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NYT > Science
Trajectories
The rise of rockets in the post-space-age age.
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Gas Prices Send Surge of Riders to Mass Transit
Cities with long-established public transit systems and areas with a strong driving culture are both reporting increases in ridership on trains and buses.
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Chronicle of a Death Foretold
After learning of a possibly fatal mutation lurking in her genes, Masha Gessen went in search of answers medical and moral.
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Children?s Books: Earth to Young People: Help!
A ?family encyclopedia of ecology? and the first book by ?the MySpace community? spell out environmental threats and suggest action to help.
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Shortcuts: If Your Appliances Are Avocado, They Probably Aren?t Green
Getting rid of household appliances older than 15 years will probably save you money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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George Cressman Dies at 88; Led Weather Service
Mr. Cressman, a pioneer in the use of computers to predict the weather, was a former director of the National Weather Service.
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Shift From Savannah to Sahara Was Gradual, Research Suggests
By analyzing thousands of layers of sediment in a core drilled from the bottom of a lake, a team of scientists has reconstructed the climate of northern Africa.
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Platypus Looks Strange on the Inside, Too
The platypus genome is an amalgam of genes reflecting significant branching in evolution, scientists reported.
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A City Committed to Recycling Is Ready for More
The mayor of San Francisco wants to make the recycling of cans, bottles, paper, yard waste and food scraps mandatory instead of voluntary, on the pain of having garbage pickups suspended.
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Kagoshima Journal: Japan Fights Crowds of Crows
Blackouts are just one of the problems caused by an explosion in Japan?s population of crows, which seems to compete with humans for space in this crowded nation.
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Researchers Seek to Demystify the Metabolic Magic of Sled Dogs
Scientists are studying sled dogs that run the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in an attempt to understand why the dogs are ?fatigue-proof.?
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Family Science Project Yields Surprising Data About a Siberian Lake
Generations of Russian scientists have produced an extraordinary record of the largest body of fresh water on earth.
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Lasers May Treat Cancers of the Larynx
A new outpatient laser procedure could eliminate the need for radiation treatment for cancer of the larynx if the tumors are detected early.
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Mind: I?m Not Lying, I?m Telling a Future Truth. Really.
Exaggeration, it seems, can be part of a plan for self-improvement.
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Evidence a High-Fat Diet Works to Treat Epilepsy
A new study indicates that a high-fat diet has proved effective in reducing seizures in children whose epilepsy does not respond to medication.
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Essay: Forcing Sobriety, However Imperfectly
Alcohol-monitoring bracelets can help people get over substance abuse problems, but they are not perfect.
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Observatory: Scientists Finally See Sugar Chains in Action
Scientists have reported that they have successfully imaged sugar chains known as glycans on cell surfaces in living zebrafish embryos.
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Morgan Sparks, Bell Scientist, Dies at 91
Mr. Sparks made critical contributions to developing the second-generation transistor, which became a building block of modern electronic devices.
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Observatory: Bird-Babble to Song Takes Surprising Route
Like humans, birds babble before they sing and new research sheds light on the part of the brain that controls this behavior.
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Q & A: Long Live the Amaryllis!
When my nephew was born 16 years ago, his mother received a white amaryllis, which is about to bloom once again. How long does an amaryllis live?
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Global Update: Blood Pressure Is Most Lethal in Poor and Middle-Income Countries
A new study has found that about 80 percent of the world?s deaths from high blood pressure occur in poor and middle-income countries.
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Observatory: Harmful Rays? For Some Spiders, a Mating Signal
Among a certain species of jumping spider, females prefer males that reflect UVB radiation.
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Vital Signs: Perceptions: Whom to Believe? Children Find Out Early
A challenge for children is figuring out whom to believe, and a new study suggests that this process starts early and without prompting by adults.
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Vital Statistics: E.R.?s Are Busy, but Fewer Patients Are Uninsured
A new study suggests that while the number of uninsured people nationwide rose, the proportion of uninsured people using E.R.?s declined.
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Vital Signs: Prognosis: Kidney Decline Difficult to Stop
A new study indicates how challenging it remains to treat kidney disease, and suggests that other factors besides high blood pressure need to be addressed.
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Some Diabetics Don?t Have What They Thought They Had
Research is changing doctors? understanding of diabetes.
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Vital Signs: Patterns: Serious Message in a Seductive Voice
A come-hither sound in a woman?s voice may carry a message about her readiness to conceive.
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Study Finds That Fat Cells Die and Are Replaced
The total number of fat cells in the body remains the same throughout adulthood, researchers in Sweden reported.
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Unboxed: Can You Become a Creature of New Habits?
Brain researchers have discovered that when we consciously develop new habits, we create parallel synaptic paths, and even entirely new brain cells, that can encourage a way to innovation.
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Ideas & Trends: A Psychedelic ?Problem Child? Comes Full Circle
Albert Hofmann, the father of LSD, lived long enough to see his drug brought back into the lab to study as a therapeutic agent.
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Pursuing the Next Level of Artificial Intelligence
Daphne Koller?s work has led to advances in artificial intelligence that can be used to predict traffic jams, improve machine vision and understand the way cancer spreads.
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E.P.A. Proposes New Limits on Lead in the Air, the First Revision in 30 Years
The agency is under court order to complete a new rule by Sept. 1, because of a lawsuit brought by environmentalists.
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In a New Climate Model, Short-Term Cooling in a Warmer World
Climatologists will create decade-long climate forecasts, just as meteorologists craft weeklong weather forecasts.
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DNA Tests Confirm the Deaths of the Last Missing Romanovs
For nine decades after the Bolsheviks shot Czar Nicholas II and his family, there had been no traces of the remains of Crown Prince Aleksei.
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H.P. Reports Big Advance in Memory Chip Design
Hewlett-Packard scientists said they have designed a device that they believe will make it possible to build tiny computers that could imitate biological functions.
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Lots of Animals Learn, but Smarter Isn?t Better
New research indicates that growing smarter has dangerous side effects that make its evolution even more puzzling.
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Redefining Disease, Genes and All
A growing band of researchers is trying to redefine how diseases are classified ? by looking at their genetic underpinnings.
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Findings: Appeasing the Gods, With Insurance
We may not believe in fate, research shows, but we also refuse to tempt it.
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Personal Health: The Growing Wave of Teenage Self-Injury
Self-injury is a disturbing and hard-to-treat phenomenon that experts say is increasing among adolescents and young adults.
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Really?: The Claim: Running Outdoors Burns More Calories
Most runners have a strong preference for either pavement or treadmills, but how do the two differ in producing results?
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EarthWire UK RSS News Feed
Kick the oil habit and make your own ethanol
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A new company hopes drivers will kick the oil habit by brewing ethanol at home that won't spike food prices......
S.Africa moves to restrict coastal development
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa moved on Thursday to curb coastal property developments to help protect vast stretches of coastline from environmental damage......
French bid for British Energy - bad for climate and bad for taxpayers
The parties involved in the expected takeover of British Energy have "little interest in tackling climate change or protecting British taxpayers", said environmentalists today.Nathan Argent, nuclear campaigner for Greenpeace, said:"The expected French Government bid to takeover of British Energy will come with huge financial costs, a tiny reduction in carbon emissions and continued confusion over who pays for the clean up of radioactive waste. "Energy bosses admit that replacing the UK's existing reactors will cost about £60 billion - twice the amount the Government estimated only months ago. Even the Government has said that this will only reduce carbon emissions by around four per cent."Such an investment should instead be used to enable the UK to reach legally binding renewable energy targets, environmentalists say."And there's still an enormous question mark over dealing with spent nuclear fuel produced by the reactors that the French hope to buy. Since the beginning of 2005, the UK Government has been legally committed to dealing with all the spent nuclear fuel on these sites, and this commitment will continue even when the sites are sold. So, the British taxpayer will be financing the clean-up of French owned nuclear sites in the UK."It's worryingly obvious that anyone involved in this dodgy deal - and that includes the Government - has little interest in tackling climate change or protecting British taxpayers."For more information, contact the Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255......
Britain puts personal carbon trading plan on ice
LONDON (Reuters) - The British government has shelved plans to get people to reduce their carbon footprint by allowing them to trade personal emissions permits because it would be too expensive and ambitious......
Problems plague Canada's emissions trading plans
COLOGNE, Germany (Reuters) - Just as Canada is set to launch a domestic carbon emissions trading scheme in a bid to curb its rising greenhouse gas emissions, a number of issues have surfaced, casting doubt on the country's plans......
Conservationists win battle on key California land
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Conservation groups and a California real estate company on Thursday reached a long-fought deal to conserve and protect an area eight times the size of San Francisco from developers......
Adventurers complete global trip
Two young British explorers sail into Sydney Harbour, bringing an end to a natural-powered global adventure......
Tree-lined streets may cut city kids' asthma risk
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - City blocks boasting plenty of trees aren't only more pleasing to the eye; they may be healthier for children's lungs, according to research conducted in New York City......
Great tits cope well with warming
Great tits in Britain seem to be adapting to climatic change, scientists report, unlike some other birds......
City proposes climate change plan
People in Cambridge are asked to comment on plans by the city council to deal with climate change......
Brazil launches sustainable development plan for Amazon
Brazil on Thursday launched an ambitious sustainable development plan for the Amazon that aims to lay down a new model for the vast jungle area balancing economic and environmental priorities, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said......
New batch of walruses gets tagged
Ten of Greenland's walruses are fitted with sat-tags to confirm whether the blubbery beasts migrate to Canada......
New home for Greece's holy grail
BBC News considers the status of the Parthenon marbles, which were taken from Athens by Lord Elgin in 1806......
Formaldehyde-Free Sheathing Provides Health and Energy Advantages for Builders and Owners
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Taiwan zoos in fierce competition for China pandas
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan zoos are caught up in a ferocious competition to win a pair of pandas from China, now that their country has a new Beijing-friendly president......
Europe's energy revolution taking shape?
As the EU's energy liberalisation drive heats up, European consumers may be wondering when and in what shape the EU's new energy policy will begin to transform the way energy is produced and consumed, and if the change will mean lower prices or higher industry profits......
Less pollution means more drought for Amazon rainforest
Declining aerosol pollution could make severe drought in the Amazon rainforest more common in the twenty-first century, report scientists in Nature today (8 May)......
Germany Warns Of Economic Risks From Species Loss
BERLIN - Nations must act to slow extinction rates, German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Thursday, arguing the loss of species threatened food supplies for billions of people......
Petrify, Liquefy: New Ways To Bury Greenhouse Gas
OSLO - Turn greenhouse gases to stone? Transform them into a treacle-like liquid deep under the seabed?.....
Green planning bill passed by MPs
A bill which would allow councils to impose higher energy efficiency standards on new buildings has been approved by MPs......
Chateau China, a taste of wines to come with climate change
Report on predictions for wine-making identifies world's top producers in 50 years.....
Tanzania tree strikes right note
The national tree of Tanzania, the "Mpingo", used to make musical instruments, is one of the most valuable trees in the world, but it is under threat from illegal logging......
Awards seek waterwise schemes
Waterwise and innovative companies are being called on to demonstrate their contributions to water conservation by entering a prestigious awards scheme......
Building energy rating 'can be improved with a stove'
All buildings in Ireland will require a building energy rating if they are to be sold or rented from January 1st 2009 and energy efficient heating is becoming an increasingly important topic......
Biofuels backlash in US as food costs hit home
A biofuels backlash has erupted in major ethanol producer the United States, as lawmakers and experts debate the merits of converting food to fuel to support America's age-old love affair with the automobile......
Kenya's nomads feel pain of food prices
It is tempting to romanticize the lifestyle of nomads in Kenya's northeast -- a land peppered with vast termite mounds which burst from rust-coloured soil like fingers pointing to the cloudless sky......
How green are we? New figures show Britons back recycling
Good news on waste disposal and public transport but rise in car and air travel.....
Figures show Britons back recycling
Science & environment: Good news on waste disposal and public transport but rise in car and air travel, study finds.....
Green planning bill passed by MPs
A bill which would allow councils to impose higher energy efficiency standards on new buildings has been approved by MPs......
Have seasons disappeared from our weather?
TEMPERATURES in South Wales that will outstrip those in the Balearics are adding credence to the idea that spring is the new summer......
Europe Grapples Over Biofuels
Rising food prices, trade tensions and social unrest are prompting a rethink of the EU's ambitious hopes for running cars and trucks on biofuel.....
British adventurers complete epic journey
They nearly froze to death in Greenland and almost drowned in Antarctic seas but two young British adventurers successfully completed a 22,000 mile journey between the earth's magnetic poles when they arrived in Australia today......
Chinese leader seeks Japanese help on environment
Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday voiced hope that Japan would share environmental technology with his country as he toured a state-of-the-art recycling factory......
EDF sole bidder for British Energy
French state-owned group submits firm all-cash offer to buy UK's main nuclear power producer.....
More bins could boost recycling
A trial of new rubbish bins is proving so successful it could make a major impact on recycling rates, council says......
'New approach' needed to cut waste
Financial incentives would do more to increase recycling rates than "pay-as-you-throw" bin charges, according to a new report......
Wales slips further behind in wealth stakes
WALES is still struggling to close the wealth gap with the rest of the UK, according to figures published yesterday......
'New approach' needed to cut waste
Financial incentives would do more to increase recycling rates than "pay-as-you-throw" bin charges, according to a new report......
Bin tax plan 'likely to fail'
Bin taxes will lead to increased fly-tipping and are unlikely to result in increased recycling, the Government has been warned......
Britain is failing to go green
Britain is not going green according to official figures which show that more and more people are travelling by car and airplane while less than a third of rubbish is being recycled......
Seven Ways To Be Green With Money
LONDON - Financial service providers are picking up the "eco" baton and running with it -- meaning consumers can factor environmental concerns into everything from utility tariffs, tax returns and even mortgages......
Renewable energy plans unveiled
Environment Minister Mike Russell visits Dumfries to officially launch a biomass boiler at a hospital site......
'Tallest' wind farm plan unveiled
Proposals are revealed to convert what was originally one of the UK's largest wind farms into one of the tallest......
Centrica warns over wind farms
Centrica warns that the prospect of making money from wind farms is looking "marginal" due to high costs......
Waste Industries USA, Inc. Completes Going Private Transaction Following Shareholder Approval
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Carbon Market Expo Roundtable Panelist Says the Real Work on Climate Legislation is Just Beginning
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Global cooling theories put scientists on guard
LONDON (Reuters) - A new study suggesting a possible lull in manmade global warming has raised fears of a reduced urgency to battle climate change......
Wind, rain next week may compound Myanmar crisis: U.N.
GENEVA (Reuters) - Myanmar's recovery from a deadly cyclone could be hindered by strong winds and rain over the coming week, the U.N. weather agency said on Friday......
European Commission backs Kyoto CO2 trading reform
COLOGNE, Germany (Reuters) - The European Commission says it is standing by a desire to overhaul UN-led carbon trading rules to make it more difficult for developing nations to earn carbon offsets from cutting greennhouse gas emissions......
Brazil warns EU on green biofuel controls
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil will contest any attempt by the European Union to place limits on biofuel exports because of environmental concerns, a senior Brazilian official said on Friday......|
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Earth Science Bulletins
Feature | Tsunami Science: Reducing the Risk
How tsunami researchers are trying to get ahead of the next big wave......
Earth Viz | Global Ozone 2002-2005
Ozone gas (O3) in the upper atmosphere shields Earth from the Sun's dangerous ultraviolet radiation. Since the early 1980s, scientists have been aware that manmade chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) destroy atmospheric ozone worldwide. The greatest losses have occurred at the poles; the Antarctic ozone "hole" is most extreme in October.
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Snapshot | Earth Events
Explore the latest earthquake and volcano events from around the world in the interactive below. Notice how they relate to the three major types of tectonic boundaries. Of the dozens of earthquakes that occur each week, only the largest of magnitude 5.0 or more are shown. The three volcano events are chosen from the many reported by the Southwest Volcano Research Center......|
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Astronomy Picture of the Day
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