How do scientists figure out Earth’s age?
In the early part of the 20th century, scientists still weren't sure how old Earth is. Nowadays, scientists use radiometric dating of various sorts of rock - both earthly and extraterrestrial - to pinpoint Earth's age. >> read more
Interviews of the Week
Water
- Carol Turley describes ocean acidification’s impact on marine life
- Robert Hirsch says U.S. doing more with less water
Health
- Philip Landrigan says common chemicals might be scrambling hormones’ signals
- Roberto Bertollini warns of global health impacts of climate change
Biodiversity
- Joe Pawlik: ‘Corals in decline, as Caribbean sponge population grows’
- Rebecca Lewison studies impacts of bycatch on ocean life
Earth
Energy
- Jim Rogers urges US, China energy firms to cooperate on reducing emissions
- Stefanie Held advocates carbon capture and storage
Agriculture
- Paulo Moutinho: ‘There’s momentum in Brazil now to stop Amazon deforestation forever’
- Johannes Lehmann on turning waste into a natural resource
Human World
- Chris Mooney on why Americans don’t trust science
- Melissa Finucane on the perception of environmental risks among Pacific Islanders
Space
Featured Content
Forests On The Edge
Hear scientists and other experts speaking about U.S. forests and forest issues>>
NASA Satellite Missions
Hear about how satellites are helping scientists understand Earth's changing environment.>>
Encouraging Dialogue On The Energy Challenge
Scientists at Shell talk about energy challenges and solutions>>
Nanotechnology In Agriculture
Scientists speak about how nanotech is changing the way we access and produce our food supply>>
Population Challenges to the Year 2050
Earth's population might reach 9 billion by 2050. How humanity handle its crowded future?>>
National Space Biomedical Research Institute
Scientists speak on medical research that's helping astronauts in space - and people on the ground>>
International Polar Year At EarthSky
Hear from scientists who have explored Earth's north and south poles.>>
Chronicles Of A Science Experiment
The stories of science are stories of people. EarthSky follows the science journey of nano research>>
Summit: America's Climate Choices
The National Academies responded to a request from the U.S. Congress in 2009.>>
Featured Scientist
Joe Pawlik
Joe Pawlik has been studying the ecology of Caribbean sponges for over 20 years. He is a professor in the Department of Biology and Marine Biology at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He has served on the National Science Foundation’s U.S. Coral Reef Task Force and the Marine Protected Area Federal Advisory Committee. ... >>
Rebecca Lewison
Rebecca Lewison’s research focuses primarily on bycatch of long-lived, air-breathing vertebrates, including sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. She is principal investigator for Project GloBAL, a joint venture between Duke University and the Blue Ocean Institute. Dr. Lewison is assistant professor at San Diego State University, in the area of conservation ecology. She holds a ... >>
Richard Gross
Richard Gross studies the Earth’s rotation. His research for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a geophysicist helps launch spacecraft at the correct time and position to reach their exact destinations. He has written many scientific articles on subjects related to the Earth’s rotation. Dr. Gross received his Ph.D. in geophysics from the University of Colorado ... >>
Chris Mooney
Chris Mooney is a 2009-2010 Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT, and author of three books on science. His latest is Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future. Mr. Mooney co-writes the blog The Intersection for Discover magazine. Chris is senior correspondent for The American Prospect magazine, and has contributed to a wide range ... >>
Thomas Karl
Thomas Karl, president of the American Meteorological Society, heads climate services for NOAA, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. He is director of NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center, and has authored, co-authored, or edited several books and over 150 scientific articles. Dr. Karl has also led several national and international assessments related to climate change. ... >>