Earth

Earth

To study a geyser, these teens built their own

Fascinated by geysers but unable to see one? These teens decided to build their own. It allowed them to study how temperature and pressure make the water spew into a founta.

Environment

Maybe ‘shade balls’ should not be balls

So-called shade balls have a range of uses in water reservoirs, from cutting evaporation to reducing the growth of algae. But the best performers might not actually be balls, a Florida teen now shows.

Earth

Tiny air pollutants inflame airways and harm heart

New studies show how tiny bits of air pollution, called particulate matter, can lead to health problems ranging from chronic runny noses to heart disease.

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.

Earth

Scientists Say: Continent

A continent is a large land mass. Geologists recognize six of them — Africa, Antarctica, Eurasia, Australia, North America and South America.

Life

Weird mega-worm found to have odd diet

Giant shipworms have bacteria in their gills that produce food for them. This has made their digestive organs shrink from lack of use.

Earth

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.

Earth

Some food-packaging pollutants mess with the thyroid

Chemical pollutants may hurt the ability of the thyroid gland to make an important hormone. Teens may be most at risk.

Agriculture

Sheep poop may spread poisonous weed

Fireweed is a poisonous plant in Australia. Sheep can eat it without hurting themselves. But a teen found those sheep may be spreading more weeds.

Oceans

Teen’s invention can warn of deadly rip currents

A teen lifeguard from Australia has invented a buoy that can alert swimmers to the strong, swift and deadly rip currents that can sweep them dangerously far offshore.

Animals

These killer whales exhale sickening germs

A group of endangered killer whales are exhaling disease-causing germs. Researchers worry these microbes could make the animals sick.

Earth

Death by asteroid may come in unexpected ways

Most deaths from an asteroid impact would likely come from shock waves and winds, not earthquakes and tsunamis. That's the conclusion of new studies. The good news: Such killer space rocks are quite rare.