Latest science news in Earth & Climate
Sally weakens to depression strength over Southeast
Hurricane Sally made landfall in the U.S. Gulf Coast early Wednesday as a Category 2 storm but weakened later in the day to tropical depression strength, forecasters said.
Air quality in New Westminster, B.C., worse than New Delhi as pier fire adds to wildfire smoke
For the past three days smoke blowing into southern B.C. has been so bad it landed Vancouver in the top three spots on a list of major cities that have...
Sally weakens to tropical storm strength over Southeast
Hurricane Sally made landfall in the U.S. Gulf Coast early Wednesday as a Category 2 storm but weakened later in the day to tropical storm strength, forecasters said.
Multi-stakeholder communication is key for better monitoring of marine ecosystems
A sustained dialogue must be established between molecular ecologists, policymakers and other stakeholders for DNA-based approaches to be adopted in marine monitoring and assessment, according to KAUST scientists and colleagues.
Satellite finds a strengthening tropical storm Noul
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite passed over the South China Sea and captured a visible image of Tropical Storm Noui as it continued to organize and intensify.
Mercury concentrations in Yukon river fish could surpass EPA criterion by 2050
The concentration of mercury in the fish in Alaska's Yukon River may exceed the EPA's human health criterion by 2050 if greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming are not...
Colorado's famous aspens expected to decline due to climate change
Using computer modeling, researchers simulated how the distribution of quaking aspen, a native tree known for its brilliant yellow and orange foliage in fall and the sound of its trembling...
Can pumping up cold water from deep within the ocean halt coral bleaching?
Rising ocean temperatures cause marine heat waves, which place stress on living coral animals, as well as the photosynthetic algae on which they depend for energy. A new study is...
Siberia's permafrost erosion has been worsening for years
The Arctic is warming faster than any other region on the planet. As a result, permafrost that is thousands of years old is now being lost to erosion. As measurements...
NASA sees tropical storm Karina's night moves
Tropical Storm Karina was making night moves like the old Bob Seger song. NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite provided an infrared image of Tropical Storm Karina's nighttime movement as it moved...
Attractive laundry hampers that make your dirty clothes look a little better
Style upgrades for your laundry bin. (Annie Spratt via Unsplash/)Laundry is a part of your life, whether you drop it off at a service, haul it to a laundromat, or do it...
NASA finds coldest cloud tops on hurricane Teddy's western side
NASA analyzed the cloud top temperatures in Hurricane Teddy using infrared light to determine the strength of the storm. Infrared imagery revealed that the strongest storms were on Teddy's western...
Fish, seaweed inspire slippery surfaces for ships
Fish and seaweed secrete a layer of mucus to create a slippery surface, reducing their friction as they travel through water. A potential way to mimic this is by creating...
Federal Reserve expects rates to stay near zero for at least a year
The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday it will leave interest rates unchanged -- and will likely keep them there for at least a year.
Tropical Storm Vicky weakening in Central Atlantic
Vicky weakened Wednesday morning, barely hanging on to its status as a tropical storm over the Central Atlantic.
Plastic pollution: Washed clothing's synthetic mountain of 'fluff'
Scientists calculate how many tiny fibres our polyester and nylon garments lose in the wash.
Synthetic clothing fibers contribute vast amounts of plastic pollution on land
176,500 metric tons of synthetic microfibers—chiefly polyester and nylon—are released every year onto terrestrial environments across the globe, according to a new study in the open access journal PLOS ONE...
Seismic monitoring may improve early warnings for glacial lake outburst floods
Vibrations in the ground may help to improve advanced warnings about sudden floods that result from glacial melting, according to a study published today in Science Advances.
Most landslides in western Oregon triggered by heavy rainfall, not big earthquakes
Researchers at the University of Washington, Portland State University and the University of Oregon have shown that deep-seated landslides in the central Oregon Coast Range are triggered mostly by rainfall,...
United Nations blames Venezuela for killings, human rights violations
A United Nations mission on Wednesday blamed the Venezuelan government for extrajudicial executions, kidnappings, arbitrary detentions and torture of residents since 2014.
Sally brings floods to Gulf Coast; Florida bridge breaks away
A section of a bridge over Pensacola Bay in Florida broke off Wednesday after Hurricane Sally caused a construction crane to topple onto the span, local emergency officials said.
Barbados to become republic, remove Queen Elizabeth II as head of state
Barbados Governor-general Sandra Mason said Wednesday her Caribbean island nation has decided to remove Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state and declare itself a republic.
Hurricane Sally barely above tropical storm strength over Alabama, Florida
Hurricane Sally made landfall in the U.S. Gulf Coast early Wednesday as a Category 2 storm but is now barely above tropical storm strength, forecasters said.
Paulette moves further into open Atlantic
Forecasters with the National Weather Service reclassified Paulette as a "strong" post-tropical cyclone over the North Atlantic on Wednesday, though the system retained Category 1 hurricane strength.
Researchers dig into Canadian North to understand carbon storage in permafrost
Researchers analyzed core samples from nine different regions across northern Canada. They found carbon isn’t just being released in thawing permafrost soil, it’s also ending up in water, potentially ending...
Reforestation can only partially restore tropical soils
Tropical forest soils play a crucial role in providing vital ecosystem functions. They provide nutrients for plants, store carbon and regulate greenhouse gases, as well as storing and filtering water,...
Colorado's famous aspens expected to decline due to climate change
Along three scenic drives through Colorado's Rocky Mountains in fall, tourists will see less of a brilliant golden tree in the next 100 years, researchers from North Carolina State University...
Hurricane Sally unleashes flooding along the Gulf Coast
Hurricane Sally lumbered ashore near the Florida-Alabama line Wednesday with 105 mph (165) winds and rain measured in feet, not inches, swamping homes and trapping people in high water as...