Latest science news in Earth & Climate
Hurricane forecast becomes more extreme
STATE COLLEGE, Pa., June 21 (UPI) -- The 2010 hurricane season may be more intense than previously predicted and will probably impact the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, AccuWeather.com...
What makes the giant freak wave 'stable'
The dreaded giant freak wave that can appear on the open sea out of nowhere, can now for the first time be theoretically calculated and modelled. Researchers at Umea University...
Carbon dioxide has played leading role in dictating global climate patterns
Increasingly, the Earth's climate appears to be more connected than anyone would have imagined. El Nino, the weather pattern that originates in a patch of the equatorial Pacific, can spawn...
Volcanic eruptions in North America were more explosive in ancient past
Millions of years ago, volcanic eruptions in North America were more explosive and may have significantly affected the environment and the global climate. So scientists report in this week's issue...
Posidonia meadows reflect pollution levels in the Mediterranean
'Posidonia oceanica can act as an environmental tracer, reflecting different levels of local and regional pollution,' Antonio Tovar-Sanchez, lead author of the study and a researcher at the Global Change...
Battle of the bugs leaves humans as collateral damage
It's a tragedy of war that innocent bystanders often get caught in the crossfire. But now scientists at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Oxford have shown how...
LAPD cancels training trip to Arizona out of 'respect' for council's boycott
In a move that has angered police union leaders, Los Angeles Police Department officials decided Thursday that four officers who were scheduled to attend a conference and training session in...
Skimmers Move at Slow Pace Taking Oil from Gulf
Coast Guard Ships Must Move Around 2 Miles per Hour so Oil Doesn't Slip Away; Ship Captain Says He's Found Faster Way
Could Putting Bacteria In Oil Wells Turn Oil to Natural Gas While It's Still in the Well?
Natural Gas Power If we could sequester all that waste CO2 and pump it back into the ground with carbon eating bacteria that turn it into methane, we could take at least...
Hunting for Fossils on Europa
Jupiter's moon Europa has a salty ocean where life could exist. A thick ice shell separates the ocean from our exploration vehicles, and it`s not known how far down we`d...
Domestic auto quality beats imports in J.D. Power study
For the first time in nearly a quarter-century, the U.S. auto industry edged out import brands in the study on initial quality. 'This is a landmark,' says J.D. Power official....
China leads international effort to study Pacific Ocean
A collaborative project is aiming for a better understanding of the Pacific Ocean's impact on the Asian monsoon and climate.
ADB program tackles polluted Songhua
MANILA, Philippines, June 17 (UPI) -- The Asian Development Bank announced it would provide equity and loans of up to $146.6 million to improve the water supply and wastewater...
There's Room on His Plate, 9/11 Mediator Says
Lawyers for the about 10,000 ground zero rescue and cleanup workers met with their clients Wednesday night in a town hall meeting to explain the terms of a new settlement...
BP Chief Expresses Contrition to House Panel
BP’s embattled chief executive, Tony Hayward, is telling Congress on Thursday that he was “deeply sorry” for the oil disaster in the gulf.
NOAA, FDA continue ramping up efforts to ensure safety of Gulf of Mexico seafood
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are taking additional steps to enhance inspection measures designed to ensure that seafood from the Gulf...
One More Proposal to Plug the Oil Leak, But Can We Afford To Make Things Worse?
And the Spill Continues U.S. Coast Guard As BP sits down for a not-so-friendly back and forth with Congress this morning it seems the oil giant is resigned to let the Gulf...
Earthquake activity remains at 'elevated level' amid more aftershocks, USGS says
The California-Mexico border continued to rattled by what the U.S. Geological Survey called an "elevated level" of earthquake activity as hundreds of aftershocks to Monday's 5.7 temblor were recorded.
UK government's environment adviser wins major international green award
Professor Bob Watson, science adviser to the environment ministry, chosen alongside Nasa's James HansenOne of the government's leading science and environment advisers today won a prestigious international green award, the Blue Planet Prize.Professor...
Two Win Blue Planet Prize for Bridging Science and Policy
The value of climate change science, under scrutiny following the release last fall of...
Scientist uses geological observatories to monitor the health of soils
Humans need plants to survive, and plants need soil. But what happens when human, geological and climatic activity alters soil composition and structure and diminishes the amount of fertile land...
Fungus gold rush on Tibetan plateau
Amid the wreckage of the devastating earthquake that ripped through this corner the Qinghai province, local people are rebuilding their livelihoods with one of the world's most ghoulish parasites –...
As Web privacy concerns rise, Foursquare tries to carve a niche
Now you can ping your friends to get together at a restaurant or bar. Or just shout at them.
Sea creatures flee oil spill, gather near shore
(AP) -- Dolphins and sharks are showing up in surprisingly shallow water just off the Florida coast. Mullets, crabs, rays and small fish congregate by the thousands off an...
Record Sail by Reid Stowe to End on 1,152nd Day
When Reid Stowe sails his 70-foot schooner, the Anne, into Manhattan, he will have completed a journey of 1,152 days.
Our Towns: Thankfully, No Rush to Approve Gas Drilling
Although proponents say that Pennsylvania has enjoyed many benefits from extracting natural gas from the Marcellus Shale, New York legislators see reasons to wait.
In Nigeria, Oil Spills Are a Longtime Scourge
As the U.S. reels from its oil spill, the Niger Delta region continues to endure spills due to poor regulation, insufficient maintenance and sabotage.
Mercury in N.W.T. lakes sparks health advisory
Higher than normal mercury levels in four lakes has the Northwest Territories top health official warning people to be careful about how much fish they eat from them.