Wednesday, 23 May, 2012

Pilot errors have dropped 40 percent over 20 years, but on-the-ground accidents have increased. Why have pilot errors declined? What work remains to increase airline safety?

Plug-in hybrids mean more than just extra spending cash for drivers, though. They could offer a new path through the maze of the electric grid, and help to boost the use of alternative energy.

Hybrid cars and plug-in hybrids boost auto efficiency and reduce pollution, but it’s a long struggle from the idea to the reality.

Wildfires are a tragedy, but are human actions making them worse? What is the role of global warming and zoning? Can we build safer houses in safer locations?

How do hurricanes form? How do we predict their paths? How can we improve predictions?

Using a chemical reaction that changes color when specific chemicals are present, a new “dipstick” may detect spoilage better than the human nose.

What would happen to the global climate after a nuclear war between India and Pakistan? Study says the planet would be dark and cool for 10 years. How much would food production decline?

Hurricanes, disease and heat deliver another body blow to Caribbean coral reefs — the centers of biodiversity, fish nurseries and guardians of shorelines. Must we kiss coral goodbye?

Where do sea turtles go when they swim in the sea? New information from West Africa shows a complex pattern of migration and gives clues about how to conserve these ancient mariners.

Global warming is changing the planet: Antarctica is melting, sea level is rising, oceans are turning sour. Killing Amazon forests spreads malaria, reduces rainfall. How sick is our Earth?