Sun's Magnetic Field Boosts Earth Lightning

Sun's Magnetic Field Boosts Earth Lightning

Author: Scientific American November 24, 2014 Duration: 3:11
When the Sun's magnetic field is pointed away from Earth, lightning strikes in the U.K. go up 50 percent. Christopher Intagliata reports

From the trusted pages of Scientific American comes 60-Second Earth, a weekly audio snapshot dedicated to the planet's most pressing stories. Each episode is a compact, carefully researched report that cuts through the noise, delivering clear insights into environmental science, climate research, and the evolving technologies that shape our energy future. You'll hear updates on everything from shifting ecosystems and conservation efforts to breakthroughs in renewable power and policy debates, all grounded in scientific rigor. The beauty of this podcast lies in its efficiency; it respects your time while deepening your understanding of the natural world. Released every Sunday, these minute-long segments are designed to fit seamlessly into your day, offering a quick but substantive dose of knowledge about the forces changing our environment. It’s the perfect way to stay informed on essential earth science without needing to block out a large portion of your schedule, making complex topics accessible and immediately relevant.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

60-Second Earth
Podcast Episodes
400-Year-Old Plant Resurrected [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:39
Moss can wait out being entombed in glacial ice for centuries. David Biello reports
Water Waste May Leave Us Thirsty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:45
Humans are using and abusing freshwater resources at an accelerating rate. David Biello reports
Moon Base Work Yields Clean Steel Process [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:39
A new method to make steel using electricity rather than flame could produce virtually no carbon emissions. David Biello reports
Remember the BP Oil Spill? Malformed Fish Do [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:40
A new study shows that sediments fouled with oil from the blowout in the Gulf of Mexico caused problems for fish embryos. David Biello reports
Air Gun Blasts Shatter Undersea Tranquility [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:46
Proposals to open the U.S. east coast for oil and gas exploration mean an increasingly noisy neighborhood for marine life. David Biello reports
Is Sustainability Even Possible? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:47
More than 40 years after Earth Day, human civilization is still far from the ideal of sustainability. David Biello reports
Cut Soot to Stave Off Sea Level Rise [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:45
Reducing certain kinds of air pollution could limit the rise of ocean waters and buy time to address CO2 emissions. David Biello reports
Penguin Species Could Be Climate Winner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:41
Although climate change will cause massive disruption, it could benefit some species, such as the Adelie penguin. David Biello reports
Extinction May Not Be Forever [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:53
The tools of synthetic biology offer hope for the resurrection of extinct species. David Biello reports