An unlikely study of 60 years of acceptance speeches offers a peek into the human condition
Telescope to Hunt for Missing 96% of the Universe
One of astronomy’s greatest riddles may be on the way to being solved
EcocentricAgriculture
As Crop Prices Rise, Farmland Expands—and the Environment Suffers
As corn and soybeans became more valuable, farmers plowed more land—and disturbed native grasslands along the way
Solved: How Cosmic Rays Are Made
A ubiquitous form of energy is at last traced back to its source
Report: One in Five Reptiles at Risk of Extinction
A new study from the Zoological Society of London has found that one in five of the world’s reptile species are at risk of extinction
PHOTOS: Russia Meteor Explosion Shatters Windows, Injures Hundreds
In scenes that could have been from a Hollywood movie, a flaming meteor streaked across the sky and exploded over central Russia Friday, injuring some 1,000 people, according to Associated Press reports. The meteor, which struck …
The Storm of Space Rocks: Nothing to Worry About—For Now
Today’s Russian meteor and later flyby of a big asteroid are no cause for panic—but they are a cause for vigilance
EcocentricTransportation
It’s Not About the Range: How the Tesla/New York Times Controversy Misses the Point About Electric Cars
An electric car company accuses a venerable newspaper of faking a review of its flagship car. But both sides should realize that battery-powered vehicles need to a fill a different niche than gasoline cars.
Tipsy Fish: When Anti-Anxiety Meds Get Into Rivers
Psychotropic drugs pass right through humans and into wastewater—and that’s a problem for wildlife
EcocentricEnergy
President Obama Wants to Go ‘All of the Above’ on Energy. But Will Anyone Join Him?
In his State of the Union speech, Obama promised to boost oil and gas production even as he supports clean energy. It’s smart policy — but can he make it work?