Energy
Methane hydrates — natural gas molecules trapped in ice cages in permafrost and offshore regions across the planet — are an enormous potential energy source but producing them has been a formidable challenge. A new technology promises to get methane out of hydrate deposits safely and efficiently and sequester vast amounts of carbon dioxide in the process.
EARTH Magazine, January 2010
Sequestering carbon dioxide in underground formations may be one way to keep it out of the atmosphere. But, once buried, will the greenhouse gas stay put? Scientists recently traced the fate of carbon dioxide in naturally occurring gas fields and found that it mainly dissolved in formation water, not rock — but that should still keep it secure.
EARTH Magazine, July 2009
More than half a century after the invention of the silicon photovoltaic cell solar energy still contributes less than one percent to the United States’ energy portfolio. Now scientists are ramping up their efforts to chip away at solar’s two main shortcomings: high cost and low efficiency.
Mines Magazine, Winter 2008/09
Environment
Between the early 20th century and the mid-1970s, nations around the world used the deep ocean floor as a dumping ground for unused bombs filled with chemical warfare agents, such as mustard, sarin and tabun. These weapons are quietly rotting away on the seafloor and their impact on the environment remains largely unknown. Now a Hawaiian research team has begun a survey of one of the dump sites off the coast of Oahu.
EARTH Magazine, January 2009
One of the pillars of evolutionary theory has long been the notion that the DNA sequence is the only molecular information that is passed on from one generation to the next. But in recent years, an avalanche of studies has shown that epigenetic settings — specific markings on the genome that can turn a gene on or off — can be heritable as well. The fact that some of these changes are triggered by environmental influences suggests that there is much more to evolution than random variation followed by selection of the fittest.
EARTH Magazine, February 2009
Several corporations are getting ready to mine the pristine deep ocean floor for valuable metals. Scientists raise concerns over potential impacts on the deep ocean’s unique ecosystems.
Geotimes, November 2007
Thousands of abandoned coal mines in Pennsylvania have left a legacy: Mine drainage with sky-high metal concentrations is polluting the state’s streams and groundwater. Now a new technology implemented at the abandoned Marchand mine in southwestern Pennsylvania promises to become the world’s first economically self-sustaining mine drainage treatment system, restoring streams while turning collected metal oxides into commercial products.
EARTH Magazine, February 2009
Earth/Ocean/Atmosphere/Space
A new modeling study suggests that it rains rocks on exoplanet CoRoT-7b.
EARTH, January 2010
Ancient coral reefs off the coast of Kenya reveal an alarming trend of soil erosion in the country.
Geotimes, May 2007
The health of the world’s oceans is threatened today more than ever before. International education programs help address the global challenges.
International Educator, March/April 2007
Scientists discover that rain-making bacteria are distributed widely throughout the atmosphere.
Geotimes, May 2008
Chemical reactions between sea salt spray and industry exhaust can lead to ozone production, exacerbating coastal air pollution.
Geotimes, July 2008
Locked inside the world’s glaciers is a multitude of contaminants, ranging from mercury to DDT. As these icy vaults melt, the toxins trapped inside them are released into water supplies and food chains.
Geotimes, August 2008
Mind & Brain
New research shows that complex grammar may depend on a surprisingly simple memory system.
Scientific American Mind, April/May 2009
Mounting evidence suggests that a lifetimes of stress can make a person more susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientific American Mind, Oct/Nov 2007
To our brain, a near miss is as good as a win.
Scientific American Mind, July/August 2009
Cocaine changes the brain only after voluntary use.
Scientific American Mind, Oct/Nov 2008
A new study suggests that language is more than a communication tool, it may also play an important role in learning.
Scientific American Mind, June/July 2008
Speakers of different languages share an innate object order preference.
Scientific American Mind, Oct/Nov 2008
Selected Articles by Nicole Branan:
