MS-ESS3-3

Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.

  1. Climate

    Explainer: Why some clouds glow in the dark

    A surprise space rock lit up the night sky over California — and left behind a rare type of cloud. Such glowing beauties may become more common with climate change.

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  2. Climate

    Explainer: What is attribution science?

    A relatively new, developing field of science investigates possible links between climate change and extreme weather events.

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  3. Earth

    Explainer: Why sea levels aren’t rising at the same rate globally

    The ocean is rising all over the world. The rise seems speedier in some places. What gives? Many factors, it turns out, affect where — and why — the tide gets high.

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  4. Protecting deer with high-pitched noises

    After her uncle crashed his truck into a deer, this teen decided to find out if there was a sound that would drive the animals away from roads.

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  5. Oceans

    Ocean heat waves are on the rise — and killing coral

    Ocean heat waves are becoming hotter and more frequent. And one can be blamed for the 2016 coral deaths on the Great Barrier Reef.

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  6. Climate

    Analyze This: Climate change could make food less healthy

    Levels of important nutrients are lower in crops exposed to high levels of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. How high? Try levels expected to be typical 30 years from now.

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  7. Physics

    Explainer: What is thundersnow?

    Wacky weather produced lots of thundersnow during New England’s recent winter storms. Some scientists now suspect Mother Nature got some human help.

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  8. Physics

    Disabilities don’t stop these experts in science and tech

    People with disabilities are as varied as the careers some of them pursue in science, technology, engineering and math.

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  9. Animals

    Nighttime lights can dim a firefly’s flash

    Fireflies blink to attract mates. But when it’s too bright at night, the insects may stay away.

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  10. Environment

    Plastic trash rides ocean currents to the Arctic

    Ocean currents can carry plastic trash far from the cities that shed it. Some plastic debris has made it all of the way to the Arctic Ocean, new data show.

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  11. Environment

    Did your burger come with a side of non-degrading pollutants?

    Perfluorinated compounds pollute the environment and might harm human health. A new study shows that one place they often show up is the paper and cardboard used to package fast foods.

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  12. Earth

    Keeping space missions from infecting Earth and other worlds

    Scientists are always looking for ways to stop Earthly microbes from polluting other planets. The same goes for bringing bits of other planets back to Earth.

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