Latest science news in Earth & Climate
Immigrant Dust Feeds Rain Forests
It’s long been known that nutrient-rich dust from Africa floats across the Atlantic to the Amazon. And it’s assumed that the dust fertilizes the rainforest. Oliver Chadwick from the University...
Understanding global climate change through new breakthroughs in polar research
The latest findings from research on Antarctica's rich marine life are presented this week at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Marine Biologist Huw Griffiths from British...
Warmer planet temperatures could cause longer-lasting weather patterns
Whether it's never-ending heat waves or winter storms, atmospheric blocking can have a significant impact on local agriculture, business and the environment. Although these stagnant weather patterns are often difficult...
U.S. turns to Sweden as model in nuclear waste storage
While progress here has lagged, the Scandinavian country has successfully chosen a site for a geological repository after including citizens and local government in the discussion. ...
Doubling of childhood leukemia rates confirmed in southern Iraq
Childhood leukemia rates have more than doubled over the last 15 years in the southern Iraq province of Basrah, according to a new study.
Small and mighty cyclone Gelane reaches category 4 strength
NASA satellites monitoring and studying Cyclone Gelane over the last several days have watched the storm become more powerful and more compact. Gelane is now a powerful category four cyclone...
Missing 'ice arches' contributed to 2007 arctic ice loss
In 2007, the Arctic lost a massive amount of thick, multiyear sea ice, contributing to that year's record-low extent of Arctic sea ice. A new NASA-led study has found that...
Rise of sexual predators in energy boomtowns highlights social problems
Research into the social and environmental effects on communities that are economically dependent on oil and gas industries has revealed "social dysfunction and biological impoverishment." The research, published in...
Antarctic Ice Shelf Collapse Possibly Triggered by Ocean Waves
Depicting a cause-and-effect scenario that spans thousands of miles, a scientist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and his collaborators discovered that ocean waves originating along the...
Nuclear Disarmament Science: How to be Dumb Enough to Be Smart
Panel argues that policymakers have the scientific tools to begin reducing arsenals. [Read more]
Policy changes key to a switch to biofuels
DUBLIN, Ireland, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Sweeping policy changes by governments worldwide are needed before a major switchover from hydrocarbons to biofuels can be realized as a remedial response...
Debate over fate of Australia's beaches
ADELAIDE, Australia, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Australians say they are at odds over comments made by a climate-change minister that the country's most iconic bathing and surfing beaches could...
Update: Urban 'green' spaces may contribute to global warming, UCI study finds
Irvine, Calif., Feb. 18, 2010 -- Dispelling the notion that urban "green" spaces help counteract greenhouse gas emissions, new research has found -- in Southern California at least...
Where Science Meets Poetry
Where Science Meets Poetry Caveat: it may strike the reader from what follows that I have an agendist stance against modern poetry. I have no quarrel with that assessment. Quite obviously, science...
A second hydrocarbon boom threatens the Peruvian Amazon
A rapid and unprecedented proliferation of oil and gas concessions threatens the megadiverse Peruvian Amazon. The amount of area leased is on track to reach around 70% of the region,...
Deep-sea trawling is destroying coral reefs and pristine marine habitats
A survey of the world's reefs and submerged mountains has revealed widespread damage from deep-sea trawlingDeep-sea trawling is devastating corals and pristine marine habitats that have gone untouched since the last ice age,...
Agronomy, Crops, Soils Societies Offer Scholarships, Fellowships
The Agronomy, Crop Science and Soil Science Societies are accepting applications for several scholarships and fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students studying in these or related fields.
Deep in sediments off Antarctica, Stanford scientists find insight into past -- and possible future -- climates
(PhysOrg.com) -- From the Antarctic Ocean, Earth scientist Rob Dunbar blogs about the challenges of drilling ancient deep-sea sediments -- and what he's found in them.
Environmental historian now tackles industrial disease in Japan
Controlling Japanese B encephalitis might seem easy to an outsider. Since the brain-injuring virus needs mosquitoes and pigs to spread, government officials should ban standing water in cemetery cisterns and...
Ocean geoengineering scheme no easy fix for global warming
Pumping nutrient-rich water up from the deep ocean to boost algal growth in sunlit surface waters and draw carbon dioxide down from the atmosphere has been touted as a way...
Seeds from the Moringa tree can be used for water purification, study suggests
Pure water is a key requirement for good health and alternative cheap, safe methods are required in many countries. Researchers have now described how extracts from seeds of the Moringa...
Study: Russian gas to fall short of EU demand
The political ramifications of dependence on Russian natural gas are a current, lively topic of debate within the EU. One issue that deserves more attention is whether sufficient gas will...
ESPO unsettling oil sector?
MOSCOW, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- The opening of the East Siberia-Pacific Ocean pipeline is causing major oil-producing nations to shift their attention to Asia, energy traders said.
BP, CNPC invite drillers to Rumaila
BAGHDAD, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Baghdad and its Chinese and British partners announced plans Thursday to invite explorers to drill new wells in the giant Rumaila oil field near...
Pollution Problem Looms From Discarded 'Boob Tubes'
CRTs are gradually being phased out worldwide, but demand in Asia still drives the need for CRT recycling.
U.N. issues climate plea
MEXICO CITY, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Latin American and the Caribbean should adopt a proactive approach to advance environmental sustainability amid rampant deforestation, a U.N. report said.
Saudi oil exports to U.S. lessen
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- A Washington decision to move away from Middle East oil shows a gradual decline in Saudi crude imports could be...
Whalers, activists clash again in Antarctic waters
(AP) -- A group of conservationists threw bottles of butyric acid at Japanese whalers and blasted their ship with paint balls, while the Japanese fired water cannons in their...