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Biggest Natural Disasters of 2016: Year of the Earthquake
December 23, 2016 | CountdownHere are some of the headline-grabbing natural disasters that occurred this year.
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Ammonia Detected in Earth's Atmosphere for First Time
December 22, 2016 | ArticleIn an unexpected first, researchers have discovered ammonia in the troposphere, Earth's lowest atmospheric layer, a new study finds.
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What Are Biofilms?
December 21, 2016 | ReferenceBiofilms are slimy layers of microorganisms that stick to wet surfaces. They may cause up to 80 percent of infections.
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Obama Bans Arctic Drilling Ahead of Trump Inauguration
December 21, 2016 | ArticleThe Obama administration put vast swaths of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans off limits to oil and gas drilling to protect marine life, address climate change and safeguard the areas from development after President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
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Winter Solstice: The Science of the Shortest Day of 2016
December 20, 2016 | ArticleWinter officially kicks off Wednesday (Dec. 21), which marks the December solstice — the day with the fewest hours of sunlight of 2016. Here's why.
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Seafloor Robot Breaks World Record While Collecting Climate Data
December 20, 2016 | ArticleThe robot is the only of its kind, and the record it broke was its own.
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In Photos: Bizarre New Species Discoveries Include 'Klingon Newt'
December 20, 2016 | Image AlbumThe Greater Mekong region in Southeast Asia holds an incredible range of biodiversity, and new species found in 2015 include a "Ziggy Stardust" snake and a newt that resembles a Star Trek Klingon.
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Amazon: Earth's Mightiest River
December 19, 2016 | ReferenceThe Amazon River is a massive, intricate water system. It is by far the mightiest river on Earth in terms of volume and width.
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Molten 'Jet Stream' Discovered Deep Inside Earth
December 19, 2016 | ArticleA band of molten iron is churning slowly deep inside Earth, much in the same way as a jet stream, a new study finds.
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If an Asteroid Hits the Ocean, Does It Make a Tsunami? (Probably Not)
December 19, 2016 | ArticleA complex computer simulation has modeled the impact of an asteroid in the ocean and the results may surprise you.
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