Earth
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
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- Life
Moonless twilight may cue mass spawning
Subtle color shifts on the nights just after the full moon might synchronize the release of gametes by corals and other marine creatures.
- Life
Buried microbes coax energy from rock
In experiments, microorganisms can stimulate minerals to produce hydrogen, a key fuel for growth in a thriving subterranean world.
- Earth
Earth/Environment
Licorice may be a natural alternative to antibiotics on hog farms, plus more in this week’s news.
- Earth
Extinctions breed carbon chaos
Massive die-off left ecosystems vulnerable, an analysis suggests.
- Earth
Chile quake didn’t reduce risk
During the large 2010 tremor, faults ruptured mainly outside the area due for a big one, leaving the region vulnerable to future events.
- Humans
Amoebas in drinking water: a double threat
Analysis reveals widespread, hidden contamination by the sometimes lethal parasites.
- Earth
Dispersants persisted after BP spill
Chemicals used to break up oil remained in the Gulf’s depths months after being released, an analysis shows.
- Math
Unnatural selection
Inflicting damage on targeted species can help preserve perturbed ecosystems.
- Earth
Glaciers largely stable in one range of Himalayas
Amid icy retreats in neighboring ranges, ice in Karakoram region may even be growing, thanks to debris cover.
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- Earth
2010 ties record for warmest year yet
El Ni±o heated things up even as global temperatures continue to rise in the hottest decade on record.
