Latest articles by Michael Schirber
What Is Relativity?
Albert Einstein was famous for many things, but his greatest brainchild is the theory of relativity. It forever changed our understanding of space and time.
Rock Art On Earth Draws Scientists to Ancient Lakes
Seven thousand year-old rock paintings in the Sahara desert have, somewhat serendipitously, helped uncover evidence of ancient lake beds.
Climate Conditions Help Forecast Meningitis Outbreaks
Wind and dust conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa can help predict a meningitis epidemic.
How Ancient Life May Have Come About
Evidence suggests a group of organisms, rather than one, is responsible for life on Earth.
What's the Temperature in Outer Space?
Is space cold or hot? It depends on whether it's sunny or not.
Can a Nuclear Blast Alter Earth's Rotation?
Nuclear bombs are humankind's most powerful weapon.
The Cosmic History of Life-Giving Phosphorus
Oddly, the element crucial to life is one of the least abundant in the solar system.
How Vital Is a Planet's Magnetic Field? New Debate Rises
Does our magnetic field really shield Earth from the solar wind?
Yellowstone Microbes Hint at Earth's Early Life
Microbes in Yellowstone's hot springs may be living analogs of the primordial microbes that constructed the oldest rock fossils on Earth.
Dinosaur-killing Space Rock Barely Rattled Algae
The identification of molecular fossils from algae in the so-called K-P boundary point to a very fast recovery of these organisms following the meteorite impact that killed the dinosaurs.
Tough Microbe Has The Right Stuff for Mars
Researchers study a lowly creature that could be a model for Mars life.
How Earth Got its Oxygen
The rise of oxygen on early Earth may have been caused by a microbial changing of the guard between methane-producers and oxygen-producers.
The Chemistry of Life: The Plastic in Cars
100 gallons or more of oil used to make the plastic parts.
Powerful Ideas: Fusing Atoms Just Might Work
Nuclear fusion facilities are trying to fuse nuclei using lasers and magnets.
Scientists to Resurrect Ancient Gene to Replay Evolution
Aim is to resurrect a single gene from an extinct species of bacteria.
The chemistry of life: The human body
The body is full of elements. But just which are essential and which are not is still not completely sorted out.
Powerful Ideas: Wringing Oil from Algae
The speed at which algae grow make them the best choice for supplying biofuels.
Powerful Ideas: Teaching an Old House New Tricks
Retrofitting old houses could do more to save energy than increasing the energy of new homes.
The Chemistry of Life: Where Oil Comes From
Despite our addiction to oil, we are not completely clear on how it gets cooked up under the ground.
Powerful Ideas: Humans as Renewable Sources
Humans can make power while they work out at the gym, push open a door or just walk.
How Green Gifts Could Power the Future
A few holiday ideas that can spread cheer by reducing energy consumption.
How Crazy Ideas Could Power the Future
The next X Prize competition is organizing a contest of crazy green ideas.
