science

The World’s Largest Earth Science Experiment: Biosphere 2

The World’s Largest Earth Science Experiment: Biosphere 2

Scientists wanted to know if we could replicate the Earth’s ecosystems, so in the Sonoran desert outside of Tucson, Arizona they built a three-acre closed-system environment designed to do just that. Known as Biosphere 2 (Biosphere 1 is the Earth), the project was started back in the late 1980s. The idea was to test if we could re-create […]

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    When and Where to See the Super-Rare Supermoon Lunar Eclipse

    When and Where to See the Super-Rare Supermoon Lunar Eclipse

    There will be a supermoon lunar eclipse this Sunday Sept. 27 and if you miss it, your next chance won’t be until 2033. According to Discovery News, it’s a “confluence of three events: a full moon; a lunar eclipse, in which the Earth blocks the sun’s light from hitting the moon; and lunar perigee, when […]

    Hawaii on Verge of Worst Coral Bleaching in History as Water Temperatures Soar

    Hawaii on Verge of Worst Coral Bleaching in History as Water Temperatures Soar

    Hawaii’s majestic coral reef, which makes up roughly 85 percent of all coral reefs in the country, could be entering a perilous state. The state’s corals could experience the worst bleaching its history this year as surrounding water temperatures rise at abnormal rates, scientists warn. High water temperatures in #Hawaii expected to cause terrible #coralbleaching […]

    Stunning NASA Photos Reveal Sun, Moon and Pluto Up Close

    Stunning NASA Photos Reveal Sun, Moon and Pluto Up Close

    NASA is like that one friend of yours who always takes the best pictures. Last month, they gave us a rare glimpse of the dark side of the moon. And around the same time, they snapped a picture of the International Space Station as it crossed in front of the moon. And now, they’ve captured the Space […]

    Earth Has Lost Half of Its Trees Since Dawn of Civilization

    Earth Has Lost Half of Its Trees Since Dawn of Civilization

    An international collaboration of scientists has just completed the ultimate green census—by calculating that the planet is home to 3.04 trillion trees. The latest estimate is far higher and almost certainly more accurate than any previous attempt. But the bad news is that humans are removing trees at the rate of 15 billion a year—and […]

    Sea Level Rising Faster Than Expected, NASA Warns

    Sea Level Rising Faster Than Expected, NASA Warns

    New research underway indicates that at least three feet of global sea level rise is near certain, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists warned Wednesday. Sea levels have already risen 3 inches on average since 1992, with some areas experiencing as much as a 9-inch rise. Photo credit: NASA / Saskia Madlener That’s the higher […]

    One of World’s Fastest Melting Glaciers May Have Lost Largest Chunk of Ice in Recorded History

    One of World’s Fastest Melting Glaciers May Have Lost Largest Chunk of Ice in Recorded History

    With the world’s glaciers melting at record rates, the Jakobshavn—Greenland‘s fastest-moving glacier and one of the fastest melting in the world—may have lost its largest chunk of ice in recorded history. Massive calving event on Greenland’s fastest melting #glacier http://t.co/aRvxQcDOvf Images: http://t.co/fmoHfapp4o pic.twitter.com/VC4arPdVw0 — The Ice Age (@Jamie_Woodward_) August 20, 2015 The Washington Post reported […]

    Why Green Beans Are Fruits and Strawberries Are Not

    Why Green Beans Are Fruits and Strawberries Are Not

    When scientists classify fruits, vegetables and nuts, it all comes down to anatomy. But in popular culture, we often get it all mixed up calling fruits vegetables and vegetables fruits. Thankfully, the good people at SciShow are here to clear things up. They’ve put together a video that explains how common produce items should really be classified. Sure, […]

    NASA: ‘If You See One Meteor Shower This Year, Make It the Perseids’

    NASA: ‘If You See One Meteor Shower This Year, Make It the Perseids’

    One of the best meteor showers of the year—the Perseids—will delight stargazers this week. “If you see one meteor shower this year, make it August’s Perseids or December’s Geminids,” NASA says. “The Perseids feature fast and bright meteors that frequently leave trains, and in 2015 there will be no moonlight to upstage the shower.” Plus, August is […]