Latest science news in Earth & Climate
Unusually hot temperatures slow plants' carbon uptake, scientists find
Tall grasses exposed to an unusually warm year of weather lose some of their ability to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere the following year, according to a U.S. study...
Arctic Ice in "Death Spiral," Is Near Record Low
The sea ice covering the Arctic Ocean has shrunk to the second smallest area on record, despite 2008's "natural" summer conditions. The ice may disappear in the summer within a...
A Cold Stare Can Make You Crave Some Heat
Social iciness feels so cold to those on the receiving end that they will crave a hot drink, a new study has found.
Hurricane Ike's Last Minute Turn Dampens Blow
A late swerve by Hurricane Ike as it approached Texas Saturday spared Galveston from an expected 25-foot storm surge, meteorologists say. But Ike still delivered a punishing hit.
New Geomorphological Index Created For Studying Active Tectonics Of Mountains
To build a hospital, nuclear power station or a large dam you need to know the possible earthquake risks of the terrain. Now, researchers from the Universities of Granada and...
Better hams with space technology
Space technology is now being used to help Spanish ham experts ensure that hams awarded the highly prized ‘jamon` label are worthy of the name. Technology used to measure the...
Automated System Provides Early Warning Of Natural Disasters
When disaster threatens, the first hours are crucial. Researchers have developed an automated system to provide early detection, forecasting, and warning of natural disasters such as floods and wildfires.
Crop management strategies key to a healthy Gulf, planet
Improved management of crops and perennials could go a long way toward alleviating the problem of hypoxia, which claims thousands of fish, shrimp and shellfish in the Gulf of Mexico...
Scientists dismiss whale poop reports
HAMPTON, Va., Sept. 14 (UPI) -- A scientist says reports of so-called whale poop along Chesapeake Bay in Virginia were actually potato sponges washing ashore.
Grenada blames slow nutmeg production on male tree
(AP) -- The world's second-largest nutmeg industry is rebounding very slowly from a 2004 hurricane because Grenadian farmers unknowingly planted too many male trees, which do not produce as...
U.S. Makes 1st Antarctic Night Landing
A U.S. Air Force pilot has landed a plane in Antarctica in the dark for the first time using night-vision goggles, a feat that could lead to more supply flights...
Report: Greenland seeks to kill humpbacks
NUUK, Greenland, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Greenland wants to remove its whale hunt from the jurisdiction of the International Whaling Commission, documents obtained by the BBC show.
Group: Global warming could cost Ohio its buckeyes
(AP) -- It's not the best-researched global-warming theory, but it could be the most horrifying to certain fans of college football: Environmentalists said Friday that climate change might push the...
Deep pit aimed at saving beaches
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Officials in Florida's Broward County want to blast a 7-acre sand hole into the ocean floor to help save the county's...
Ike Underscores Foolishness of Building on Barrier Islands
Barrier islands, some of the most dynamic landforms on Earth, are particularly vulnerable to storms.
Spooky Hurricane Science
To improve hurricane forecasting, NASA engineers are spending time in a spooky room where 'no one can hear you scream.'
Potentially toxic algae blooms hit Interior B.C. lakes
Some residents in B.C.'s Central Interior are being told to avoid drinking or bathing in their tap water following an outbreak of potentially toxic algae blooms.
The first new mineral with post-spinel structure is approved by CNMNC of IMA
Xiete is the first new mineral with post-spinel structure found by a Chinese-American team from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution...
Two Congressmen Honored with USGS Coalition Leadership Award
Representatives Norman Dicks (D-WA) and Ralph Regula (R-OH) will be presented with the first USGS Coalition Leadership Award on Monday evening, September 15, 2008. The USGS Coalition is an alliance...
Permafrost carbon content double the old estimates
New research indicates that the amount of frozen organic carbon locked away in the world`s permafrost regions - a major potential source of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane...
Record breaking underwater camera to be showcased to public
(PhysOrg.com) -- A revolutionary underwater camera, which has plunged to record breaking depths below the surface of the North Sea, will be showcased to members of the public at a...
In Hurricane Ike, bumpy ride with bird's-eye view
(AP) -- Amid the engines' roar, the Air Force Reserve pilots and navigator worked calmly as their huge plane neared the eyewall of Hurricane Ike. The gray cloud, looming...
Climate change could devastate Philippines: NASA scientist
Climate change could have a devastating impact on the Philippines, leading to widespread destruction of the country's flora and fauna and flooding the capital Manila, a NASA scientist warned here...
The perfect surfactant
Water droplets can be used as microvessels for biological assays thanks to a new surfactant developed by scientists in Europe and the US
WEEK IN PHOTOS: Phantom Fighters, Deadly Floods, More
A bear-bones attraction, a frozen fighter jet, the new September 11 memorial, and more are featured in our picks of the week's news photos.
Poor planning and corruption caused Kosi flood
The Saptakoshi embankment collapse at Kusaha, Nepal, on 18 August was not a natural disaster, but a man-made tragedy, says Dipak Gyawali.
High-tech wine labels track travel temperatures
(AP) -- Sultry weather can be hard on any traveler, and for wine it can be disastrous. A high-tech shipping label now being used by some in the industry...
NASA Report Explores Use Of Earth Data To Support National U.S. Priorities
The United States faces challenges in utilizing Earth science information to manage resources and protect public health, according to a NASA-sponsored report issued by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program....