Freshwater content of the Arctic Ocean increased since 1990s

Freshwater in the Arctic Ocean has increased since the 1990s. The increase may be due to melting sea ice, input from rivers, and changes in ocean circulation.

Mercury in first image from orbit by MESSENGER

NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft, first craft to orbit Mercury, has sent back a historic first image of Mercury as seen from orbit.

Giant rabbit unearthed in Minorca, Spain

An ancient giant rabbit once lived on an island in Spain, as much as 5 million years ago. But it did not have floppy ears and could not hop.

Earthquake tasks to prepare for a major U.S. quake disaster

The U.S. has not suffered a truly devastating earthquake in more than 100 years. A new report noted the lack of disaster resilience after Hurricane Katrina.

Mous Chahine: No area on Earth immune from effects of greenhouse gases

EarthSky offers condolences on the passing of Mous Chahine (1935-2011). He will be missed. We recorded this interview with Dr. Chahine in 2009.

Texas site yields 15,000-year-old evidence of earliest Americans

An archaeological site in Texas has yielded almost 16,000 pieces of evidence that people were present in the Americas about 2,500 years earlier than thought.

Gene technologists: Today’s ingenious, controversial designers

Synthetic biology has arrived. At a stroke, gene technologists have become the world's most significant and controversial designers.

An orchid that smells like roadkill

An orchid from southern South Africa has evolved a novel way to attract carrion flies and use them as pollinators, by smelling like rotting meat.

Engineered bacteria secrete diesel fuel

Researchers patented a process involving a genetically-modified form of blue-green bacteria that converts sunlight and carbon dioxide directly into diesel fuel.

Water issues worry Americans most, global warming least

Water issues worry Americans most - loss of open space and global warming worry Americans least - according to a new Gallup poll.