Author Archives: Stephen Ornes

The sinking city

By Stephen Ornes / April 9, 2012
People in Venice, nicknamed the “City of Water,” use long boats called gondolas to navigate the city’s canals. Credit: Central Intelligence Agency

Venice, Italy continues to slip into the sea

Posted in Earth | Tagged

Becoming human

By Stephen Ornes / April 4, 2012
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Climate may have influenced the evolution of humans and other humanlike species

Posted in Ancient Times, Humans & Health | Tagged

Flipping icebergs

By Stephen Ornes / April 3, 2012
Caption: This iceberg is floating in a fjord in Greenland; it probably broke off an ice shelf.

Capsizing icebergs may release as much energy as a bomb

Posted in Earth, Earth & Sky | Tagged

Water’s worldwide travels

By Stephen Ornes / April 2, 2012
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Scientists track the movement of ‘virtual water,’ used in the production of goods and exchanged among nations

Posted in Environment & Pollution | Tagged

Dino drama

By Stephen Ornes / March 28, 2012
This Triceratops skull is on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Credit: etee/Flickr

Scientists study skulls to determine whether Triceratops and Torosaurus were two different species

Posted in Dinosaurs & Fossils, Life | Tagged

Squeeze power

By Stephen Ornes / March 27, 2012
The blue glow in the sole of this shoe shows a chemical reaction at work. Credit: H. T. Baytekin and B. Baytekin

Under pressure, plastics produce energy

Posted in Chemistry | Tagged

Twist and shake

By Stephen Ornes / March 21, 2012
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A new look at the shape of the San Andreas Fault suggests future earthquakes may be stronger than previously thought

Posted in Earth | Tagged

Early toehold on land

By Stephen Ornes / March 20, 2012
An ancient five-toed fossil discovered in Scotland is the oldest and smallest foot ever discovered. Credit: J. Clack

A five-toed fossil now holds the record for smallest, oldest foot ever found

Posted in Dinosaurs & Fossils | Tagged

Too fast to be true

By Stephen Ornes / March 14, 2012
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Human error, not new physics, may explain surprising speeds of tiny neutrinos

Posted in Light & Radiation | Tagged

Fishy chatter

By Stephen Ornes / March 6, 2012
Caption: Scientists recently recorded the sounds of the deep and picked up noises from humpback whales, shown here near the surface. Credit: NOAA

Scientists record unidentified noises in the deep sea

Posted in Animals | Tagged