Earth

  1. Environment

    Water: Getting the salt out

    A new water-cleansing technology passes electricity through a flow of salty water. This will generate a zone of fresh water that can then be collected.

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  2. Plants

    Banana threat: Attack of the clones

    Researchers find that disease-causing fungi — all clones of one another — will continue to infect banana plants unless new steps are taken to stop their spread.

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  3. Tech

    Engineers consider liquid salt to generate power

    A new type of power plant, a molten salt reactor, might provide electricity in a cleaner and safer way than current nuclear technology.

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  4. Oceans

    Scientists identify plankton from space

    Plankton are often too tiny for our eyes to see. But when huge numbers bloom at once, they now can be ID’d from space, a new study shows.

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  5. Climate

    Concerns about Earth’s fever

    Burning fossil fuels is causing the planet to heat up, causing weather patterns to change, sea levels to rise and diseases to spread.

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  6. Climate

    Explainer: How scientists know Earth is warming

    Scientists can calculate global temperatures, both present and past. Their findings show that the planet is rapidly heating up.

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  7. Chemistry

    Some 3-D printing can leave toxic taint

    The ”ink” inside some 3-D printers can leave toxic traces. In tests, these chemicals harmed baby fish. But lighting could render the parts safer.

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  8. Animals

    Profile: A human touch for animals

    Temple Grandin uses her own autism to understand how animals think. The animal scientist is famous for fostering the humane treatment of livestock.

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  9. Genetics

    Taking attendance with eDNA

    Environmental DNA, or eDNA, tells biologists what species are in an area — even when they’re out of sight.

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  10. Environment

    Wildlife forensics turns to eDNA

    Environmental DNA, or eDNA, tells biologists what species have been around — even when they’re out of sight or have temporarily moved on.

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  11. Animals

    Kangaroo farts: Not so ‘green’ after all?

    Scientists had thought that kangaroo farts were environmentally friendly because they had little methane. That may not always be true.

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  12. Environment

    Table salt and shellfish can contain plastic

    Bits of plastic have turned up in sea salts purchased in Chinese supermarkets. The finding suggests all sea salts may be similarly tainted. Shellfish too.

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