Latest science news in Earth & Climate
VIDEO: New Zealand quake holds lessons for B.C.
B.C. could learn a lot from the massive earthquake that damaged 100,000 buildings in Christchurch, New Zealand, over the weekend, a local researcher says.
NASA imagery reveals a weaker, stretched out Fiona
NASA satellite data has noticed that Tropical Storm Fiona is getting 'longer.' That is, the storm is elongating in almost a north-south direction, indicating that she's weakening and may not...
Oily Sheen Spotted Near Burning Gulf Oil Platform
An oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico leaves an oily sheen on the water just months after the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
New maize could prepare farmers for climate change
Maize productivity could soar with new drought-tolerant maize varieties as adverse climatic changes loom.
Goodbye to cold nights
Given the impact of climatic extremes on agriculture and health in Spain, researchers at the University of Salamanca (USAL) have analysed the two factors most representative of these thermal extremes...
Smog advisory in effect for Toronto
Environment Canada has issued a smog and humidex advisory for Toronto as temperatures remain unusually high.
A Warming Contrarian Calls for a Global Tax
Bjorn Lomborg's latest book is unlikely to bolster his popularity among those opposed to drastic immediate action to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Why Do Hurricanes Often Curve Out to Sea?
Hurricanes curve out to sea because they are steered away from land by wind patterns and surrounding environmental flow.
Stinkbugs descend on eastern U.S.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Stinkbugs, known for emitting a foul odor when disturbed, are in Pennsylvania and New Jersey -- and may be preparing to settle in for...
Epson launches volume production of world's first reflective HTPS panels
Seiko Epson today announced that it has developed and begun volume production of the world's first reflective high-temperature polysilicon (reflective HTPS) TFT liquid crystal panels for 3LCD projectors. The new...
Expedition explores violent Russian volcanoes
A group of scientists is hiking in one of the most remote areas on the planet in pursuit of new information about the recurring deaths and rebirths of two volcanoes. ...
Phenomenon of plate tectonics explained
Transform faults subdivide the mid-ocean ridge into segments. Up until now, it was thought that these faults were ruptures that formed in less stable crust areas. Taras Gerya has recorded...
Garbage-to-gas plant launched in Edmonton
Edmonton is breaking ground at the city landfill for a plant that will convert household garbage into biofuel.
China raises alarm over Yangtze environmental damage
China will spend billions of dollars treating sewage and planting forests to arrest massive environmental degradation along the Yangtze river and its Three Gorges reservoir, officials said Tuesday.
Kiev wants Germany to modernize gas grid
By STEFAN NICOLAUPI Europe CorrespondentBERLIN, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych traveled to Berlin to offer Germany a key role in the modernization of the ageing Ukrainian...
New Fault Lines in Mountaintop Coal Debate
Both sides in the mountaintop removal mining debate are hardening their positions, taking their cases to Washington -- and to the courts.
Gravity-Mapping Satellite's Communications Glitch to Be Fixed Soon
Ground controllers are raising the orbit of Europe's GOCE gravity-measuring satellite in an attempt to recover its failed data-transmission function.
Shifting ozone hole exposed South America to more ultraviolet light in 2009
The ozone layer, which protects humans, plants, and animals from potentially damaging ultraviolet (UV) light from the Sun, develops a hole above Antarctica in September that typically lasts until early...
Using underground clues to determine past atmospheric heat
Before a global climate model can be used by scientists to predict future climate patterns, it must first successfully predict the climate of the past as known by historical records...
White-roofs law would help cool Earth: prof
All new roofs would be white under a Montreal borough's proposed bylaw aimed at taking advantage of a white roof's cooling effects.
The Perilous Profession of Underground Mining (Infographic)
The Chile copper and gold mine collapse brings into focus underground mining dangers and man-made mine and well depths.
Dry lake bed salts promote cloud formation
One of the major uncertainties in climate modeling is the effect of aerosol particles on cloud formation. Sea salt in the air has been known to be important in cloud...
Characterizing channels for transport of melt in mantle
Rock in the Earth's mantle melts as it upwells toward the surface, as can be seen beneath mid-ocean ridge spreading centers. This buoyant melt rises through the mantle to the...
Understanding volcanism and tectonic activity in Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest
During the past 65 million years, the Pacific Northwest has experienced significant tectonic and volcanic activity, including volcanism in the Yellowstone region. The origins of volcanism in the area have...
Complexities of aquifer systems impede reaction rate estimates
Contaminant concentrations in aquifers can change as chemical reactions occur during groundwater transport through the aquifer. For instance, denitrification, in which the contaminant nitrate is converted to molecular nitrogen, reduces...
International Penguin Conference in Boston thru 9/3
Penguins over past decade have soared in global popularity, yet many of their populations have crashed during the same time. This week in Boston, penguin biologists from around the world...
German oil deal may lead to arctic
BERLIN, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Russian oil company Rosneft is in talks to acquire a stake in a BP joint venture that could result in deals to drill for...
Ashgabat, Kabul sign TAPI agreement
KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Delegates from Turkmenistan and Afghanistan met in Kabul to sign an agreement on a natural gas pipeline to Pakistan and India, the Turkmen...