Latest science news in Earth & Climate
China says rare earths not a 'bargaining tool'
(AP) -- China said Thursday it will not use exports of rare earths, exotic minerals required by high-tech industry, as a diplomatic "bargaining tool" while Washington pressed Beijing to...
Exxon drills new wells in North Slope
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- The successful drilling of two development wells in the energy-rich North Slope of Alaska is critical for natural gas pipeline plans, said Exxon...
Quakes don't completely shake China's environmental gains, thanks to conservation programs
The impact of China's devastating 2008 earthquake was substantially lessened by environmental conservation programs for some of the country's most fragile habitats. Analysis of satellite imagery and field data by...
Arctic shipping could push climate change
NEWARK, Del., Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Increased marine shipping through warming arctic waters could accelerate climate change in the world's northern regions, U.S. and Canadian researchers say.
Statoil gets U.N. backing for gas project
STAVANGER, Norway, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- More than 83,000 tons of carbon emissions will be removed from the atmosphere by processing natural gas associated with a Mexican oil field,...
Plagiarism sleuths tackle full-text biomedical articles
In scientific publishing, how much reuse of text is too much? Researchers at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech and collaborators have shown that a computer-based text-searching tool is...
Warming of planet will affect storms differently in Northern and Southern hemispheres
Weather systems in the Southern and Northern hemispheres will respond differently to global warming, according to an MIT atmospheric scientist's analysis that suggests the warming of the planet will affect...
Video: Tornadoes Rip Through Texas
Two tornadoes left a path of destruction in Texas. Some injuries are reported but none appear to be serious. Don Teague reports.
Flamingos 'brighten up' to attract mates
SEVILLE, Spain, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Flamingos aren't above using a little "powder and paint" to make themselves more attractive to potential mates during breeding season, Spanish researchers say.
Clues about carbon dioxide patterns at end of Ice Age
New research puts to rest the mystery of where old carbon was stored during the last glacial period. It turns out it ended up in the icy waters of the...
Climate change extends Arctic fishing
Officials in Nunavut's Baffin Island fishery say climate change has helped their business somewhat, thanks to longer fishing seasons in recent years.
Mammal's Urine May Help Solve Past Climate Secrets
Scientists are studying the Hyrax's urine to learn more about the Earth's climate.
Changes in energy R&D needed to combat climate change, experts say
A new assessment of future scenarios that limit the extent of global warming cautions that unless current imbalances in research and development portfolios for the development of new, efficient, and...
'Mega' climate research centre proposed at TWAS meeting
A leading climate scientist has called for a major North–South research collaboration to improve regional climate predictions.
US to boost links with African universities
The United States is teaming up African universities to tackle issues such as food security and climate change.
7.5-magnitude quake hits off Indonesian island
(AP) -- A strong earthquake hit late Monday off the western coast of Indonesia's Sumatra island, but no damage or casualties were immediately reported.
Green: On Our Radar: Meltdown on Greenland Ice Sheet
Danish scientists say the melting rate this year was 25 to 50 percent higher than normal.
Greenpeace blocked from Indonesia
JAKARTA, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Indonesia is reneging on pledges to fight climate change by refusing Greepeace's flagship Rainbow Warrior access to its waters, the group said.
Dot Earth: Seeking Crowd-Sourced Climate Pacts
A contest calls on the online cloud to come up with feasible international climate agreements.
New fog warning system in Venice region pays for itself 10 times over
Fog is a relatively frequent phenomenon in the Po Valley and constitutes a major issue for all road traffic. The new fog warning system covers and benefits the entire Venice...
Nord Stream now in five countries
ZUG, Switzerland, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- With construction in Danish waters, the laying of the Nord Stream gas pipeline is under way in all five participating countries, the project...
U.N. wants water, biofuel balance
NAGOYA, Japan, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Water used for the production of crops used for biofuels may create more problems than are solved, a U.N. environmental study found.
Virginia Tech Studies Impact of Gulf Oil Spill on Plovers
Breeding populations of piping plovers , shorebirds that have been listed as threatened since 1986, exist in three distinct locations -- the Atlantic Coast, the American and Canadian Great Plains,...
The reassuring science behind middle-of-continent earthquakes
When people in the Midwest say they fear a big earthquake is going to hit their hometown soon, Northwestern University geologist Seth Stein, the author of the new book "Disaster...
Study indicates changing climate in the Australian South-East
Despite recent rainfall in parts of eastern Australia, a recently released scientific report indicates an increasing risk of below-average rainfall and runoff into streams, and drier conditions into the future...
N.S. research centre changes name for funding
The Atlantic Region Magnetic Resonance Centre in Halifax is changing its name because the words "Atlantic Region" were costing it funding.
Oz needs less carbon emission
Research suggests a new carbon pricing scheme in Australia to cut carbon emission as part of their global action on climate change.
Sea urchins tolerate acid water
Sea urchins are likely to be able to adapt to increasingly acidic oceans caused by human-induced climate change, a study says.