Earth and Human Activity

Oceans

Explainer: What is a tsunami?

Earthquakes and landslides can create huge waves that travel across oceans.

Environment

Insecticide can change a spider’s personality

A chemical meant to kill moths affects the behavior of some spiders. It alters the spiders’ ability to capture prey — including those moths.

Agriculture

Organic food starts to prove its worth

Organic food often comes with a higher price. But research is showing that food grown this way can be better for the environment — and possibly for us.

Genetics

DNA in ivory pinpoints elephant poaching hot spots

Thousands of elephants have been killed for their ivory tusks. A new study used DNA in ivory to trace where most of the killings happen.

Plants

Using plants to solve environmental problems

Problems in their communities suggested good research projects to three teens. Each wanted to tackle a different issue, from pollution to world hunger. To learn more about these issues, they turned to their local ponds, wetlands and gardens.

Space

Collecting trash in space

Space junk threatens satellites that cost millions of dollars. But one teen has come up with an idea to collect and dispose of that orbiting trash.

Climate

Carbon dioxide levels rise fast and high

The buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is rising faster than at any time since dinosaurs roamed the Earth. The burning of fossil fuels is largely to blame.

Climate

Warming’s role in extreme weather

Extremes in temperature and precipitation will be more common as global temperatures rise. Human-led climate change is largely to blame, a new study finds.

Environment

Scientists Say: Fracking

Liquid fuel sources such as natural gas and petroleum form deep underground between layers of rock. To retrieve them, engineers often use a technique called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

Tech

Cool Jobs: Big future for super small science

Scientists using nanotechnology grow super-small but very useful tubes with walls no more than a few carbon atoms thick. Find out why as we meet three scientists behind this huge new movement in nanoscience.

Environment

Deep-sea fish show signs of exposure to pollution

A new study suggests deep-water fish may have health problems linked to human pollution. Eating these fish may expose diners to the same pollution.

Agriculture

Ditching farm pollution — literally

An Indiana project shows how fighting fertilizer runoff can save farmers money, protect wild habitats and prevent harmful algae blooms.