Latest science news in Earth & Climate
Study: Oil spill gases' effect 'extensive'
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Feb. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say hydrocarbon gases released during the Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico oil spill could have an "extensive" effect on ocean chemistry.
Why are vines overtaking the American tropics?
Vines are becoming more abundant in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. This fundamental change in forest structure may have a profound impact on the animals, human communities and...
The recycled port? An alternative to dumping at sea
In search of a sustainable alternative to dumping at sea or disposal on land, researchers blended contaminated sediment with a special mix of binders to produce a safe construction material...
'Hot-bunking' bacterium recycles iron to boost ocean metabolism
In the vast ocean where an essential nutrient -- iron -- is scarce, a marine bacterium that launches the ocean food web survives by using a remarkable biochemical trick: it...
Modern houses survived Yasi
Researchers have found that houses built to modern building codes and standards suffered little structural damage from Cyclone Yasi's winds.
A winter day on the island of Jersey in the English Channel
There are castles and conservation trusts. Just remember which side of the road to drive on.Gusts of wind lashed at the bay windows of the ferry terminal in St-Malo, France....
Smallpox virus: crunch time for the fate of a global killer
Smallpox has long been eradicated but the virus still exists at two high-security labs. Should these stocks now be destroyed?Twenty miles south-east of Novosibirsk, in Siberia, several dozen concrete buildings have been erected...
Sèvres Journal: Missing Micrograms Set a Standard on Edge
Scientists say that the mysterious weight change in the international prototype of the kilogram means that it is time to find a new way to calculate the measurement.
Researchers map out ice sheets shrinking during Ice Age
A set of maps created by the University of Sheffield have illustrated, for the first time, how our last British ice sheet shrunk during the Ice Age...
Arctic climate variation under ancient greenhouse conditions
Tiny organisms preserved in marine sediments hold clues about Arctic climate variation during an ancient episode of greenhouse warming...
Band confirms dead eagle as 1 of Alaska's oldest
(AP) -- A Kodiak Island bald eagle survived 25 years of Alaska hazards but met an unfortunate fate last month on the crossbar of a utility pole: electrocution.
Strong quake jolts Chile; magnitude 6.8
(AP) -- A magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck central Chile Friday, centered in almost exactly the same spot where last year's magnitude-8.8 quake spawned a tsunami and devastated coastal communities.
Editorial: O Oysters
Oysters should be conserved for the benefits they bring to coastal ecosystems, not just for how they taste with lemon and some hot sauce.
New map charts a 'leaky' Earth
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Canadian researchers have made the first-ever global survey of Earth's permeability -- essentially, they say, how "leaky" our planet is.
Californians can download earthquake maps
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Property owners in California can use their computers to find whether their homes or business are in an area declared an earthquake hazard...
Feds Propose Flexible Plans for Resilient Forests
With climate change posing new threats—more frequent forest fires, for example, and plagues of tree-killing...
Nuclear safety agency defends Great Lakes shipments
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission explained its decision to allow Bruce Power to transport old nuclear steam boilers through the Great Lakes to Sweden for recycling.
Identifying large hurricanes through seismology
Storm-generated seismic signals may allow seismologists to detect large hurricanes at sea and track their intensity, adding useful data to the discussion of whether anthropogenic global warming has increased the...
P Summit Calls for a 'New Alchemy' Around Phosphorus and Food
ASU's Sustainable Phosphorus Summit was the first international gathering on U.S. soil and an important milestone in the emerging global dialogue around phosphorus scarcity and sustainability. A consensus statement, released...
Green: Southwestern Water: Going, Going, Gone?
Two new studies on the region's water supplies present a grim snapshot of scarcity in coming decades.
Egypt concerns spur Israeli gas drive
TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Israel's concerns that the downfall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak could end their 1979 peace treaty and halt supplies of natural gas...
Soil Science Society of America Celebrates 75th Anniversary
The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) celebrates its 75th Anniversary in 2011, and also the 75th anniversary of its peer-reviewed journal, the Soil Science Society of America Journal (SSSAJ).
Another Iceland volcano may erupt
REYKJAVIK, Iceland, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Researchers say Iceland's second-largest volcano seems ready to erupt and might create an ash cloud bigger than one that disrupted European air travel...
Green: On Our Radar: Namibia Designates Entire Coast as National Park
Officials have recently expanded wildlife conservation efforts in a successful effort to boost tourism.
Green: Spill Commissioners Call for Review of Energy Policy
While tighter regulation of oil drilling is needed, the nation should also be contemplating how it exploits its natural resources and consumes energy, two experts tell a Congressional panel.
Spanish cities fail to meet legal requirements on paper and container recycling
Spanish legislation stipulates that at least 60% of waste paper and cardboard collected must be recycled, along with 60% of glass, 50% of metals and 22.5% of plastics. However, a...
Valentine's Day roses bought in UK could 'bleed Lake Naivasha dry' warns ecologist
An ecologist who has spent over 30 years researching wetland conservation at Lake Naivasha in Kenya has warned that the country is being “bled dry” by the UK’s demand for...
EPA Actions Under Fire
Congress: Draft bill would take away agency's authority to regulate greenhouse gases.