Earth and Human Activity

  1. Tech

    Powered by poop and pee?

    Scientists are developing methods to not only remove human waste from wastewater, but also to harness the energy hidden within it.

    By Alison Pearce Stevens
  2. Chemistry

    Olive oil untangles plastic

    Vegetable oils can make plastic fibers stronger. And the process is safer and better for the environment than other detanglers.

    By Kathiann Kowalski
  3. Animals

    Using dolphins to find unknown ocean pollutants

    Long-lasting pollutants may threaten marine mammals and human health. To find those pollutants, scientists are sampling blubber, then running the fatty material through new types of tests.

    By Liz Devitt
  4. Oceans

    Arctic ice travels fast, carrying pollution

    Climate change is melting old sea ice in the Arctic. Now, younger, thinner ice is migrating far and fast, taking pollutants with it.

    By Thomas Sumner
  5. Climate

    Concerns about Earth’s fever

    Burning fossil fuels is causing the planet to heat up, causing weather patterns to change, sea levels to rise and diseases to spread.

    By Sharon Oosthoek
  6. Climate

    Explainer: How scientists know Earth is warming

    Scientists can calculate global temperatures, both present and past. Their findings show that the planet is rapidly heating up.

    By Sharon Oosthoek
  7. Animals

    Profile: A human touch for animals

    Temple Grandin uses her own autism to understand how animals think. The animal scientist is famous for fostering the humane treatment of livestock.

    By Jennifer Weeks
  8. Environment

    Wildlife forensics turns to eDNA

    Environmental DNA, or eDNA, tells biologists what species have been around — even when they’re out of sight or have temporarily moved on.

    By Kathiann Kowalski
  9. Environment

    Table salt and shellfish can contain plastic

    Bits of plastic have turned up in sea salts purchased in Chinese supermarkets. The finding suggests all sea salts may be similarly tainted. Shellfish too.

    By Ashley Yeager
  10. Environment

    Plastic trash travels up to Arctic waters

    Bags, fishing rope and other tiny bits of plastic are now polluting Arctic waters, posing threats to area wildlife.

    By Ashley Yeager
  11. Fossils

    Clues to the Great Dying

    Millions of years ago, nearly all life on Earth vanished. Scientists are now starting to figure out what happened.

    By Beth Geiger
  12. Health & Medicine

    Cool Jobs: Finding foods for the future

    What's for dinner... tomorrow? Scientists are developing new foods to meet the demands of the growing population in a changing world.

    By Stephen Ornes