Archive for the ‘Natural and human-induced hazards’ Category


Planetary limits: More than just global warming - Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Scientists propose 9 limits on human actions: Wrecking ozone, over-using fertilizer, killing species could block key “ecosystem services.” Are there natural limits to fresh water use and pollution?



Driving while blabbing - Thursday, September 17th, 2009

How many dead? Research and real-life experience prove that people die when drivers pick up the cellphone. Even worse: texting on the road!



No joke: Laughing gas attacks ozone! - Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

The ozone layer protects Earth from UV rays: Twenty-two years after a treaty to protect ozone, how is the layer doing? What has happened to the ozone hole above Antarctica?



North Korea’s nukes - Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Underground nuclear tests have been the biggest roadblock to a comprehensive test ban. How are these explosions detected, and how reliably?



History of fishing - Thursday, May 28th, 2009

A new study finds a surprising number of fish, birds and mammals in the oceans 100 and 1,000 years ago. Can this information help regulators slow the decline of important marine animals?



Mass killings - Thursday, April 16th, 2009

After another mass murder — 13 dead in Binghamton, N.Y. — The Why Files wants to know why they pull the trigger. What are the warning signs of “rampage” shootings? Can they be prevented?



Investments: The psychology of money - Thursday, October 23rd, 2008

What does science tell us about dealing with money? Can thinking about money change your behavior? How do monkeys gamble? Is ‘homo economicus’ truly rational? Do some people thrive on financial risks?



Earthquake safety: It begins at home - Thursday, May 22nd, 2008

Hundreds of millions live and work in houses and schools that will collapse when the earth starts quaking. The lesson from California, where big quakes cause small death tolls, is this: Smart engineering can save lives.



Hungry? History has lessons for improving farm productivity. - Thursday, April 24th, 2008

After World War II, the “green revolution” sparked an explosion in farm output in developing countries. With soaring food prices and spreading food riots, what can we learn from the green revolution?



Aggression -Another feelgood emotion? - Thursday, January 24th, 2008

In the brain, dopamine carries signals that make us eat, take drugs and have sex. New research shows that dopamine plays a key role in rewarding mice for aggression.




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