Life's Little Mysteries Earth Archives
When a Hurricane Approaches, Should I Open the Windows or Tape Them?
March 16, 2010, Andrea Thompson
What not to do during a hurricane.
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How Do Cyclones, Hurricanes and Typhoons Differ?
March 16, 2010, Life's Little Mysteries Staff
You say hurricane, I say typhoon.
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How Strong Can a Hurricane Get?
March 16, 2010, Life's Little Mysteries Staff
The Saffir-Simpson hurricane only goes up to Category 5. But in theory, winds from a powerful hurricane could blow the scale out of the water, scientists say.
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Can Oil Extraction Cause Earthquakes?
March 15, 2010, Life's Little Mysteries Staff
Yes, but not the kind of quakes you hear about in the news.
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Can a Wildfire Ever Put Itself Out?
March 15, 2010, Life's Little Mysteries Staff
They may douse themselves with a little water, but not enough to squelch the flames.
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What Are the Santa Ana Winds?
March 15, 2010, Life's Little Mysteries Staff
Dry, hot winds that whip across southern California can fuel wildfires.
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Will California Ever Fall into the Ocean?
March 12, 2010, Ben Mauk
If plate tectonics followed the laws of Hollywood physics, Los Angeles would be tearing violently from the mainland as we speak.
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Why are Oceans Salty?
March 12, 2010, Life's Little Mysteries Staff
Salts enter the ocean through rivers, which, before entering pass over rocks and soil, and pick up salt along the way.
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What Triggers an Avalanche?
March 12, 2010, Robert Roy Britt
The typical avalanche, traveling at 80 mph, is anything but fluffy and rarely triggered by noise.
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What's a Monsoon?
March 12, 2010, Robert Roy Britt
If it isn't a storm, then what is it?
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Does Hot Water Freeze Faster Than Cold Water?
March 12, 2010, Life's Little Mysteries Staff
Whether or not hot water can freeze faster than cold may seem like a no-brainer.
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How Hot Is the Yellowstone Hotspot?
March 12, 2010, Life's Little Mysteries Staff
Yellowstone National Park's hotspot, which powers the park's famous geysers, is tepid at best, according to a new study.
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Can a Nuclear Blast Alter Earth's Rotation?
March 12, 2010, Michael Schirber
Nuclear bombs are humankind's most powerful weapon
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Do Tornadoes Strike Outside the United States?
March 12, 2010, Life's Little Mysteries Staff
Tornadoes are a worldwide phenomenon, touching down in every continent save Antarctica.
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Is the Red Sea Really Red?
March 12, 2010, Life's Little Mysteries Staff
The Red Sea occasionally takes on a reddish-brown hue when a type of cyanobacteria dies off.
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How Far Away is the Horizon?
March 12, 2010, Life's Little Mysteries Staff
Depends on your height, the temperature, weather and topography.
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Why Do Icebergs Float?
March 12, 2010, Life's Little Mysteries Staff
There are several reasons. The first is due to one of water's many amazing properties.
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What's the Most Earthquake-prone State in the U.S.?
March 12, 2010, Life's Little Mysteries Staff
You might guess California, and you'd be wrong.
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Do Tornadoes Strike Only in Spring?
March 12, 2010, Life's Little Mysteries Staff
Beware: they can strike in almost any season.
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