Latest science news in Earth & Climate
Potatoes to be kept in 'doomsday' vault
LIMA, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Farmers in Peru say they've sent 1,500 varieties of potatoes to a "doomsday" seed vault in the Arctic Circle to safeguard the future of...
NASA infrared satellite data see an intensifying Tropical Storm Dianne
Infrared satellite data from NASA's Aqua satellite reveal that Tropical Storm Dianne is getting organized off the coast of Western Australia today.
More Chinese regulations for rare earths
BEIJING, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- China will impose further regulations on exports of rare earth minerals, a commerce ministry spokesman said Thursday.
How to fight winter's ailments
The weather in North Carolina may be warm today, but some areas of the state saw snow less than a week ago. And we're likely to see more cold weather,...
Underwater volcano creation to be studied
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- A half-mile of rock retrieved from the seafloor is providing clues about how underwater volcanoes are created, U.S. scientists said.
Signs of spring delayed by freeze
Harsh winter in the UK means early signs of spring such as snowdrops and frogspawn are appearing later than normalThe harsh winter has delayed early signs of spring, from snowdrops to frogspawn, according...
Scientists find new way to estimate global rainfall and track ocean pollution
A study by scientists at the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science suggests a new way to estimate how much of the ocean's pollution is...
If greenhouse gas emissions stopped now, Earth still would likely get warmer
While governments debate about potential policies that might curb the emission of greenhouse gases, new University of Washington research shows that the world is already committed to a warmer climate...
Study predicts sea level rise for cities
TUCSON, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Researchers say rising sea levels will affect major U.S. coastal cities by 2100, with the Gulf and southern Atlantic coasts particularly hard hit.
Proposed Rise for Oceans' Agency Budget as Satellite Costs Mount
Although 2012 budget documents for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) are still...
Russia Is Ready to Plunge Into Risky Arctic Drilling Projects, In Partnership With BP
The Russian Arctic Russia is pushing ahead with plans to drill for offshore oil in the Arctic Ocean. NOAAWhat could possibly go wrong? "One beaten man is worth two unbeaten men." This...
Oil companies defend using coast guard ship
The use of a government-owned Arctic research ship by oil and gas companies benefits Canadians, BP and Imperial Oil executives say.
3 billion-dollar U.S. weather disasters in 2010
Extreme weather in the United States brings with it a high price tag, according to a new federal report.
EU sets new limits on CO2 emissions for vans
The European parliament signed off Tuesday on new carbon dioxide restrictions for commercial vans to cut fuel costs and limit emissions blamed for global warming.
Green: Climate Change Drives Instability, U.N. Official Warns
Drought, falling crop yields and competition for water are fostering conflict throughout Africa and elsewhere in the developing world,the top climate official warns. Unless nations take aggressive action to reduce...
Bt cotton yields come at hidden cost to farmers - study
Bt cotton has increased yields in India but may be exacerbating underlying problems for small farmers.
Device enables remote explosion of improvised land mines
Researchers in Switzerland have developed a new tool to eliminate improvised land mines by using electromagnetic energy.
In Northwest, a Clash Over a Coal Operation
A proposal to build the first West Coast facility for exporting coal has proved divisive.
Irish science funding hangs in electoral balance
Director-general of Science Foundation Ireland argues the case for continued investment in research.
Ethanol Corn Approved
Agriculture: USDA greenlights a crop for boosting biofuel production but critics raise red flags.
Russian pipeline irks indigenous group
MOSCOW, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- An indigenous group in north Russia is concerned that Gazprom's plans for a gas pipeline through its territory would ruin its hunting and fishing...
Medieval Baltic Sea severely affected by oxygen depletion
Go back a thousand years, and you would find the sea surface temperature of the Baltic Sea slightly warmer and the oxygen depletion much wider spread than it is today.
Weeds and the Murray
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study has revealed that human-induced changes in the flow of the Murray River has led to mass weed invasion and reduced biodiversity in wetlands along the...
Energy OK after Mubarak
CAIRO, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Conditions at an oil pipeline stretching from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean are normal despite the political uncertainty in Egypt, an energy company...
Amazon pollution: Chevron fined
A court in Ecuador fines US oil giant Chevron $8.6bn (£5.3bn) for polluting much of the country's Amazon region.
Expedition helps map the past
Research on underwater volcanoes should help geologists reconstruct Earth’s geography as it was in the deep past.
Reef guards survive storms
In a new study, the fish that eat reef pests are mostly affected by fishing, not storms or bleaching – so management can help.
Time's up for toxic town of Picher, Okla.
The EPA is tearing down what's left of Picher, Okla., a town that has paid a heavy price in toxic pollution and cave-ins since its heyday as a lead mining...