Earth & Environment Discoveries

NSF's public investment in science, engineering, education and technology helps to create knowledge and sustain prosperity. Read here about the Internet, microbursts, Web browsers, extrasolar planets, and more... a panoply of discoveries and innovations that began with NSF support.

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		Crimes to Climate History: Tiny Diatoms Offer Big Clues NSF-supported botanist Peter Siver of Connecticut College studies microorganisms that shed light on climate change dating back millions of years. Released  January 7, 2009
		Jellyfish Researcher Explains How and Why Jellyfish Swarms Form Why are large swarms of jellyfish and other gelatinous animals being reported in many of the world's popular fishing and vacation spots? Released  December 16, 2008
		Volcanoes, Not Asteroid, May Have Taken Out the Dinosaurs New theory of dinosaurs’ demise looks to India Released  December 8, 2008
		Placing a Dollar Value on Services Provided by Bats Advanced imaging and information technology reveals economic and ecological impact of agricultural pest control Released  November 12, 2008
		'Gone Bats' Over Aeroecology New scientific discipline studies bats, birds and other animals in atmosphere closest to Earth's surface Released  October 28, 2008
		The Bizarre Creatures of Madagascar Paleontologist David Krause describes his search for the ancestors of mammals that live in Madagascar today Released  September 24, 2008
		Glacier Movement Limits How Fast Sea Level Can Rise Study finds 3 to 6 feet by 2100 possible Released  September 18, 2008
		Bones in Lava Tubes Reveal Hawaii's Natural History Michigan State University's Matthew Cimitile describes a Hawaiian adventure exploring lava tubes in search of bird bones from endangered and extinct species Released  August 22, 2008
		Crumbling Walls of Ancient Chesapeake Bay Crater Threaten Regional Groundwater Supplies Saltwater intrusion into collapsing crater also allows microbes to flourish Released  August 12, 2008
		Supercapacitors Could Be Key to a Green Energy Future John Chmiola, a doctoral student at Drexel University, is doing groundbreaking work on supercapacitors Released  July 30, 2008
		Atlantic Coral Reefs Are No Match for This Lion Scientists detail the extensive damage to coral reefs in the Atlantic Ocean caused by invasive lionfish species, warn of potential catastrophe Released  July 29, 2008
		Methane Formation in the Oceans: New Pathway Discovered Significant importance for study of greenhouse gas production on Earth Released  July 10, 2008
		Environmental Programs in China Successful, Study Finds Key reforms could turn them into world models Released  July 10, 2008
		Long Wait Before Next China Quake? May 12 earthquake rare and unexpected, geologists discover Released  July 10, 2008
		Fossil Feathers Preserve Evidence of Color Organic material reveals remnants of color pigments Released  July 10, 2008
		Scientists See Squid Attack Squid Oregon State oceanographer Kelly Benoit-Bird and colleagues succeed in using sonar to track Humboldt squid Released  June 27, 2008
		My Research: I Burn Stuff U.S. graduate student Abigail Watrous on her research studying energy technologies and seeking practical and affordable alternatives to help developing communities reduce pollution Released  June 5, 2008
		Hunt for Fossils Finds Warning for Warming Earth Graduate student Ellen Currano provides a glimpse of paleontological fieldwork, describing how she collects fossil leaves for research studying the effects of climate change on plants and insect herbivores Released  May 27, 2008
		How Desert Dust Feeds the World's Oceans Scientists sample dust and trace metals in seawater to learn more about climatic change Released  May 9, 2008
		For Better or Worse, Modern Ocean Explorers Stay Connected Improvements in shipboard communications mean scientists can keep in constant touch, even when their research takes them to remote locations Released  April 28, 2008
		Microbes to People: Without Us, You're Nothing! How tiny microbes run the world Released  April 21, 2008
		Scientist Keeps Ben Franklin's Legacy Alive Adriana Bailey of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences interviews Yannick Meillier about using kites and aerodynamic blimps in his research Released  April 18, 2008
		High School Students Build Antarctic Submersible Two female high school graduates build an underwater, camera-equipped "rover" that can operate beneath polar ice Released  April 14, 2008
		Mysterious Compound Seen as Key to Ocean Life Scientists study chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) to gain a better understanding of life in the oceans Released  April 7, 2008
		Flying Into a Hurricane: A First-Hand Account A NOAA research meteorologist shares what it's like to fly into the eye of a Category 5 hurricane Released  March 27, 2008
		2007: Year in Review A look back at some of the NSF-supported advances and activities reported last year Released  January 30, 2008
		40 Million Electric Bikes Spark Environmental Dilemma in China Engineering professor Christopher Cherry reports on his study of the impact of electric bikes in China Released  January 24, 2008
		Quakes Under Pacific Ocean Floor Reveal Unexpected Circulation System Research upsets long-held view of volcanism-driven hydrothermal vents Released  January 11, 2008
		Winter Ice on Lakes, Rivers, Ponds: A Thing of the Past? Records over 150 years show trend toward fewer days of ice cover Released  January 10, 2008
		Clams Convert Air Into Food Trait no longer the domain only of plants Released  January 10, 2008