Latest science news in Earth & Climate
55-foot 'sea monster' washes up in China
A massive sea creature has washed up on a beach in Guangdong, China. So badly decayed it cannot be positively identified, the "sea monster" is 55 feet long and weighs...
Study: Quake could cripple Calif. economy
LOS ANGELES, June 22 (UPI) -- A major earthquake in Southern California would have a devastating effect on the region's economy and workforce, a report says.
New method finds underground water
HYDERABAD, India, June 22 (UPI) -- Scientists in India say a quick, easy way to detect groundwater in semi-hard rock areas using electricity can bring clean water supply to...
'Super sand' could improve drinking water
WASHINGTON, June 22 (UPI) -- Australian scientists say ordinary sand, used to filter and purify drinking water around the world, can be made into a "super sand" five times...
Molecular glue sticks it to cancer
Imagine dropping dish soap into a sink full of greasy water. What happens? As soon as the soap hits the water, the grease recoils—and retreats to the edges of the...
FOR KIDS: Swirling seas of plastic trash
Long-lasting oceanic garbage threatens marine life
FOR KIDS: Changing climate alters fish behavior
Study finds clownfish don’t swim away from scary sounds in future ocean conditions
News in Brief: Life
Ultrasonic ribbits, saving dead trees and fishy retribution in this week’s news
ORNL Researchers Win Seven R&D 100 Awards
Scientists and engineers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have received seven R&D 100 Awards presented by R&D Magazine.
Economic cost of weather may total $485 billion in US
Routine weather events such as rain and cooler-than-average days can add up to an annual economic impact of as much as 3.4 percent of the nation's GDP. New research finds...
Early-season strawberry tested in high elevation conditions
Researchers investigated the use of high tunnels to lengthen the growing season for June-bearing strawberries. The study compared vertical and in-ground high tunnel strawberry production when planting dates were optimized...
Quebec coroner releases report into water park drowning death
A Quebec coroner said a nine-year-old boy who died at a water park last year was let down by his school and by staff at the park.
Optimal topdressing applications for athletic fields determined
Scientists evaluated the effects of cumulative sand topdressing rates on the fall wear tolerance and surface shear strength of simulated athletic fields. Experimental results suggested that a 0.5-inch topdressing depth...
Bosch plans Malaysia solar panel plant
German industrial group Bosch will invest 520 million euros ($750 million) in a solar panel factory in Malaysia, a statement said on Wednesday.
Video: Report: Marine life in imminent danger
In a new report to the United Nations, a panel of scientists warn that a toxic mix of pollution, overfishing and other man-made factors add up to the most serious...
Evolution to the rescue: Researchers offer hope that species may adapt quickly to rapid environmental change
Evolution is usually thought to be a very slow process, something that happens over many generations, thanks to adaptive mutations. But environmental change due to things like climate change, habitat...
Plant pathologist finding Kansas wheat fields a molecular battleground this season
With harvest in full swing, many farmers have found that the brutal combination of high winds, scorching temperatures and minimal rainfall has left most wheat yields looking less like the...
Brazil government identifies uncontacted tribe
(AP) -- The Brazilian government confirmed this week the existence of an uncontacted tribe in a southwestern area of the Amazon rain forest.
Tiny Creatures Point to Possible Climate Change
A University of Arkansas researcher and her colleagues studied core sediments from a shallow boreal lake and found that storm activity has increased substantially over the past 150 years. The...
Tracking groundwater pollution to its source
Computer algorithms might be useful in identifying sources of groundwater pollution, according to researchers in Australia and India. Writing in the International Journal of Environment and Waste Management they explain...
Adequate midwifery could save over 3 million lives
Up to 3.6 million lives could be saved every year if midwifery services were upgraded in 58 developing countries by 2015, according to a major new report released by the...
Green: N.H.L. Tries to Give Back the Water
Through water restoration certificates, North America's top professional hockey league has found a way to return some of the water that it consumes during the playoffs.
KLM to turn used cooking oil into aviation biofuel
(AP) -- Dutch airline KLM plans to use recycled cooking oil as biofuel to power flights to and from France in a move aimed at cutting carbon emissions.
Algal Toxins Accumulate In Fish
Water Pollution: Eating fish from algae-covered lakes may expose people to toxins.
Broadcasters failed to prepare audiences for the Arab spring, says research
Broadcasters failed to prepare audiences for events in North Africa and the Middle East, according to new research from the International Broadcasting Trust (IBT) and the University of East Anglia...
Surprises from the ocean: Marine plankton and ocean pH
Oceans support vast populations of single-celled phytoplankton which, through photosynthesis, remove about half the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels. One group of phytoplankton, the coccolithophores, are known for...
Robot Spaceship Burns Up in Earth's Atmosphere On Purpose
An unmanned European cargo ship broke up over the southern Pacific Ocean today.
Plantwatch: high summer comes early
Summer came in such a rush that the wild orchids were almost all finished in May, a month earlier than usual. This was thanks to the hot dry spring, which has triggered...