Latest science news in Earth & Climate
Part nine: Climate scientists withheld Yamal data despite warnings from senior colleagues
Ancient trees dragged from frozen Siberian bogs do not undermine climate science, despite what the sceptics sayIn a unique experiment, The Guardian has published online the full manuscript of its major investigation into...
Century-old whisky recovered in Antarctica
Five crates of Scotch whisky and two of brandy have been recovered by a team restoring an Antarctic hut used more than 100 years ago by famed polar explorer Ernest...
Characteristics of Earthquakes that Have Caused Exceptional Ground Accelerations and Velocities
A new study identifies earthquakes through July 2007 that have produced 100 of the strongest peak accelerations and 100 of the strongest peak velocities ever recorded.
New material absorbs, conserves oil
An ultra-lightweight sponge made of clay and a bit of high-grade plastic draws oil out of contaminated water but leaves the water behind...
Carbonate veins reveal chemistry of ancient seawater
The chemical composition of our oceans is not constant but has varied significantly over geological time. In a study published this week in Science, researchers describe a novel method for...
Oceans reveal further impacts of climate change
The increasing acidity of the world's oceans - and that acidity's growing threat to marine species - are definitive proof that the atmospheric carbon dioxide that is causing climate change...
Soft intelligence for hard decisions
An approach to decision making based on soft metrics could allow problems to be solved where no definitive 'yes-no' answer is possible in fields as diverse as healthcare, defence, economics,...
Commercial fishing endangers dolphin populations
'The Mediterranean Sea has a stable and constant dolphin population off the coast of Israel. Any resolution concerning the sea must also consider the dolphins,' says Dr Aviad Scheinin of...
Russia accused of Baltic Sea nukes dumping
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Sweden is investigating claims that Russia during the 1990s dumped chemical and nuclear waste into the Baltic Sea.
How well do scientists understand how changes in Earth's orbit affect long-term natural climate trends?
The notion that scientists understand how changes in Earth's orbit affect climate well enough for estimating long-term natural climate trends that underlie any anthropogenic climate change is challenged by new...
Netherlands adds to UN climate report controversy
The Netherlands has asked the UN climate change panel to explain an inaccurate claim in a landmark 2007 report that more than half the country was below sea level, the...
American-born pandas near their new home in China
CHENGDU, China (AP) -- An elaborate welcome was ready Friday for two American-born giant pandas arriving at their new China home after a tearful send-off in...
Officials defend climate science
Officials at UN-led talks in India insist climate change science is still very persuasive despite the emergence of a major error.
Mining destruction for data to help others
William Holmes was at his desk at a downtown San Francisco engineering firm when a message from the U.S. Geological Survey flashed onto his computer screen: A magnitude 7.0 earthquake...
Mistakes in Climate Report Fuel Skepticism
Scientists Say Small Errors Do Not Change the Reality of Global Warming; But Errors Have Given Traction to Warming Deniers
In praise of… ponds
If it's bigger than a puddle and smaller than a couple of football pitches, and if it's wet for at least four months of the year, then it's a pond. It might...
Response: Europe is not heading for a population collapse
There may be a slow decline in the number of people, but it should be welcomedFred Pearce vividly portrays population collapse in the town of Hoyerswerda in eastern Germany and links it...
Scientists Drill Deepest Hole off New Zealand
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists aboard the research ship the JOIDES Resolution recently drilled two kilometers into Earth`s crust, setting a new record for the deepest hole drilled through the seafloor on...
Freezing supercooled water puzzles scientists
The freezing point of supercooled water varies depending on whether it is sitting on a positively or negatively charged surface
Indonesia considers coal export slowdown
JAKARTA, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Indonesia, the world's third-largest coal exporter, plans to gradually cease its coal exports to save for its future needs, says a government official.
Climate emails: were they really hacked or just sitting in cyberspace?
Slack security or subversion at the university may have led to 'unintentional sharing', making the police investigation pointlessMore than two months after the moment that thousands of confidential emails, documents and computer code...
Syria wracked with drought
DAMASCUS, Syria, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- The Syrian government is beginning to officially recognize pervasive drought conditions as the United Nations makes urgent appeals for assistance.
Enbridge joins Statoil in oil sands
CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Canadian pipeline giant Enbridge inked a deal with Norway's Statoil to ship hydrocarbons from Alberta oil sands to main regional hubs at Edmonton...
Dubai makes 'promising' oil find
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- The Emirati government on Thursday announced the discovery of a new oil field off the coast of Dubai to the east...
Russia's ESPO pipeline springs a leak
MOSCOW, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Disruptions to the East Siberia-Pacific Ocean oil pipeline during the construction phase caused an unknown amount of oil to spill, sources said.
Florida’s big chill may have hammered corals near shore
Early reports from rare cold bleaching offer hope offshore
Haiti: Physics of Quakes Past, and Future
(PhysOrg.com) -- The earthquake that struck Haiti took place along what is called a strike-slip fault -- a place where tectonic plates on each side of a fault ...
Climate consensus under strain | Round table
We ask a range of experts: what damage has been done by recent criticisms of climate science credibility?George MonbiotTremendous damage is doneThese scandals have done tremendous damage. This is not because they threaten...