Earth and Human Activity

Environment

Not so sweet: Fake sugar found at sea

Sucralose — sold in stores as Splenda — has begun turning up in seawater. This raises concern about the fake sweetener’s impacts on the environment.

Chemistry

Gulf oil spills could destroy shipwrecks faster

In the Gulf of Mexico, leftover crude oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill may be speeding the corrosion of old shipwrecks.

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.

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.

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.

Climate

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.

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.

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.

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.

Animals

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.

Earth

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.

Earth

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.