Earth
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Earth
Pole flips tied to plate tectonics
A lopsided arrangement of continents could lead to reversals in Earth's magnetic field.
- Humans
BPA: What to make of pollutant-laced kids’ foods
The San Francisco-based Breast Cancer Fund has just released some provocative data on the presence of bisphenol A — a hormone-mimicking pollutant — in every brand-name canned food it tested.
- Earth
Pacific volcanoes share split personality
The dual chemistry of island chains reflects variations in the distribution of ancient material bubbling up from deep within the Earth.
- Earth
Earth & Environment
Toxic consequences of solar power, enduring effects of ancient landslides and more in this week's news.
- Earth
Summer Arctic melt among worst ever
With no obvious weather pattern to explain this year’s near-record annual ice retreat, generally warming climate appears to be the culprit.
- Oceans
Synthetic lint ends up in oceans
Microplastics from clothes and other consumer products evade sewage treatment and end up on beaches, studies find.
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- Earth
Earth/Environment
Sweet pollution, toxic fumes from dry-cleaned clothes and more in this week’s news.
- Chemistry
HIPPO reveals climate surprises
A major pollution-mapping program that ends September 9 has turned up startling trends in climate-warming gases and soot.
- Earth
Earthly riches heaven sent
A period of heavy meteorite bombardment after Earth's formation may have peppered Earth's outer layers with useful metals.
- Paleontology
Acidifying oceans helped fuel mass extinction
The great die-off 250 million years ago could trace in part to hostile water conditions, a modeling study suggests.
- Earth
Earth & Environment
The supercontinent of the future, pollutants from laundry detergent and more in this week’s news
