Latest science news in Earth & Climate
Ecologists brace for oil spill damage
Deepwater Horizon disaster looms over the Gulf coast, and beyond.
Scientists study 'glaciovolcanoes,' mountains of fire and ice, in Iceland, British Columbia, US
Glaciovolcanoes, they're called, these rumbling mountains where the orange-red fire of magma meets the frozen blue of glaciers.
Researchers model movement of radioactive materials in soil
Agricultural scientists are helping US Nuclear Regulatory Commission experts model the movement of radioactive materials in the soil. Their findings can be used to fine-tune the risk assessment studies that...
Australian researchers develop highest-yielding salt-tolerant wheat
In a major breakthrough for wheat farmers in salt-affected areas, Australian researchers have developed a salt tolerant durum wheat that yields 25 percent more grain than the parent variety in...
Cyclone 24S now all grown up and renamed Tropical Storm Sean
Weather systems that become tropical cyclones go through a couple of names before they mature, just like people with nicknames. Such is the case with Cyclone 24S in the Southern...
On Our Radar: Tracking Asian Monsoons
Using tree rings, scientists chart Asian monsoons back to the Middle Ages and link the collapse of the Ming dynasty to drought.
New navsat sensor improves water monitoring
(PhysOrg.com) -- The start-up company Star2Earth, reared in the ESA Business Incubation Centre in the Netherlands, will improve electricity production from a hydroelectric plant on Lake Laja in Chile by...
SOS! Major Oil Disasters at Sea
Ocean drilling and the transport of oil across the seas are dangerous work. The world uses about 3 billion gallons of oil a day. And sometimes, a few million gallons...
Eyjafjallajokull's Global Impact On Air Travel
Northwestern University scientists say Eyjafjallajökull and its massive cloud of volcanic ash have impacted mobility patterns in places far from Europe -- including the United States, India and southeast Asia. The...
New York state environmental
New York state rules out a controversial form of natural gas drilling in two watersheds.
Imagining a Jet-Free Europe
Millions of travelers who were stranded in Europe this week were mostly thrilled when planes took flight again. But many people had their first long-haul train experience in years, reminding...
Gulf oil spill feared as rig workers still missing
A deepwater oil platform that was hit by a massive explosion has sunk into the Gulf of Mexico, creating the potential for a major spill and underscoring the slim chance...
Acidifying oceans dramatically stunt growth of already threatened shellfish, research finds
New research shows that global warming and its effects -- in particular, ocean acidification -- have descended upon shellfish reefs, particularly those formed by the Olympia oyster.
Accidents Don’t Slow Gulf of Mexico Drilling
The gulf has become a major source of growth of domestic oil production for the United States over the past decade.
Glaciers melting in Bolivia and Mexico, experts warn
Glaciers that provide water to Mexico and Andean countries will disappear in the next 15 years because of climate change, studies indicate.
Proposed whaling harvest cuts panned
CAMBRIDGE, England, April 22 (UPI) -- The International Whaling Commission Thursday proposed reductions in whale harvesting for the next decade with Japan, Norway and Iceland taking part.
Sermeq Kujalleq - Jakobshavn Isbrae Retreat
Sermeq Kujalleq - Jakobshavn Isbrae RetreatThe Jakobshavn Isbrae, or Jakobshavn glacier, now becoming known by its local name - Sermeq Kujalleq - has been observed retreating since about 1851. Near the...
Earth Day Celebrates Green Way Of Life
The 40-year anniversary of Earth Day is sparking a renewed commitment to protecting natural resources. Across the country people recognize there are successes to laud, but also new challenges to...
Air Pollution Could Reduce Rainfall, Hasten Climate Change
Scientists studying the effects of particulate matter on cloud cover in the Amazon say increasing air pollution could have serious consequences for local weather patterns, rainfall and thunderstorms. The results,...
Taiwan Earth Day: Focus on emissions
TAIPEI, Taiwan, April 22 (UPI) -- Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou pledged to find a balance between furthering economic development while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Pitfalls of a Blue-Skies Perspective
Weather versus climate: a disconnect between sunny skies and a billowing cloud of volcanic ash.
Danger lurks everywhere. Let the pilots handle ash | Simon Jenkins
As with terrorism, swine flu and now aviation, the scientists offer absolutes rather than probabilities and the authorities panicThere are two skies up there overhead. There is one for the rich and another...
Spring fever blossoms in warm weather -- but is it a real ailment?
(PhysOrg.com) -- Two University of North Carolina medical professionals explain the 'spring fever' phenomenon and how seasons affect our mood.
Big Coal Booming on Earth Day
Global coal sales booming on Earth Day.
Shouldering Waste on the Trek Down Mount Everest
An explosion in the number of climbers at Mount Everest has prompted the Nepalese authorities to crack down on garbage.
Bolivia's fight for survival can help save democracy too | Naomi Klein
The people's summit to tackle climate change is a radical, transformative response to the failure of the Copenhagen clubIt was 11am and Evo Morales had turned a football stadium into a giant classroom,...
Earth Day: The Simple, Local Stuff
While pondering big issues like climate change and lost biological diversity, it's important to sweat the local details.
Skype offers free WiFi for stranded travellers
Popular voice-over-internet protocol service Skype is offering free WiFi for travellers stranded after the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland.