Earth

Animals

Chef puts eco-bullies on the menu

Some immigrant species can become a nuisance, eating up or displacing the natives. Often people find little incentive to catch and remove the newcomers — unless they find them too yummy to pass up.

Tech

Soaking up oil spills — with cotton

Natural, low-grade cotton could help clean up oil spills better than synthetic materials, a new study finds. And unlike synthetics, cotton breaks down naturally.

Plants

Saving the banana

A number of diseases threaten the world’s most popular fruit. Scientists are working to fight these blights. But if they don’t succeed, the sweet banana that’s a breakfast staple could disappear.

Microbes

Buried Antarctic lake teems with life

Last year, scientists drilled 800 meters (roughly a half mile) down through ice to reach a pitch-black Antarctic lake. They now report that lake hosts a thriving community of one-celled microbes.

Animals

Wind farms: Restaurants for seals?

Scientists have tracked harbor seals visiting the turbines of ocean wind farms. The predators may be drawn by fish that make their homes in the artificial reefs created by the manmade structures.

Earth

Meteorites likely wiped out Earth’s earliest life

Enormous meteorites appear to have slammed into Earth several times early in its history. Each mega-smashup would have boiled off oceans and obliterated any bit of life.

Environment

Watering plants with wastewater can spread germs

Recycled waste water may slake the thirst of outdoor plants. But it also can spread bacteria, a new study finds — germs that antibiotics may not be able to kill.

Chemistry

Chemistry: Green and clean

“Green” means environmentally friendly and sustainable. Green chemistry creates products and processes that are safer and cleaner — from the start.

Environment

Explainer: What are endocrine disruptors?

Some chemicals can act like hormones, turning on or off important processes in cells. That can harm development or even trigger disease.

Environment

Bug-killer linked to decline in birds

One of the most popular chemicals used to protect crops from bugs may also take a toll on birds, a Dutch study finds. U.S. farmers also rely on these insecticides, a second study finds.

Earth

Mailing off my microbeads

I was shocked to find out that my face wash contains plastics that might possibly harm marine creatures. So I’m donating it to science.

Agriculture

Your food choices affect Earth’s climate

Producing food can put a lot of climate-warming pollutants into the atmosphere. But some foods, especially meats, contribute more than others.