Thursday, 9 February, 2012

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.

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?

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?

Land use: When it changes, so does the climate! The plow and the thermometer: What relationship?

Don’t leave any goodies behind at the crime scene. Collect the bugs. Collect the maggots, and don’t forget to collect the ransom note. Forensic science — it’s better than you think!

Farms release airborne, drug-resistant bacteria, and indoor air could be making you sick. More news about the particles we breathe every day.

Tropical botanists strive to save rain forest plants and ecosystems. What is the role of plants in traditional society? Can plant-derived chemicals become a valuable commodity — and help preserve natural places?