Latest science news in Earth & Climate
The US must show leadership on biodiversity | Edward Norton
Next week's UN summit will set out bold plans to protect life on Earth. But unless the US ratifies the convention on biological diversity, the battle to halt species loss will be...
'Unprecedented' flood damage in Pakistan
AZAKHEIL, Pakistan, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- The need for aid in the flood-stricken parts of Pakistan is "unprecedented" as the nation struggles with the worst disaster in years, a...
NASA uses new method to estimate Earth mass movements
NASA and European researchers have conducted a novel study to simultaneously measure, for the first time, trends in how water is transported across Earth's surface and how the solid Earth...
'UK must act' on climate impacts
The UK needs to prepare itself quickly to deal with the impacts of climate change, government advisers say in a report described by ministers as a "wake-up call".
Eating broccoli could guard against arthritis
Scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA) are launching a groundbreaking new project to investigate the benefits of broccoli in the fight against osteoarthritis...
Home's electrical wiring acts as antenna to receive low-power sensor data
If these walls had ears, they might tell a homeowner some interesting things. Like when water is dripping into an attic crawl space, or where an open window is letting...
Yoga bear strikes a pose at Finnish zoo
Tourist captures Santra's stretching routine on camera, and expert says it may be a bear necessity to stay saneNot all members of the ursine community waste their time persecuting park rangers, corrupting their...
Synthetic fuels research aims to reduce oil dependence
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Researchers at Purdue University have developed a facility aimed at learning precisely how coal and biomass are broken down in reactors called gasifiers as part of...
Plans for license to cull badgers
The government has set out plans to license farmers in England to shoot badgers on their land, with tens of thousands of animals potentially targeted.
Learning to live on land: How some early plants overcame an evolutionary hurdle
Diversity of life would be impossible if the ancestors of modern plants had stayed in the water with their green algal cousins. Moving onto dry land required major changes to...
Researchers find selfishness can sometimes help the common good
Scientists have overturned the conventional wisdom that cooperation is essential for the well-being of the whole population, finding proof that slackers can sometimes help the common good...
Harnessing the benefits of groundwater
Groundwater storage can improve water security and help poor communities adapt to climate change.
A roof, a tank and rain
All it takes is a roof, a gutter and a tank to lift the poor out of water drudgery. But is it that simple, ask Aisling Irwin and Aditya Ghosh?
Water storage requires evidence-based approach
Coping with climate change requires a greater understanding of the options for water storage, writes hydrology expert Matthew McCartney.
We need a new metric for water scarcity in Africa
The current way of assessing water scarcity in Africa should be abandoned in favour of one designed for local realities, argues Richard Taylor.
Salmon's body language tells all: Body language can be an indicator of stress or well-being in fish
Automatic photo analysis may make it possible to continuously monitor and interpret fish behavior. Researchers in Norway have been collaborating on finding methods of measuring the stress levels and welfare...
Global fisheries research finds promise and peril
Global fisheries, a vital source of food and revenue throughout the world, contribute between US$225-$240 billion per year to the worldwide economy, according to four new studies released today. Researchers...
Cuckoos thrown off by climate change
Opportunistic birds shift victims in response to earlier springs
Italians Consider Hiding Seismic Data to Reduce Public 'Melodrama'
Should scientists remove seismic databases from public view to prevent panic among civilians living...
EPA marks 40 years of Clean Air Act
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is marking its 40th year by highlighting progress made under the four decades of the Clean Air Act,...
Researchers release new report on possible impact of gas severance tax
A severance tax on natural gas extraction in Pennsylvania would add to the operating costs of gas drilling companies, but the resulting increase in state revenue would yield positive results...
Grain rots in India as millions starve
NEW DELHI, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- In India, thousands of tons of excess grain have been rotting away, officials said, as millions of people are starving. ...
Human impacts on the deep seafloor
Scientists have for the first time estimated the physical footprint of human activities on the deep seafloor of the North East Atlantic. The findings reveal that the area disturbed by...
Measurement of mountains' rise is a first
Ten years of GPS data taken from New Zealand's Southern Alps have helped scientists determine how fast this mountain range is rising. New Zealand - Southern...
Australia's 'rainbow coalition' focuses on climate
Carbon pricing set to top agendas for the minority Labor government.
'Climategate' inquiries were 'highly defective', Lawson thinktank claims
Review for Lord Lawson's sceptic thinktank says none of the three inquiries into the hacked climate emails affair was objective or comprehensive• Fred Pearce: 'Review of reviews' lands some solid blowsNone of the...
When It Comes To Climate, 'Consensus' Has A Negative Connotation To The Public
Does expertise make the difference? It depends. When it comes to climate change, having a Ph.D. and a faculty position does not mean as much to the public...
Big Birthdays for Clean Air Act and OPEC
Reflections on anniversaries for America's clean-air law and the planet's oil cartel.