Latest science news in Earth & Climate
Vatican critical of IVF Nobel win
A Vatican official says the awarding of a Nobel prize to British IVF pioneer Robert Edwards was "completely out of order".
Gazprom backs 2015 start for South Stream
MOSCOW, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- The first deliveries of Russian natural gas through the South Stream pipeline for Europe are scheduled for late 2015, Russian energy company Gazprom confirmed. ...
Video: Arizona Cacti
This Sunday Morning nature piece takes you among the tall cactus of the Saguaro National Park outside Tucson Arizona.
Scientists study ash of Iceland eruption
LONDON, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- British researchers say their study of ash from the eruption of an Iceland volcano will yield clues to how the material spreads in the...
Elevated nitrogen and phosphorus still widespread in much of the nation's streams and groundwater
Elevated concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, nutrients that can negatively impact aquatic ecosystems and human health, have remained the same or increased in many streams and aquifers across the Nation...
Saudi Aramco looks deeper into Ghawar
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- New technology to tap into porous rock formations in the Ghawar oil field in Saudi Arabia could expand production at the giant...
Oil spill response chief calls for third party to manage future disasters
The aim is to avoid public mistrust that ran high against the government and BP during the gulf catastrophe.Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, commander of the federal response to...
City gardens could be contaminated
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- As U.S. city dwellers turn more and more to home gardens to ease their monthly food bills, experts are warning that urban soils may...
Senate's NASA Authorization Bill Headed for House Floor
The NASA authorization bill passed by the Senate last month will appear before the House floor Sept. 29, lawmakers say.
Cause of dead zone in Gulf: Tile drainage directly related to nitrate loss
A recent study shows that the most heavily tile-drained areas of North America are also the largest contributing source of nitrate to the Gulf of Mexico, leading to seasonal hypoxia....
Segway owner dies after falling off river cliff
(AP) -- A wealthy British businessman who owns the company that makes the two-wheeled Segway has been found dead in a river in northern England after apparently falling off a...
Falklands oil quest receives more cash
STANLEY, Falkland Islands, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Desire Petroleum, one of the six oil companies exploring for hydrocarbons in the waters of the British-ruled Falkland Islands, raised new cash...
Scotland presses London on fishing sector
EDINBURGH, Scotland, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- It isn't too late for the British government to work with Edinburgh in the best interest of the fishing industry, the Scottish government...
London links climate to foreign policy
NEW YORK, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- British foreign policy is inextricably linked to tackling the challenges of climate change, the British foreign secretary said in New York. ...
Rare oasis of life found on floor of Yellowstone Lake
(PhysOrg.com) -- Montana State University researchers have discovered a rare oasis of life in the midst of hundreds of geothermal vents at the bottom of Yellowstone Lake.
Study finds brainstorming 'rules' can lead to real-world success in business settings
Researchers have long held that there are steps that can be taken to make brainstorming sessions more productive. New research from North Carolina State University finds that these recommendations actually...
World Cowpea Research Conference: Crop experts embrace legume prized for protein and resilience to hot, dry climates
A long neglected crop with the potential to halt hunger for millions in Africa, sustain the livestock revolution underway in developing countries, rejuvenate nutrient-sapped soils, and even feed astronauts on...
When Green Building Is Not Green Enough
Some energy and building experts say that the most popular efficiency standards, including the federal government's Energy Star building program, are not ambitious enough to tackle problems like global warming.
Que. blocks drilling in St. Lawrence Estuary
The Quebec government is imposing a moratorium on any oil or gas exploration in the fragile St. Lawrence Estuary, CBC/Radio-Canada has learned.
On Our Radar: The China-Russia Pipeline
President Dmitri A. Medvedev says the pipeline will help forge closer ties between the two nations.
Sports of The Times: It’s Not Too Early To Worry About Giants
With a season distinguished by uninspired play, player unrest and fan indifference, maybe it is time to panic.
Mining plan near Sequoia park divides region
Environmental and cultural interests battle economic needs in Fresno County dispute.A Mexican cement company's 100-year plan to blast gravel off a mountain at a scenic gateway to Sequoia and Kings...
Southland heat will continue, weather service says
Beaches are jammed as people seek relief from triple-digit temperatures. It's a departure welcomed by many after an unusually cool and foggy summer.Hot, dry weather in the Southland will continue...
Feature: Science, ‘sceptics’ and spin: framing the climate change debate
Alexendra de Blas investigates and details the role of scientists, deniers and the media in the public climate change debate.
Feature: Farming carbon
Adam Barclay writes about the hurdles of Australian farmers to generate carbon offset credits under the federal government’s National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS).
Can We Build in a Brighter Shade of Green?
Advocates of the passive-house standard for home design say it could greatly improve on America’s drafty houses. But it has caught on only in Europe.
Critic’s Notebook: In Arabian Desert, a Sustainable City Rises
Promoters of Masdar, a city being built near Abu Dhabi, say that it will be the first carbon-neutral city.
Thousands clear debris from the shore
Volunteers at 65 sites remove 50 tons of trash during the annual coastal cleanup day.On the surface, Redondo Beach Municipal Pier is the quintessential hot spot for California fishing. Every...