Latest science news in Earth & Climate
Aral Sea Recovers, Dead Sea's Still in Trouble
Scientists Struggling to Compensate for Water Diversions
Monitoring bridges: Early warning system for rust developed
Damage to concrete bridges caused by rust can have fatal consequences, at worst leading to a total collapse. Now, researchers have developed an early-warning system for rust. Sensor-transponders integrated in...
Ocean Acidification Poses Real Threat, Actress Warns
Ocean acidification is a real problem, and unless our weather breaking carbon dioxide emissions are substantially curbed, the ocean will continue to become more acidic, according to a new report...
Volcano Post-Mortem Triggers Clash
Industry Says Europe's Theoretical Approach Overstated Danger to Aircraft
Topography of mountains could complicate rates of global warming
A new study concludes that the future effects of global warming could be significantly changed over very small distances by local air movements in complex or mountainous terrain - perhaps...
Carbon, nitrogen link may provide new ways to mitigate pollution problems
A new study exploring the growing worldwide problem of nitrogen pollution from soils to the sea shows that global ratios of nitrogen and carbon in the environment are inexorably linked,...
Experimental explanation of supercooling: Why water does not freeze in the clouds
Supercooling, a state where liquids do not solidify even below their normal freezing point, still puzzles scientists today. A good example of this phenomenon is found everyday in meteorology: clouds...
Ash cloud's silver lining: bluer skies
(AP) -- As volcanic ash cast a shadow over millions of lives, Londoners and other city dwellers across Europe were treated to a rare spectacle of nature: Pristine, blue...
'Paltry' carbon curbs point to 3C
Pledges made at the Copenhagen summit are very unlikely to keep global warming below 2C, researchers find.
Threats to Earth: 7 Little-Known Ecological Hazards
Many threats to Earth are widely discussed. But many lesser known ecological hazards lurk.
Troops guard water pumps in Bangladesh
DHAKA, Bangladesh, April 21 (UPI) -- Army troops are guarding water pumps in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, as it faces severe water shortages.
More accurate mapping of ash cloud from volcano in Iceland
Scientists are following the progress of the ash cloud from the Eyjafjallajökul volcano across Denmark. New research provides more details about the actual height and development of the ash cloud...
How Much Volcanic Ash Is Too Much for a Jet Engine?
Air travel in Europe inched back to normal Wednesday, as officials estimated that newly opened flight routes would permit air traffic to approach 75 percent of its normal capacity. Ash...
Animal feed, not automobiles, makes the San Joaquin Valley a smog hotspot
A new study identifies cattle feed as a possible culprit in the long-standing mystery of why California's San Joaquin Valley -- a moderately-populated agricultural region -- has higher levels of...
Environmental Science: New life for the Dead Sea?
A conduit from the Red Sea could restore the disappearing Dead Sea and slake the region's thirst. But such a massive engineering project could have untold effects, reports Josie Glausiusz.
Research restores credit for an engineering feat
Carved in stone on a Civil War-era bridge -- a world-class feat of engineering that stands a couple miles northwest of Washington - are the names of builders and...
Iran sinks $5 billion into South Pars
TEHRAN, April 21 (UPI) -- The Iranian government will invest $5 billion to develop two sections of the giant offshore South Pars gas field in the Persian Gulf, officials...
Low-tech cool: Shade trees for subtropical streets
Shade trees are the superstars of urban landscapes. In addition to their intrinsic aesthetic qualities, these low-tech workhorses reduce air and noise pollution, provide habitat for wildlife, increase property values,...
Cover crop mulches tested for no-till organic onions
Conservation tillage encompasses a range of techniques for establishing crops in the previous crop's residues, which are purposely left on the soil surface. The principal benefits of conservation tillage are...
Coast Guard divers at W.Va. shipwreck
CHARLESTON, W.Va., April 21 (UPI) -- The Kanawha River in West Virginia is closed to vessel traffic as salvage efforts begin at the sunken towing vessel Misty Dawn, the...
New Biofuel Process May Change Chemical Industry
A new "gasification" method of converting biomass feedstock into sustainable fuel developed by researchers in Massachusetts and Minnesota greatly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and doubles the amount of fuel made...
Can California fix the Delta before disaster strikes?
(PhysOrg.com) -- Better management of the overlapping infrastructure systems in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is the goal of a four-year, $2 million project headed by UC Berkeley researchers. Networks...
Lopsided Growth at the Earth's Core
What has twisted the Earth`s core so asymmetrically out of shape? That question has been a long-standing mystery for scientists, but two new studies are shining some light on the...
The Guardian climate change debate
Tickets have sold out for our climate debate featuring Ed Miliband, Greg Clark and Simon Hughes. But you can still take part by posting a question below … and follow the debate...
Microbes found in natural asphalt lake
(PhysOrg.com) -- A lake of natural hot liquid asphalt in Trinidad and Tobago has been found to be teeming with microbes despite the toxic environment. The lake, aptly named Pitch...
Why aviation industry has cloudy knowledge of risks from volcanic ash
Tests for higher-risk flying conditions may have helped in current crisis but manufacturers said noThat a cloud of volcanic ash can bring European flights to a standstill has raised serious questions over the...
GM crops can benefit farmers | Janet Carpenter
Despite India's moratorium on GM aubergines, surveys point to most farmers enjoying increased yields and decreased costsUnlike the argument recently put forward by Daniel Church, three reports published this month have documented the...
Global temperatures push March 2010 to hottest March on record
The world's combined global land and ocean surface temperature made last month the warmest March on record. Taken separately, average ocean temperatures were the warmest for any March and the...