Science

A nurse adjusts the position of a patient's arm during dialysis treatment. The treatment requires trained staff that weren't readily available in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Hurricane Sandy Stranded Dialysis Patients. Lessons Learned?

4:12pm November 13, 2014

by Alison Bruzek

A quarter of the dialysis patients who were in New York City when Hurricane Sandy hit missed at least one treatment due to power outages. Yet, not many are prepared for the next disaster.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Obama, seen here during a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, announced pledges to reduce greenhouse gases.

China And U.S., Titans Of Carbon Pollution, Move To Cut Gases

12:30pm November 13, 2014

by Bill Chappell

China and the U.S. account for more than a third of greenhouse gases — making it vital that any broad climate plans include the pair.

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A photo illustration from the European Space Agency shows what a landing by the Philae robotic craft might look like on the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet. The lander headed toward the comet Wednesday.

Science

Comet Landing A Success: European Craft Makes 'Fairly Gentle Touchdown'

7:07pm November 12, 2014

by Bill Chappell

Millions of miles from Earth, the Philae robotic lander has settled on the comet's surface, the European Space Agency says.

These farmers grow maize, onions and other vegetables in a city in Ghana. They use groundwater to irrigate their crops.

40 Percent Of The World's Cropland Is In Or Near Cities

6:54pm November 12, 2014

by Eliza Barclay

Just how much of the world's cropland can we really call urban? That's been a big mystery until now.

What Exactly Are 'Monster Storms' And 'Bomb Cyclones'?

5:17pm November 12, 2014

The northern U.S. is getting a blast of unseasonably cold weather, thanks to what has been dubbed a "bomb cyclone." The Washington Post's Jason Samenow explains that and other odd weather terms.

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Successful Comet Landing A Major Step For Space Exploration

5:04pm November 12, 2014

by Geoff Brumfiel

The European Space Agency on Wednesday successfully landed a probe on the surface of a comet — something that has never been done before. But scientists say the lander may not be fully secure.

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For U.S.-China Deal On Greenhouse Gases, The Devil Is In The Details

5:03pm November 12, 2014

by Christopher Joyce

Scientists say a new deal between the U.S. and China on greenhouse gases is a positive move toward new models for controlling emissions, but that it won't keep the Earth from dangerous levels of warming.

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Tennis Players Are Getting Their First Servings Of Sabermetrics

2:27pm November 12, 2014

by Kevin Fixler

Players and managers in major team sports have leveraged sophisticated data analyses for years to improve game-time performance. Now one-on-one athletes are picking up Moneyball tactics, too.

Fishermen Ed Stewart (left) and Tannis Goodsen mend groundfishing nets on Merrill Wharf, in Portland, Maine, last November.

Regulators Ban Cod Fishing In Gulf Of Maine As Stocks Dwindle

2:13pm November 12, 2014

by Anne Mostue

The federal government is shutting down cod fishing in the Gulf of Maine for the next six months. But fishermen, who now face an uncertain future, dispute the government's cod counts.

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A plane flies over the Bardarbunga volcano as it spews lava and smoke in southeast Iceland on Sept. 14. The Bardarbunga volcano system has been rocked by hundreds of tremors a day since mid-August, prompting fears the volcano could explode.

Massive Volcanic Eruption Is Making Iceland Grow

1:29pm November 12, 2014

by Geoff Brumfiel

The eruption has been going for weeks. So far it hasn't been catastrophic, but it has been creating new ground.