Chasing neutrinos at the South Pole

Chasing neutrinos at the South Pole

World's iciest telescope looks down; sees ancient explosions

Neutrinos are odd: Extremely difficult to see, they travel through mass with scarcely a trace. A 1-billion ton detector in South Pole ice is now counting neutrinos, intent on understanding their origin and role in the universe, and even spotting echoes of the Big Bang. More »

Ocean fish in hot water

Ocean fish in hot water

The warming ocean is creating a trap that could doom fish

The ocean’s most valuable fish are caught in a vise. Areas known as dead zones are encroaching on their living zones and pinning them closer to the surface, where they are more vulnerable to becoming the day’s catch. The predicament is yet another side effect of climate change. More »

Science Teachers: Hip yourself to a great resource!

Science Teachers: Hip yourself to a great resource!

Teaching the science standards? Looking for extra-credit projects?

For 15 years, we've presented the science behind the news. The Why Files are accurate, engaging, entertaining and educational. Check our links from national science teaching standards to specific Why Files -- all 750 of them! Whether it's geology or archaeology, weather or human behavior, The Why Files has it covered. More »

The psychological price of job loss

The psychological price of job loss

Social science confronts a timely question

As poverty rises and high unemployment becomes normal, we explore the psychological impact of job loss: depression, anxiety, brooding, a feeling of defeat. What does social-science research say about the effects of unemployment? Does having more education intensify the harm? Could unemployment shorten your life? More »

In The News

Bus-size asteroid misses Earth by 37k miles!

Only two of the circles mapped show red.  Seven show yellow, while small impacts speckle the Earth.4B years ago, the "late heavy bombardment" burned out all life -- or not... High-temp bacteria could have survived in deep rocks. More »

Suspected twister kills 3 in Alabama

Tornado predictionTornadoes need wet air, dry air, and wind shear. Understanding these has lead to major improvements in tornado prediction. Is climate change boosting these storms? More »

Obama nixes tar-sand pipeline!

Large truck with crane scooping dark mud from a large plot of brown earth, green grass in backgroundCanada's oil-drenched sands are the second-largest oil reserves. Using the "tar sands" pollutes air and water, destroys forests and boosts global warming. A good idea? More »

Quake tests Indonesia's alerts; no tsunami, but panic/evacuation

Tsunami: The killer waveAfter earthquakes caused horrific tsunamis in Sumatra and Japan, we wonder where tsunamis get their power, how warning systems work, and what's left after the cataclysm. More »

Ship runs aground, 23 missing, 11 dead. Can tech be fail-safe?

Red blowout preventer overlays photo of oil and oil booms floating on seawater.When big tech goes bad, we ask: How do engineers design fail-safe mechanisms for nuclear weapons, radioactive waste, spaceships? More »


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