Latest science news in Earth & Climate
Scientist at Work: Snowing in Antarctica
Waiting for transport at McMurdo station in Antarctica, scientists are at the mercy of the weather.
Fledgling ecosystem in former open-pit coal mine in Germany lets scientists observe how soil, flora and fauna develop
How do ecosystems develop? A unique project could provide answers. In a former open-pit coal mining area in Brandenburg, Germany, a surface of six hectares was partitioned off and then...
Could Santa Claus be toxic?
The exact location of Santas Workshop has long been kept secret, but one thing every child knows is that he lives somewhere up by the North Pole. Its a...
Ashgabat lauds benefits of TAPI pipeline
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Building a natural gas pipeline through Afghanistan could help stabilize the war-torn country, the government in Turkmenistan declared.
Threshold sea surface temperature for hurricanes and tropical thunderstorms is rising
Scientists have long known that atmospheric convection in the form of hurricanes and tropical ocean thunderstorms occurs when sea surface temperature (SST) rises above a threshold. So how do rising...
Eutrophication makes toxic cyanobacteria more toxic
Continued eutrophication of the Baltic Sea, combined with an ever thinner ozone layer, is favouing the toxic cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena, reveals new research.
Killing salmonella and E. coli on fresh produce with half the normal food-irradiation levels
Engineers have developed a way to cut by as much as half the amount of irradiation needed to kill 99.999 percent of salmonella, E. coli and other pathogens on fresh...
Egyptian climate change atlas sparks debate
A climate change atlas that predicts a dire environmental future for Egypt has provoked a debate among academics and the media.
The worm that turned on heavy metal
Researchers in South America have studied the viability of using earthworms to process hazardous material containing high concentrations of heavy metal for the bioremediation of old industrial sites, landfill and...
Measuring air-sea exchange of carbon dioxide in the open ocean
A team led by scientists at the United Kingdom's National Oceanography Centre have measured the air-sea exchange of carbon dioxide in the open ocean at higher wind speed then anyone...
Ravenous foreign pests threaten national treasures
Foreign pests are eating their way through our national forests, destroying majestic scenery and costing taxpayers millions of dollars...
U.N. eyes waste sector emissions
CANCUN, Mexico, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Cutting emissions from the waste-management sector would go a long way toward curbing potential temperature increases, a U.N. official said in Mexico.
WikiLeaks cables: US pressured UN climate chief to bar Iranian from job
Rajendra Pachauri denies helping Washington block scientist from senior post on intergovernmental climate body• Cables reveal how US manipulated climate accord• US goes to Basics over Copenhagen accord tacticsThe US used backstage diplomatic...
Preventing gridlock -- developing next-generation Internet infrastructure
To keep pace with society's ever increasing data-transmission requirements, a new project funded under the EU 7th Framework Programme, is set to develop the next generation internet infrastructure to enhance...
Using satellite technology to map Mangroves
Mangroves are among the most biologically important ecosystems on the planet, and a common feature of tropical and sub-tropical coastlines. But ground-based evidence suggests these vital coastal forests have been...
Lancaster Sound to be conservation area
The federal government is moving to protect Lancaster Sound, a marine area in the Eastern Arctic, from development.
Steel-munching bacteria are devouring the Titanic, say scientists
The newly identified bacteria, isolated from 'rusticles' on the Titanic, could also damage vital underwater installations such as offshore oil and gas pipelinesIt may have been an iceberg that sunk the Titanic but...
Race is on to rescue stranded turtles
BOSTON, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Volunteers in Massachusetts say they are rescuing an unprecedented number of endangered sea turtles stranded on Cape Cod beaches this winter.
Combining different sources of biowaste to produce quality biogas
In Brittany, the foremost agricultural region in France, animal farming produces millions of tons of liquid manure each year. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses and meet current energy challenges...
Recycling and depolluting the phosphorus in livestock waste
Phosphorus is an ingredient in agricultural and household products such as fertilizer, detergents, etc. When released in excessive quantities to the environment, this mineral contributes to the development of algae...
Green: On Our Radar: Republicans Urge Opening of Arctic Refuge to Drilling
The current situation demands an "all of the above" strategy when it comes to diversifying the nation's energy portfolio, two officials write.
Nations 'rewriting climate plan'
The UN's former top climate official Yvo de Boer has accused developing countries, such as India and China, of trying to rewrite the Bali Action Plan.
The Technological Ups and Downs of a Korean Reunification
This week’s revelation from WikiLeaks of China's willingness to accept a South Korea-controlled peninsula in the event of North Korea's collapse and a year of boastful and often violent behavior...
IADB increases funds for climate change in the region
The IADB will lend US$3 billion a year to fight climate change. Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago have already received loans.
The ultimate climate change FAQ: Keep your questions coming | Duncan Clark
We hope to produce the definitive and most accessible guide to climate change, covering science, politics and economicsLast week we launched The ultimate climate change FAQ, a collaborative project designed to create the...
Maldives PM on climate change
President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives is one of the most vocal advocates of urgent action against climate change. He spoke to Stephen Sackur about why he is disappointed in...
More nations may pledge carbon limits at UN talks
(AP) -- More countries are expected this week to pledge specific actions to limit carbon emissions over the next decade, in what would be "very good news" for arduous...
Some Japanese take up weekend farming
More city dwellers are renting plots of land in the city or in nearby rural areas, where they grow their own vegetables and fruit. Underlying the trend is the philosophy...