Wednesday, 23 May, 2012

A high-pressure technique to break rocks caused an explosion of natural gas production — and alarming reports of groundwater pollution. How does fracking work? Can it be done safely?

If scientists agree that the globe is warming, aren’t hot, dry spells more evidence of warming? Yes, but. Last year’s Texas heat wave showed a blend of climate change and natural variation. More on the search for the fingerprints of global warming.

One-third of soils are degraded. Fighting desertification, soil erosion and nutrient loss may be expensive, but some soil-restoring techniques solve multiple problems.

Impacts and concussions can cause long-lasting, even permanent brain damage. Millions of Americans have traumatic brain injuries. Could experimental techniques help mice and people?

Refuge is site of effort to use ultralight aircraft to guide crane chicks toward Florida wintering grounds. Dangers remain, but it’s a step ahead for Americas’ largest flying bird, once reduced to 21 animals.

Why do mass killers pull the trigger? What are the warning signs of “rampage” shootings?

Rapid melting of Canadian ice sheet suggests that Greenland’s massive ice cap could melt and raise sea level much faster than predicted within a century.

What did the losing World Trade designs look like? What is the significance of a city skyline?