Tag Archives: sidebar

Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect

By Agnieszka Biskup / May 7, 2010

Earth’s atmosphere works something like a giant glass greenhouse. As the sun’s rays enter our atmosphere, most continue right down to the planet’s surface. As they hit the soil and surface waters, those rays release much of their energy as …

Posted in Earth | Tagged

What is a planet?

By Jennifer Cutraro / October 8, 2008

The ancient Greeks first coined the name “planet,” a word that means “wandering star,” according to David Weintraub, an astronomer at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. Aristotle, the Greek natural philosopher who lived over 2,000 years ago, identified seven “planets” …

Posted in Space | Tagged

In Antarctica watch the heat (and your step)

By Douglas Fox / September 8, 2008
The author took this picture of scientists as they prepared to camp on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to study lakes and rives deep below. Credit: Douglas Fox

Behind the scenes: news detective

Posted in Weather & Climate | Tagged ,

The particle zoo

By Stephen Ornes / September 8, 2008

A discussion about the various particle types discussed in modern physics and how they oddly relate to animals in a zoo.

Posted in Physics | Tagged

Understanding electromagnetic radiation

By Janet Raloff / April 8, 2008

Here’s a simple guide to the different types of electromagnetic energy that move as waves.

Posted in Light & Radiation | Tagged

Jelly vs. jellyfish: What’s the difference?

By Rachel Ehrenberg / April 1, 2008

All jellyfish are considered jellies, but not all jellies are jellyfish. What gives? It turns out that having a body made of jelly doesn’t necessarily mean you are a jellyfish. For example, the animals known as comb jellies look in …

Posted in Animals | Tagged