Latest science news in Earth & Climate
US climate change bill is blocked
A US law that would have introduced a cap on carbon emissions is blocked by senators.
Nasa climate reports 'swayed by politics'
Appointees placed by the Bush administration acted to play down and distort global warming findings
New round of climate talks opens in Germany
(AP) -- A tax on airline tickets and an auction of pollution rights are just two ideas likely to be studied at a 162-nation conference examining ways of raising...
For barn swallows, feathers make the man, says CU-Boulder study
University of Colorado at Boulder Assistant Professor Rebecca Safran of the ecology and evolutionary biology department retrieves a North American barn swallow from a mist net for marking and release....
Amazon Ambassador
In this history of the Amazon, a scholar builds his case for the benefits of rivers, rain forests and native inhabitants.
Spectrum auction at $2B and counting
The second week of the auction of public airwaves - which is expected to resulted in new cellphone providers - kicked off on Monday, with at least $2 billion destined...
Ontario, Quebec unveil carbon cap-and-trade plan
The governments of Quebec and Ontario have formally agreed to work together to cut greenhouse gas emissions and further integrate their economies.
Big Quakes Cause Temblors Worldwide
Scientists have agreed that strong earthquakes produce aftershocks within the region, but many did not believe that temblors of magnitude 7 and above could trigger smaller quakes on the other...
Fatal Utah coal mine collapse covered 50 acres
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The 2007 underground collapse of a Utah coal mine, which resulted in the deaths of six miners and three rescuers, covered 50 acres, or the area...
Soil studies might lead to new drugs
COVENTRY, England, June 2 (UPI) -- British scientists said they are convinced the pharmaceutical industry gave up on soil bacteria as a source of antibiotics far too soon.
Images reveal 'rapid forest loss'
Satellite images reveal the "rapid deforestation" of Papua New Guinea's rainforests over the past 30 years.
Complex dynamics underlie bark beetle eruptions
Forest management that favors single tree species and climate change are just two of the critical factors making forests throughout western North America more susceptible to infestation by bark beetles,...
Researchers boost yields of rice-waste biofuel
Scientists have developed a method that boosts the yield and slashes the cost of producing biogas from rice-harvest waste.
India to employ aircraft in cyclone forecasting
The United States is sharing its forecast technology with India to improve target prediction of cyclones whipping up in the Bay of Bengal.
National Avian Flu Research Project Receives New $5 Million
As a human avian influenza pandemic remains a very real global threat, the University of Maryland-based Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza Coordinated Agricultural Project, AICAP, has been re-funded with...
Iceland and Norway export whale
Icelandic and Norwegian companies begin exporting whalemeat to Japan, angering conservation groups.
Lead leaching and faucet corrosion in PVC home plumbing
Scientists in Virginia are reporting that home plumbing systems constructed with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic pipes may be more susceptible to leaching of lead and copper into drinking water than...
How Sugar Changed the World
Sugar: The sweet stuff once played a major role in one of the sourest eras in modern times.
Scary Details of Sichuan Quake Revealed
Ground jolted at least 5 feet during China's earthquake.
Opinion: Appreciating natures services
Nature provides us with many services, but we need to better understand the processes behind them to ensure ongoing delivery and appropriate valuation, believes Gary Luck.
Senate takes up climate bill
(AP) -- Most senators acknowledge that climate change poses a major environmental threat, but getting agreement on how to deal with it is another matter.
Kew Gardens Provides Climate For Agricultural Change
A device to help some of the most impoverished farmers in Africa maximize their crop yields is being tested at London's Kew Gardens. The sensor device gathers data on air...
World's Fastest-growing Mud Volcano Is Collapsing, Says New Research
The world's fastest-growing mud volcano is collapsing and could subside to depths of more than 140 meters with consequences for the surrounding environment, according to new research. As the second...
Winters kill New Zealanders
New Zealand's excess winter death rate is higher than many colder countries and hasn't dropped in twenty years according to a study.
Ammonia may cause ecosystem damage
SACRAMENTO, June 1 (UPI) -- Ammonia created as a byproduct of human waste may be causing significant damage to the ecosystem around Sacramento, Calif., scientists say.
Brazil's Lula defends biofuels, hits out at oil speculation
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva rejected Sunday claims that biofuels made from sugar cane are contributing to the global food crisis, and argued that oil speculation was a...
Satellite assesses earthquake damage
Australian scientists have produced a detailed satellite assessment of the area affected by the China earthquake, helping authorities assess the level of damage.
'Super Sherpa' climbs to clean up Everest
The first time Apa Sherpa climbed Mount Everest it was just to get to the top. When he conquered the peak an eighteenth time just over a week ago, breaking...