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Featured Stories

Dive into the world of science! Read these stories and narratives to learn about news items, hot topics, expeditions underway, and much more. Use an RSS reader, browser extension, or software to get updates when new Featured Stories are posted.

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South Napa Earthquake – One Year Later

South Napa Earthquake – One Year Later

One year ago, the largest earthquake in over 25 years hit the San Francisco Bay Area, causing significant damage in California’s famous Napa Valley...

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USGS Scientists Study Effects of Gold King Mine Release

USGS Scientists Study Effects of Gold King Mine Release

On August 5, while investigating the Gold King Mine in southwestern Colorado, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency accidentally triggered the...

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Nearly Half of Americans Exposed to Potentially Damaging Earthquakes

Nearly Half of Americans Exposed to Potentially Damaging Earthquakes

More than 143 million Americans living in the 48 contiguous states are exposed to potentially damaging ground shaking from earthquakes. When the...

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World's Largest Alligator Satellite Telemetry Study Raises the Bar in Lowcountry

World's Largest Alligator Satellite Telemetry Study Raises the Bar in Lowcountry

The largest American alligator satellite telemetry-tracking study worldwide is lurking in South Carolina’s Lowcountry.

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Four Million Acres Burned, And a Few Questions About Alaska's Future

Four Million Acres Burned, And a Few Questions About Alaska's Future

It’s only the middle of July, and the 2015 Alaska fire season is already the third largest since reliable records began in 1950 with over 4.75 million...

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Landsat Sees Eye of the Sahara

Landsat Sees Eye of the Sahara

Located near the western edge of the Sahara Desert, the Eye of the Sahara is a feature that resembles a large eye when viewed from space. Also known...

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Researchers Seek a Sneak Peek Into the Future of Forests

Researchers Seek a Sneak Peek Into the Future of Forests

In May 2015, scores of scientists from dozens of research institutions descended on a patch of forest in central North Carolina, taking samples of...

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A New Way to Find Old Maps

A New Way to Find Old Maps

How did your neighborhood look in the 1900s?  Now there’s an easier way to find out.

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Coloring the Sky, Powering our Lives

Coloring the Sky, Powering our Lives

As the brilliant blooms burst above you this Fourth of July, you might wonder how they get those brilliant colors. 

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Summer Starts with a Simmering Geomagnetic Storm

Summer Starts with a Simmering Geomagnetic Storm

A severe geomagnetic storm occurred from June 21-23, 2015; the storm arose in response to variable solar-wind conditions emanating from the Sun. The...

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In Hot Water: Climate Change Reaches Underwater & Impacts Freshwater Fisheries

In Hot Water: Climate Change Reaches Underwater & Impacts Freshwater Fisheries

On July 4th, the first Independence Day fireworks will shoot into the sky reflecting off the nearby lake or river, making that familiar pop! pop...

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The Buzz on Native Bees

The Buzz on Native Bees

Bees are nearly ubiquitous, occurring on every continent except Antarctica. Wherever there are insect-pollinated flowering plants — forest, farms...

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