Latest science news in Earth & Climate
Slowing Ships To Protect North Atlantic Right Whales
NOAA's Fisheries Service is seeking comment on the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Ship Strike Reduction Rule, which aims to reduce the number of endangered North Atlantic right...
Magmatically Triggered Slow Earthquake Discovered At Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii
From June 17-19, 2007, Kilauea experienced a new dike intrusion, where magma rapidly moved from a storage reservoir beneath the summit into the east rift zone and extended the rift...
E.P.A. Sued by 12 States to Regulate Oil Refineries
Twelve states are suing the Environmental Protection Agency for violating the federal Clean Air Act by refusing to control greenhouse gas emissions at oil refineries.
U.S. Officials Will Review Pollution in Waterway
The Environmental Protection Agency has agreed to develop a plan that could lead to Newtown Creek’s being named a federal Superfund site.
Talking Directly, and Kindly, to Believers in the Eco Life
A trailblazer in the field of eco-advice columnists, Umbra Fisk serves as a sensible big sister to the growing tribe of the environmentally aware.
California County’s Resolve Against Drilling Fades
In Santa Barbara County, where an oil spill devastated the coastline in 1969, the opposition against offshore drilling may be softening.
Green Roofs Offer More Than Color for the Skyline
The use of vegetation and rock to absorb rainwater on roofs is part of a growing effort to reduce greenhouse gases, rainwater runoff and electricity demand in New York.
Xcel to Disclose Global Warming Risks
The New York attorney general announced an agreement that would require Xcel Energy, a builder of coal-fired plants, to disclose to investors the financial risks of global warming.
Truce Is Reached in Battle Over Idaho Forest Land
Indiana and the Bush administration agreed to an unlikely truce allowing a mix of roads, logging and development as well as fully protected forest areas.
Chewing gum may reduce stress
CHICAGO, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- An Australian study suggests chewing gum can reduce stress and anxiety, the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company said Friday.
EPA completes river cleanup
CHICAGO, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- State, local and federal officials gathered in Ohio this week to celebrate the cleanup of PCBs, uranium, radium and thorium from the Ashtabula...
Opinion: Climate change, carbon sequestration and Tasmania
We need to establish the optimal use of Tasmania’s forest resources in an era of climate change and carbon sequestration, argues Fred Gale.
EPA disputes pesticide link to bee deaths
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it disputes allegations that the pesticide clothianidin is linked to bee colony collapse disorder.
Chemical Plant Blast Kills One
Federal officials will investigate accident at Bayer pesticide facility
Heavy rains but little N.C. drought relief
RESTON, Va., Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Heavy rain from Tropical Storm Fay delivered relief to North Carolina but not enough to end the state's drought, scientists said.
Could a Category 6 Hurricane Strike?
The Saffir-Simpson hurricane only goes up to Category 5. But in theory, winds from a powerful hurricane could blow the scale out of the water, scientists say.
Chemist Discovers the Elusive Chemical Middleman That Removes Acid Rain
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers have discovered the middleman in the complex chemical reaction that is essential to the atmosphere's ability to break down pollutants, especially the compounds that cause acid rain....
Key Discovered To Cold Tolerance In Corn
Demand for corn -- the world's number one feed grain and a staple food for many -- is outstripping supply, resulting in large price increases that are forecast to continue...
Drinking water safe after China plant blast
Local authorities say the pollution threat from the Vinylon chemical factory explosion has been contained
Accept GM, urges senior African Union official
A senior African Union official has urged African leaders to allow commercial growing of GM crops.
Rose George on the problem with recycling sewage into fertiliser
Rose George: How dangerous is it to use human waste to fertilise edible crops?
Ancient Amazon Actually Highly Urbanized
In 1925 British adventurer Colonel Percy Fawcett disappeared into the wilds of the Amazon, never to be heard from again after going there in search of a lost city he...
'Lost towns' discovered in Amazon
The remote Amazon basin was once home to complex urban communities, according to a study in Science journal.
New underground CO2 monitoring begins
WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- U.S. Department of Energy scientists say they've started tracking carbon dioxide movement nearly 2 miles underground at the Cranfield, Miss., oilfield.
Small GPS devices help prosecutors win convictions
(AP) -- Like millions of motorists, Eric Hanson used a GPS unit in his Chevrolet TrailBlazer to find his way around. He probably didn't expect that prosecutors would eventually use...
Study makes some explosives more stable
LIVERMORE, Calif., Aug. 28 (UPI) -- U.S. government scientists say they've developed a "green" method that makes some explosives safer and more stable.
Concrete plan to clear the air
DUSSELDORF, Germany, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- A California chemist is working on ways to use carbon dioxide emissions to create cement.
'Space Cube' could be world's smallest PC
Measuring just 2 inches by 2 inches, the Space Cube is roughly the size of a large die. However, the cube is actually a tiny PC, developed by the Shimafuji...