2014 State of the Birds report: Mixed marks for U.S. birds

While some wetland birds in the U.S. appear to be doing well because of conservation programs, other birds are experiencing steep declines in population numbers.

California drought linked to climate change, say scientists

Stanford researchers report that the drought now crippling California is likely linked to human-caused climate change. Other researchers disagree.

World population unlikely to stabilize in this century

Experts used “scenarios” to suggest global human population will stabilize around 9 billion by about 2050. A new statistical analysis tells a different story.

Clues to the rapid rise of birds

"There was no moment in time when a dinosaur became a bird, and there is no single missing link between them," said Steve Brusatte, who led the study.

The water in your bottle might be older than the sun

Up to half of the water on Earth and throughout our solar system likely originated as ices that formed in interstellar space.

Why is Antarctic sea ice increasing as Arctic sea ice declines?

Arctic sea ice continued its long-term decline in 2014. Meanwhile, sea ice on the other side of the planet was headed in the opposite direction. Why?

Ice crystals don’t melt inside these fish

Antifreeze blood helps fish called notothenioids survive in icy Antarctic waters. The down side is that the ice crystals in their blood don't melt as temperatures warm.

History of storm surge in Florida strongly underestimated

Northwestern Florida was thought to get hit by a hurricane with a five-meter (16-foot) storm surge every 400 years. In fact, the frequency may be every 40 years.

Newfound dino had huge nose, but why?

This dinosaur probably didn't have a keen sense of smell. Its big nose might have been used to attract mates, smash plants or recognize others of its species.

2014 Arctic sea ice minimum sixth-lowest on record

Sea ice in the Arctic continued its below-average trend this year as ice declined to its annual minimum. Meanwhile, in Antarctica, sea ice was at a record high.

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