Michael Schirber

Seven thousand year-old rock paintings in the Sahara desert have, somewhat serendipitously, helped uncover evidence of ancient lake beds.

Wind and dust conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa can help predict a meningitis epidemic.

Evidence suggests a group of organisms, rather than one, is responsible for life on Earth.

Is space cold or hot? It depends on whether it's sunny or not.

Nuclear bombs are humankind's most powerful weapon.

Oddly, the element crucial to life is one of the least abundant in the solar system.

Does our magnetic field really shield Earth from the solar wind?

Microbes in Yellowstone's hot springs may be living analogs of the primordial microbes that constructed the oldest rock fossils on Earth.

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.

Black gold has more in it than just gasoline.

Researchers study a lowly creature that could be a model for Mars life.

The rise of oxygen on early Earth may have been caused by a microbial changing of the guard between methane-producers and oxygen-producers.

100 gallons or more of oil used to make the plastic parts.

Nuclear fusion facilities are trying to fuse nuclei using lasers and magnets.

Aim is to resurrect a single gene from an extinct species of bacteria.

The body is full of elements. But just which are essential and which are not is still not completely sorted out.

The speed at which algae grow make them the best choice for supplying biofuels.

Retrofitting old houses could do more to save energy than increasing the energy of new homes.

Despite our addiction to oil, we are not completely clear on how it gets cooked up under the ground.

Humans can make power while they work out at the gym, push open a door or just walk.

A few holiday ideas that can spread cheer by reducing energy consumption.

The next X Prize competition is organizing a contest of crazy green ideas.

A new technology inspired by fish could extract energy from slow-moving currents.

A geothermal heat pump can work anywhere.