Earth
Sign up for our newsletter
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- 			
			
		EarthEarth/Environment
Diamonds from the depths have shallow elements, New Zealand earthquake helped triggered its successor and more in this week’s news.
By Science News - 			
			
		EarthPole flips tied to plate tectonics
A lopsided arrangement of continents could lead to reversals in Earth's magnetic field.
 - 			
			
		HumansBPA: 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.
By Janet Raloff - 			
			
		EarthPacific 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.
 - 			
			
		EarthEarth & Environment
Toxic consequences of solar power, enduring effects of ancient landslides and more in this week's news.
By Science News - 			
			
		EarthSummer 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.
 - 			
			
		OceansSynthetic lint ends up in oceans
Microplastics from clothes and other consumer products evade sewage treatment and end up on beaches, studies find.
By Janet Raloff - 			
			
		EarthNature’s crystal palace
Slow-growing crystals formed over thousands of years in Mexico cave.
By Devin Powell - 			
			
		EarthEarth/Environment
Sweet pollution, toxic fumes from dry-cleaned clothes and more in this week’s news.
By Science News - 			
			
		ChemistryHIPPO reveals climate surprises
A major pollution-mapping program that ends September 9 has turned up startling trends in climate-warming gases and soot.
By Janet Raloff - 			
			
		EarthEarthly riches heaven sent
A period of heavy meteorite bombardment after Earth's formation may have peppered Earth's outer layers with useful metals.
By Devin Powell - 			
			
		PaleontologyAcidifying 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.