Latest science news in Earth & Climate
Invasive minks thrive on Scottish coast
EXETER, England, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- The invasive American mink has become increasingly dependent on seafood from the coastline of Scotland's Outer Hebrides, scientists in Britain said.
Conservation areas threatened nationally by housing developments
Conservationists have long known that lines on a map are not sufficient to protect nature because what happens outside those boundaries can affect what happens within. Now, scientists have measured...
Ancient Mayans likely had fountains and toilets
The ancient Mayans may have had enough engineering know-how to master running water, creating fountains and even toilets by controlling water pressure, scientists now suggest. Water...
UN climate official warns of Indian energy 'crisis'
India's reliance on coal means the country is heading for an energy crisis unless it diversifies its sources of power, the chairman of the UN's top climate change panel predicted...
Iraq's oil headed to China
LUANDA, Angola, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Iraq will double its oil exports to China in 2010 to satisfy regional energy demand during rapid economic expansion, oil officials said in...
BlackBerry e-mail restored for some after outage
(AP) -- BlackBerry e-mail service in North America was restored for some users Wednesday morning following its second outage in less than a week.
New rhizome root harvester to be unveiled at U of I bioenergy symposium
A new miscanthus rhizome root harvester and planter will be unveiled at the seventh annual Bioenergy Feedstocks Symposium on Monday, Jan. 11 and Tuesday, Jan. 12 at the I Hotel...
Formation of the Gulf of Corinth rift, Greece
A study of the structure and evolution of the Gulf of Corinth rift in central Greece will increase scientific understanding of rifted margin development and the tectonic mechanisms underlying seafloor...
Water cycle conference makes a big splash
Earth has a limited amount of water that recycles itself in what is called the 'water cycle.' Climate change, weather and human life are highly affected by changes in this...
Filipino troops try to keep volcano evacuees safe
(AP) -- Police and soldiers donned Santa hats and red clown noses and belted out songs in crammed evacuation centers in hopes of keeping 47,000 displaced residents from sneaking...
Disproportionate effects of global warming and pollution on disadvantaged communities
Global warming, pollution, and the environmental consequences of energy production impose a greater burden on low-income, disadvantaged communities, and strategies to prevent these inequities are urgently needed. A provocative collection...
Hypoxia tends to increase as climate warms, study finds
A new study of Pacific Ocean sediments off the coast of Chile has found that offshore waters experienced systematic oxygen depletion during the rapid warming of the Antarctic following the...
Man-made carbon dioxide affects ocean acoustics
Oceanographers have that seawater sound absorption will drop by up to 70 percent already during this century. The scientists have examined the effects of man-made carbon dioxide under business-as-usual emissions...
Study finds that 77 percent of European pigs are castrated without anesthetic
The castration of pigs prevents the "boar taint" smell in the meat and allows them to contain more fat. However in practice this can be very different. Now, for the...
PICTURES: "Natural Treasure" Threatened by Industry?
Mountain lions, grizzly bears, and cutthroat trout are among the Rocky Mountain animals snapped during a recent photography expedition to the Flathead region, which conservationists say is threatened by mining,...
Volcanic Quakes Help Forecast Eruptions
Monitoring the earthquakes caused from magma movements inside an active volcano could help to improve the accuracy of forecasting an eruption.
UPI NewsTrack Health and Science News
Effects of binge drinking linger ... Climate change threatens duck wetlands ... Plastic bags recycled into batteries ... Red owls sign of global warming ...Health/Science news from UPI.
Indian minister lauds Copenhagen accord
NEW DELHI, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said his country's concerns had not only been protected but also enhanced at the climate-change summit at Copenhagen.
Probing Question: What are the origins of skiing?
Swoosh…Undeniably, this is the sound of skiing. As winter approaches, legions of avid skiers are preparing their equipment. Skis are being waxed, boots are being pulled out of storage and...
Crime, drugs rose after intense weather
WACO, Texas, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- People who believe storms today are more intense than they were years ago are more likely to prepare for bad weather, a Texas...
Monsoon flooding flushes arsenic from rice paddies
Monsoon floods wash away up to two-thirds of the arsenic in affected soil, boosting efforts to target arsenic mitigation.
Gazprom expands internal gas networks
BRATSK, Russia, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Executives at Russian energy giant Gazprom joined local officials from the city of Bratsk in eastern Siberia to dedicate a regional natural gas...
Red owls sign of global warming
WACO, Texas, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Higher temperatures caused by global warming are prompting an increase in the number of red Eastern Screech Owls, a Texas biologist said.
My Second Half
Andy Revkin describes his shift to academia and focus on making the Web a tool fostering "one-planet living."
ConocoPhillips fined for California spill
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Regulators in San Francisco hit supermajor ConocoPhillips with a $490,000 fine for discharging toxic waste into the San Pablo Bay in 2008.
Social networking changing the way we travel
(AP) -- Isahrai Azaria is heading to Austin, Texas, in February, and thanks to Facebook, she already has 40 acquaintances, an invitation to go water tubing, and a line on...
RIL announces Bay of Bengal gas find
MUMBAI, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- The government of India has been notified of the resource potential in the Bay of Bengal following a series of gas discoveries, Reliance Industries...
N.B. land could be North America's 1st UNESCO geopark
The city of Saint John has given a group the go-ahead in getting the United Nations to recognize the city and surrounding area for its unique geology.