Latest science news in Earth & Climate
Dye used to study world's thinnest sheet
EVANSTON, Ill., Dec. 24 (UPI) -- The world's thinnest material is being studied with a dye used to stain the Chicago River green on St. Patrick's Day, scientists in...
Climate debate: What's warming us up? Human activity or Mother Nature?
A major analysis of the climate debate concludes that the majority of scientists agree that global warming is primarily man-made, although a vocal minority of sceptics is holding onto the...
Early Pliocene Warming Shows How A Little CO2 Can Have A Major Impact
Researchers studying climate change during the early Pliocene have concluded that slow changes such as melting ice sheets amplified the initial warming caused by greenhouse gases, and that a relatively...
Winter Solstice 2009: Facts on Shortest Day of the Year
Today is the 2009 winter solstice, the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year. Find out why and how the year's darkest day has been celebrated...
Climate accord offers some grounds for hope, say analysts
Amid the general developing country gloom at the Copenhagen climate conference outcome, there are some reasons for hope, say experts.
Modern tests demonstrate soundness of old iron bridge
An unusual bowstring truss iron bridge that carried traffic across Roaring Run in Bedford County, Va. for almost 100 years is now a picturesque footbridge at the I-81 Ironto, Va....
Global temperatures could rise more than expected
The kinds of increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide taking place today could have a significantly larger effect on global temperatures than previously thought, according to a new study led by...
A Brief Introduction to Virtual Water
The “virtual water” metaphor was originally created by Professor Tony Allan in the early 1990s. It is defined as the volume of water required to produce a commodity, seems like...
Oceans becoming nosier thanks to pollution -- report
The world's oceans are becoming noisier thanks to pollution, with potentially harmful effects for whales, dolphins and other marine life, US scientists said in a study published Sunday.
Slide show: ‘Polar Obsession’
National Geographic photographer Paul Nicklen captures images of life in the polar reaches and the effects of climate change. Climate change - National Geographic Society -...
Germany's Merkel defends climate accord
BERLIN (AP) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel is defending the much-criticized outcome of the Copenhagen climate summit as a first step that paves the way for...
Climate scientists underwhelmed by Copenhagen Accord
Top climate scientists said Saturday that the eleventh-hour political deal hammered out at UN talks in Copenhagen falls perilously short of what is needed to stave off catastrophic global warming.
Taiwan hit by 6.4-magnitude quake: USGS
A strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit off eastern Taiwan on Saturday evening, the US Geological Survey said, the biggest tremor to rock the island this year.
China: Climate talks yielded 'positive' results
BEIJING (AP) -- China, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, lauded Sunday the outcome of a historic U.N. climate conference that ended with a nonbinding...
Warming climate chills Sonoran Desert's spring flowers
Global warming is giving a boost to Sonoran Desert plants that have an edge during cold weather, according to new research. Although overall numbers of winter annuals have declined since...
Climate reality: Voluntary efforts not enough
COPENHAGEN (AP) -- Around the world, countries and capitalism are already working to curb global warming on their own, with or without a global treaty....
Copenhagen: The last-ditch drama that saved the deal from collapse
In the end it came down to frantic horse trading between exhausted politicians. After two weeks of high politics and low cunning that pitted world leaders against each other and threw up...
Why I believe all is not lost – yet
The nature of the climate change deal finally hammered out yesterday is a bitter disappointment to many, but if the world can acknowledge what went wrong at Copenhagen and learn from it,...
A Grudging Accord in Climate Talks
After two weeks of delays, grandstanding and frantic dealmaking, the United Nations climate change talks concluded with an agreement to “take note” of a pact shaped by five nations.
New filling, cooling and storage system may prevent bacterial growth and prolong shelf life of orange juice
Researchers in Brazil have estimated the growth timeline of a bacterium that causes orange juice spoilage during shelf life (approximately 6 months) and developed a safe and inexpensive filling, cooling,...
Copenhagen deal reaction in quotes
Quotes from the UN climate conference in Copenhagen, when key countries have reached what is described as a "meaningful" deal.
Obama hails Copenhagen deal as 'unprecedented breakthrough'
The climate change pact, which is not legally binding, sets the first emission limits for China and India and new targets for the U.S. Many activists and poor nations criticize the agreement. Leaders...
A dark Arctic tale set after the ice melts
In his book 'After the Ice,' Anderson writes of a world in which Arctic ice has permanently melted and polar bears don't exist. He says the nightmare will likely come...
UPI NewsTrack Health and Science News
Celebrex may affect low-dose aspirin use ... Northern Lights burst captured on film ... CDC: Autism up by more than 50 percent ... Erupting volcano filmed in deep sea ......
Reaffirming climate science
The conclusion that our planet is warming thanks to human activity must not be forgotten amid discussion of research ethics, say climatologists Hans von Storch and Myles Allen.
Computer-simulated Thunderstorms with Ice Clouds Reveal Insights for Next-generation Computer Models
(PhysOrg.com) -- Computer simulations of thunderstorms using data from a field campaign in Australia confirm that the "ice-phase" cloud processes in climate models contribute most to the wide discrepancy between...
Iran's well seizure a warning shot?
BAGHDAD, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Iran's reported seizure of a border oil well just inside Iraqi territory came hot on the heels of Baghdad's success in signing up foreign...
Amazon Losing "Flying Rivers," Ability to Curb Warming
The Amazon's flying rivers"humid air currents that deliver water to the vast rain forestmay be ebbing, and in turn drying out the region's trees and ability to curb global warming, according to...