outpaces supply

Footprint measure reveals unsustainable use of the world’s aquifers.

Earth

Extreme hot spells rising

Analyzing six decades of temperature records reveals inexorable warming and increasing episodes of extreme heat.

Earth

Greenland enters melt mode

This year’s record-breaking island-wide thaw punctuates an ongoing warming trend.

Animals

Epidemic of skin lesions reported in reef fish

A British-Australian research team has just found coral trout living on the south side of the Great Barrier Reef sporting dark skin raised, scablike, brown-black growths. Although the authors believe they’ve stumbled onto an epidemic of melanoma — a type of skin cancer — other experts have their doubts. Strong ones.

Earth

Stronger storms may destroy ozone

Extra water vapor churned high into the atmosphere by climate change–fueled tempests could trigger destructive chemical reactions.

Earth

External ills imperil tropical reserves

Impacts just outside park boundaries cause ecosystems within to decline.

Earth

Night lights may foster depression

In animals, chronic dim light triggers brain changes that disappear with the return of nightlong darkness.