Science News

In California, a growing number of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, are being treated with marijuana. This fact has sparked a heated debate. But as some doctors point out, the two most commonly prescribed medications for ADHD, Ritalin and Aderall, are essentially amphetamines. One expert even speculated that pot may prove to be a "wonder drug" for such patients.

A new study suggests that an ancient ocean may have once existed on Mars. Scientists reveal an extensive network of valleys around the equator, which would have funneled rainfall into an ocean in the northern hemisphere. This new map also suggests that the red planet once boasted a more temperate, humid climate.

Hundreds of icebergs that split off ice shelves in Antarctica are drifting toward New Zealand. Officials say the massive chunks of ice could pose a hazard to ships in the area. The nearest iceberg was spotted about 160 miles southeast of New Zealand's Stewart Island.

NASA and the space industry are looking at a human mission to an asteroid as a way to prepare for long stays on the moon and Mars. Teams are studying sending an Orion spacecraft -- NASA's replacement for the space shuttle -- to a space rock. But will the White House buy into the plan?

A new study says that since 2006, the melting Antarctic ice sheet has caused sea levels to rise faster than originally predicted. Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin used satellite images to track the process. "If the current trend continues or gets worse," says one researcher, "Antarctica could become the largest contributor to sea level rises in the world."