Latest science news in Earth & Climate
Fool's gold is the ocean's iron pipeline
Miniscule particles of fool's gold, spewing from hydrothermal vents, fertilize the oceans with iron, new research indicates.
Supporters of drug facility argue in Canada court
(AP) -- Supporters of North America's first and only legal injection drug site argued before Canada's Supreme Court on Thursday that the facility saves lives and should remain open.
After a three-decade hiatus, sea-level rise may return to the west coast
The West Coast of North America has caught a break that has left sea level in the eastern North Pacific Ocean steady during the last few decades, but there is...
Wild April 2011 Weather: Historic Month by the Numbers
Tornadoes and wildfires highlight deadly month.
Water near 'fracking' sites contaminated?
DURHAM, N.C., May 10 (UPI) -- Groundwater wells in northeastern Pennsylvania and upstate New York are contaminated by methane as a result of "fracking" gas drilling, a university study...
Major U.S. oil pipeline closed
CALGARY, Alberta, May 10 (UPI) -- Canadian pipeline company TransCanada said a section of its Keystone oil pipeline would remain out of service for several days following a weekend...
Recipes for Health: Whole Wheat Spaghetti With Green Garlic and Chicory
Inspired by a classic pasta, this dish includes chicory, a bitter green much loved in southern Italy.
Cost effective CO2 removal decades away
PRINCETON, N.J., May 9 (UPI) -- Technologies to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow human-driven climate change won't be economically feasible for decades, U.S. researchers say.
Consumption, carbon emissions and international trade
Accurately calculating the amount of carbon dioxide emitted in the process of producing and bringing products to our doorsteps is nearly impossible, but still a worthwhile effort, two researchers claim...
Soils of U.K., Europe drying out
PARIS, May 9 (UPI) -- Satellite measurements show that soils of Britain and Europe are drying out from record low rainfall in the region this spring, researchers say.
Booming Chile grapples with uneven industrial growth
SANTIAGO, Chile, May 9 (UPI) -- Chile's economy is booming but officials warn currency appreciation, inflation and continuing dependence on commodities exports all carry risks that can spoil chances...
In a Changing Antarctica, Some Penguins Thrive as Others Suffer
Relentless warming is taking a toll on Adélie and emperor penguins.
Robotics: A tiltable head could improve the ability of undulating robots to navigate disaster debris
Researchers have built a robot that can penetrate and "swim" through granular material. In this study, they show that by varying the shape of the robot's head or by tilting...
Massive hydroelectric project faces test in Chile
A $3.2 billion hydroelectric project billed as key to satisfying Chile's growing energy needs faces a major hurdle Monday as an environmental panel decides whether or not to give it...
YouTube adds thousands of movies for rent online
YouTube on Monday added 3,000 new movies for "rent" online in the United States as it continued an evolution aimed at wooing viewers away from television.
Close Call: Ozone Hole Nearly Opens Over Arctic
Unusually cold weather in the stratosphere destroys 40 percent of the Arctic ozone layer.
NASA Scientist Helps Teens Sue Government over Climate Change
A lawsuit demands the federal government address carbon dioxide emissions.
China to boost nuclear safety standards
BEIJING, May 9 (UPI) -- China plans to upgrade emergency procedures for nuclear power plants, a government official said Sunday.
VIDEO: UK strawberries flourish in heatwave
While many farmers in the UK are concerned over the unusually dry season, strawberry farmers in Hampshire are counting their blessings.
Direct air capture of CO2 with chemicals
The American Physical Society has released a new assessment -- Direct Air Capture of CO2 with Chemicals -- to better inform the scientific community on the technical aspects of removing...
Minke whale rescued from N.S. river
Rescuers aided a large whale stuck in the shallow waters of a Nova Scotia river on Monday, the second time in as many days.
Germany at 40% nuke capacity, no issues
BERLIN, May 9 (UPI) -- Only ten out of the 21 reactors in Germany are currently running and there haven't been any outages, suggesting that government plans to drop...
Scientists develop method for managing glacial lake outburst floods
A method to manage glacial lake outburst floods depends on accurately assessing risks to communities downstream.
Willard Boyle, N.S. Nobel laureate, dies at 86
Willard Boyle, a Nobel laureate from Amherst, N.S., whose work paved the way for digital photography, died Saturday at 86.
Libya oil raids prompt warnings
LONDON, May 9 (UPI) -- Amnesty International accused forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi of carrying out indiscriminate attacks after weekend shelling of oil tanks in Misurata.
High energy prices good for shale
LONDON, May 9 (UPI) -- High energy prices and uncertainty surrounding the so-called Arab Spring in the Middle East could encourage new growth for shale gas, an advocate says.
Trumpeter swan sighted in eastern P.E.I.
A trumpeter swan, rarely seen east of the great lakes, has made an appearance in eastern P.E.I.
No plans to scale back Nabucco
VIENNA, May 9 (UPI) -- There aren't any plans to scale back the proposed Nabucco natural gas pipeline for Europe despite supply concerns from Azerbaijan, officials say.