Latest science news in Earth & Climate
BP sprays more chemicals into main Gulf oil leak
(AP) -- A remote-controlled submarine shot a chemical dispersant into the maw of a massive undersea oil leak Monday, further evidence that authorities expect the gusher to keep erupting...
Wash away your doubts when you wash your hands
Washing your hands 'wipes the slate clean,' removing doubts about recent choices. That's the key finding of a University of Michigan study published in the current (May 7) issue of...
Tape Exposes Rich-Poor Tussle in Copenhagen
A German paper releases recordings disclosing the turbulent final hours in Copenhagen as world leaders debated a climate accord.
Video: Tidwell: US Energy Policy To Blame For Spill
Clean energy advocate Mike Tidwell says the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is directly related to America's addiction to oil.
Little Progress on New Treaty at Climate Meeting
Despite Some Movement, Tougher Issues Put Off for Another Day
Aseismic slip as a barrier to earthquake propagation
On August 15, 2007, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck in Central Peru, killing more than 500 people - primarily in the town of Pisco, which was heavily damaged by the...
Supply chain professor: 'Oil spill, flooding create perfect storm' for commerce, shipping
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and epic flooding in Tennessee have created a 'perfect storm' for businesses that rely on an efficient supply chain, according to a...
Climate change and mountain building led to mammal diversity patterns
Travel from the tropics to the poles, and you'll notice that the diversity of mammals declines with distance from the equator. Move from lowland to mountains, and you'll see diversity...
First detailed underwater survey of huge volcanic flank collapse deposits
A scientific team led by Dr Peter Talling of the UK's National Oceanography Centre (NOC) is currently aboard the Royal Research Ship James Cook to map extremely large landslide deposits...
World's biggest beaver dam discovered in northern Canada
A Canadian ecologist has discovered the world's largest beaver dam in a remote area of northern Alberta, an animal-made structure so large it is visible from space.
SwRI researchers design and build gas bearing test rig
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at Southwest Research Institute have designed and built a 60,000 rpm gas bearing test rig to test the rotordynamic stability of gas bearings.
Breaking Up Can Be Hard
Laura Townsend '10 eases a soggy lump of concrete out from what looks like a gigantic pizza oven. "Come on, whoa! -- This bad boy is going to fall apart,"...
Whatever Happened to the Ozone Hole?
Twenty-five years later, the lingering "hole" over Antarctica is close to closing—but that may not be entirely a good thing.
Rising seas, raising hopes
(PhysOrg.com) -- By the end of this century, sea levels in the Netherlands may rise more than 4 feet, a troubling prospect in a country where 70 percent of GNP...
Shape of lake basin is key factor in plankton disease epidemics in Midwest
Of all the things that might control the onset of plankton disease epidemics in Michigan lakes, the shape of the lakes' bottoms might seem unlikely. But that's indeed the case, according...
Four-month freeze on apartment rents proposed by L.A. City Council committee
After roughly 90 minutes of angry testimony from tenants and landlords, a Los Angeles City Council committee called Wednesday for a four-month prohibition on rent increases at an estimated 630,000...
Max Palevsky, art collector and computer technology pioneer, dies at 85
Max Palevsky, an immigrant's son who made a fortune in the early days of the computer industry, then used his millions to build notable art collections and finance liberal campaigns,...
L.A. River project in Glendale clears final hurdle
The Glendale Narrows Riverwalk project includes a half-mile paved path along the Los Angeles River channel. Construction is expected to start in July and take less than a year to...
On Our Radar: Shunning "Drill, Baby, Drill'
Republican leaders distance themselves from the "Drill, baby, drill" catch phrase.
Seismology: The biggest one
Fifty years ago this month, a massive earthquake in Chile broke new ground in seismic science. Roff Smith looks back at the largest quake ever recorded.
African monsoon research to shift focus
A plan for the next decade's research on the African monsoon aims to address climate change and the needs of local people.
Q&A: For Oceans, 'Another Big Headache'
The oceanographer Sylvia Earle says the spill has damaged an already-stressed ecosystem.
Greenhouse-gas numbers up in the air
To control emissions, countries must first account accurately for their carbon. That will take considerable effort, reports Jeff Tollefson.
Slideshow: VORTEX2: The great tornado chase
A high-tech study aims to chase down tornadoes and surround them with an unprecedented fleet of cutting-edge tools in order to examine in detail how tornadoes form and the patterns...
Following Scientists Into the Field
It is the end of the rainy season now in Madagascar, which means it's a good time for chameleons. They like it wet and warm. And that means it's...
Going to the Mountain
We finally left Tana on May 2, fully loaded with all our equipment and supplies. Herpetologists love the rain, as it keeps the frogs and reptiles active, but the cost...
Li Ka-shing eyes Israel for oil-sands, water tech
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing's Hutchison Whampoa is keen on investing in Israeli technology companies specializing in oil-sands and water technologies, Israel's Finance Ministry said on Tuesday.
Russia sends warship after tanker is hijacked by Somali pirates
A crew of 23 Russians is aboard the Liberian-flagged MV Moscow University, reportedly carrying a cargo worth more than $50 million. The tanker, bound for China, was seized off Yemen. A Russian warship...