Earth and Human Activity

Animals

Palm-size marsupials may face extinction from wild ‘house’ cats

After surviving Australian bushfires, the Kangaroo Island dunnart is losing ground as it's targeted by hungry predators.

Animals

Let’s learn about amphibians

Amphibians are named after the Greek word for “double life” because many transform from water dwellers to landlubbers as they grow up.

Climate

Coastal cities around the world are sinking, satellite data show

Of 99 coastal cities studied, nearly one-third are sinking. This leaves coastal communities increasingly vulnerable to rising seas.

Chemistry

Reusable plastic bottles release hundreds of pollutants into water

Data show the plastic ends up tainting drinking water. For now, scientists don’t know what health risks downing these pollutants might pose.

Environment

Bubbles could help remove trash from rivers

One young engineer devised a way to make bubbles sweep away the trash floating down a creek, like the one in her backyard.

Health & Medicine

Your bloodstream may be littered with the plastic you’ve eaten

For the first time, scientists have found plastic particles circulating in human blood. No one yet knows whether those polluting bits might pose a risk to health.

Chemistry

Let’s learn about cellulose

The world’s most abundant natural polymer is finding all kinds of new uses, in everything from ice cream to construction.

Earth

Scientists Say: Atmosphere

An atmosphere is an envelope of gas around a planet, dwarf planet or moon.

Science & Society

This sun-powered system delivers energy as it pulls water from the air

The device not only produces electricity but also harvests water for drinking or crops. It could be especially useful in remote and dry parts of the world.

Environment

Night lights make even the seas bright

Light from coastal cities and offshore development may shine deep enough to disrupt tiny critters living dozens of meters (yards) below the surface.

Chemistry

Ponds made to control floods can spew climate-warming gases, study finds

Younger stormwater ponds can release more carbon in gases than they absorb, a study finds. That could aggravate global warming.

Environment

Analyze This: Corals stash microplastics in their skeletons

Scientists have wondered where the ocean’s microplastic pollution ends up. Corals may trap about 1 percent of particles in tropical waters each year.