As federal agencies look to slash costs, facilities become obvious targets. But cutting funds to these vital programs may have far-reaching consequences.
cool tools
Posted inScience Updates
Using Sounds from the Ocean to Measure Winds in the Stratosphere
Stratospheric winds deflect acoustic waves from the oceans. With the right data and the math to analyze them, these waves tell us about the weather aloft.
Posted inNews
Autonomous Undersea Technologies to Vie for New XPRIZE
The competition aims at improved health and understanding of Earth's oceans by spurring teams to devise better robotic technologies for seafloor mapping and exploration.
Posted inOpinions
Taking the Pulse of the Earth's Surface Systems
As human activity alters the Earth's surface environment in unprecedented ways, a comprehensive survey campaign is necessary to predict future impacts.
Posted inNews
3-D Models Put Scientists, Students in Touch with Planets
Three-dimensional printing gives planetary scientists new ways to explore distant worlds and engage students.
Posted inFeatures
Kepler: A Giant Leap for Exoplanet Studies
NASA's low-cost space telescope opened up a universe of possibilities for scientists who scour space in search of planets—and possibly life.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Airborne Sensor Can Track Photosynthesis Efficiency
Remote estimation of fluorescence emitted by plants can indicate variations in photosynthesis performance.
Posted inScience Updates
On the Rebound: Modeling Earth's Ever-Changing Shape
A new modeling tool easily computes the elastic response of changes in loading on Earth's surface to high resolution. Scientists test this tool using finely detailed data on glaciers' mass changes.
Posted inScience Updates
Puzzles Invite You to Explore Earth with Interactive Imagery
The EarthQuiz challenge can take you to virtual field locations with just the click of a button. Where in the world is this, and can you guess the significance of the geological features shown?
Posted inScience Updates
Dispelling Clouds of Uncertainty
How do you build a climate model that accounts for cloud physics and the transitions between cloud regimes? Use MAGIC.