The SciencesFebruary 3, 2015
Obama's Budget Seeks Big Boost for Science
The White House plan would increase research and development funding but faces a rough road in Congress
Stories by Jeff Tollefson
Jeff Tollefson works for Nature magazine.
Society & PolicyMarch 5, 2014
Flat Budgets for NIH and NSF in Obama's 2015 Plan
With Congress unlikely to approve tax-based boosts for science, agency funding hopes are dashed
EnergyMarch 4, 2014
U.S. Seeks Nuclear Waste Research Revival
A radioactive leak at the nation's only deep-waste repository in New Mexico has brought these facilities back into the spotlight
EnvironmentFebruary 26, 2014
Radiation Levels Fall after Nuclear Waste Leak in New Mexico
The U.S. Department of Energy is preparing to reenter the deep-underground waste repository to determine the cause of the spike
November 21, 2013
Uncertain Future for Iconic "Keeling Curve" CO2 Measurements
Scripps geochemist Ralph Keeling is struggling to find funds to maintain his long-standing carbon dioxide record and more recent atmospheric-oxygen monitor
The SciencesNovember 13, 2013
Warsaw Talks to Thrash Out UN Climate Roadmap
The costs of reducing emissions may be flash points along the path toward a 2015 Paris treaty
EnvironmentOctober 30, 2013
Lightning-Detection Network Tested Out for Storm Tracking
A project to forecast storms in Guinea provides a cheap alternative to radar-based weather services
EnvironmentSeptember 11, 2013
Secrets of Fracking Fluids Pave Way for Cleaner Recipe
Disclosure of the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing could empower green chemistry
EnvironmentAugust 26, 2013
U.S. Electrical Grid on the Edge of Failure
Network analysis suggests geography makes the grid inherently unstable
July 29, 2013
Pilot Projects Bury CO2 in Basalt
Two experiments are testing the viability of sequestering emissions in porous layers of hard rock
June 14, 2013
Oceans Melt Antarctica's Ice from Below
More than half of the continent's ice sheet melting occurs at just ten small ice shelves
June 6, 2013
'Plastic Wood' Is No Green Guarantee
Researchers question the benefits of the tropical-wood substitute
TechnologyMay 7, 2013
U.S. Nuclear Warheads Set to Get a Facelift
President Obama aims to boost 'stockpile stewardship' funds at the nation's energy labs
February 20, 2013
China Slow to Start Fracking for Natural Gas in Shale
A combination of geology and a lack of infrastructure could impede development of this resource
February 13, 2013
Natural Hazards: New York City versus the Sea
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, scientists and officials are trying to protect the largest U.S. city from future floods
February 6, 2013
Landsat 8 Satellite Set to Rescue Global-Change Observations
The launch next week comes at a time when the future of the world's longest-running set of Earth-observations data is at stake
November 13, 2012
Obama Victory Reopens Door to Emissions Curbs and Possible Carbon Tax
Reelected, Obama said he plans to ensure that the U.S. is a global leader in research, technology and clean energy. The "fiscal cliff" might even open the door again to carbon tax discussions
EnvironmentOctober 30, 2012
Hurricane Sandy Spins Up Climate Discussion
The destructive power of the U.S. east coast storm stems from factors that include, but are not limited to, global warming, Nature News reports
October 4, 2012
Is Fracking behind Contamination in Wyoming Groundwater?
Questions about whether hydraulic fracturing is to blame remain as the EPA prepares for peer review
EnvironmentJuly 30, 2012
Storms May Speed Ozone Loss Above the U.S.
Injection of water vapor makes the ozone layer sensitive to global warming and geoengineering
June 15, 2012
Earth Summit: A Report Card to Preview the Rio+20 Mega-Conference
The world has failed to deliver on many of the promises it made 20 years ago at an Earth summit in Brazil
EnvironmentMay 10, 2012
Climate Forecasting: A Break in the Clouds
Researchers are beginning to turn a corner in accurately simulating the large role of clouds and fine particles in setting Earth's temperature