Earth & Environment - Science360 - The Knowledge Network

Earth & Environment

The "third rock from the Sun"—Earth. With an orbit neither too close nor too far from the Sun, it occupies a unique position in the Solar System. It's the only planet known to man with the right conditions for the origin and evolution of life. During Earth's 4.5 billion-year history, a combination of processes has transformed it into a watery blue, living planet. The Earth's ecosystems involve complex interactions between the biological (living) and physical (non-living) worlds. Scientific research helps us comprehend our effects on the environment and how the environment in turn responds to impacts of our activities.

Science For A Sustainable Future
Researcher blurs the lines between chemistry, materials science, applied physics and applied mathematics to help predict the behavior and impact of tomorrow’s materials

Revealing Nature's Mathematical Formula For Survival

Mathematical physics team finds geometric patterns linking structure to function in leaves

Science Behind The News: Tornadoes
Tornadoes develop in a special type of thunderstorm called a supercell, but that there are still mysteries to unravel

Drilling For Geological Treasure
A riserless drilling vessel explores of the ocean floor

Mt. Augustine Breathes
Understanding the characteristics and behavior of Mount Augustine volcano

Philippines Deep Sea Expedition
The Academy's expedition to the Philippines discovered unusual treasures at great depths. Even 10 new species of STAR

Disappearing Lizards
Lizards' changing methods of survival give insight into climatic flucuations

Silent Spring's 50th Anniversary
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Rachel Carson's work "Silent Spring"

Seeded With Pollution
Explore an exciting near-term solution to climate change being advanced by Scripps scientists

Life In A Pond: Studying How Climate Affects Amphibians
A graduate student investigates the impact of temperature and UV light on amphibians in the Pacific Northwest

PREDICT: A Look Into Hurricane Development
Why do some tropical storms form into hurricanes and others don't? The Pre-Depression Investigation of Cloud Systems in the Tropics - PREDICT - is an atmospheric science study that investigated tropical cyclone development in 2010 to help forecasters increase their lead time on hurricane warnings

Testing Deepwater Offshore Wind Technology
University of Maine Tests Deepwater Offshore Wind Technology in the Netherlands

The ARRA Report 19
This report reviews the research and discoveries made possible in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Game Changer Research Aims To Forecast Tornadoes

Researcher is using supercomputers, data mining, and meteorology to move us closer to reliable tornado forecasting

The Road To The New Energy Economy: Wind Energy
Tomorrow's energy needs to be more abundant than today's. How will we get from here to there? This lecture is part of a series on transitioning to "greener" technologies

Threats To Freshwater Mussels And The Consequences For Ecosystems
Catastrophic decline in freshwater mussels may impact water quality, other species

Tracking The Glacier
Travelling to the Byrd Glacier to study glacial flows

The Sustainability Of Chocolate

Humans eat a lot of chocolate... the cacao plant is in trouble!

Coral Reefs

Rising water temperatures and coral reef lifecycles

Developing Hardier, Weather-Resistant Crops
Botanist searches for genes that would make a better root