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Subcategory: Earth Science
Sun May Not Be a 'Goldilocks' Star
Nov 19 2009 - ScienceNews
The stars that are just right to support life might be dimmer and longer-lived than the Sun.
New Type of Supernova Discovered
Nov 12 2009 - National Geographic News
An odd star explosion 160 million light-years away might be the first proof of a theoretical new class of supernova, astronomers suggest.
Midwest Quakes Are Aftershocks from 1800s
Nov 5 2009 - MSNBC
The small earthquakes that sporadically rattle the central United States may actually be aftershocks from a few extremely large quakes that occurred in the region almost 200 years ago, according to a new study.
The Mountains That Froze the World
Nov 4 2009 - ScienceNow Daily News
The rise of the Appalachians plunged Earth into an ice age so severe that it drove nearly two-thirds of all living species extinct. That's the conclusion of a new study, which finds that the mountains' rocks absorbed enough greenhouse gas to freeze the planet.
European Water Mission Lifts Off
Nov 2 2009 - BBC News
A European satellite is set to provide major new insights into how water is cycled around the Earth.
Snows of Kilimanjaro Could Vanish in 20 Years: Study
Nov 2 2009 - Yahoo! News
The snows capping Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest peak, are shrinking rapidly and could vanish altogether in 20 years, most likely due to global warming, according to a new study.
Australia Uranium Dust Concerns
Sep 28 2009 - BBC News
Environmentalists have raised concerns that another giant dust storm blowing its way across eastern Australia may contain radioactive particles.
Millions at Risk as Deltas Sink
Sep 21 2009 - BBC News
Most of the world's major river deltas are sinking, increasing the flood risk faced by hundreds of millions of people, scientists report.
Solar Cycle Driven By More Than Sunspots
Sep 18 2009 - ScienceDaily
Challenging conventional wisdom, new research finds that the number of sunspots provides an incomplete measure of changes in the Sun's impact on Earth over the course of the 11-year solar cycle.
Sahara Desert Greening Due to Climate Change?
Aug 6 2009 - National Geographic News
Rising temperatures could benefit millions of Africans in the driest parts of the continent. Scientists are now seeing signals that the Sahara desert and surrounding regions are greening due to increasing rainfall. If sustained, these rains could revitalize drought-ravaged regions, reclaiming them for farming communities.
World's Biggest Cave Found in Vietnam
Jul 29 2009 - National Geographic News
A massive cave recently uncovered in a remote Vietnamese jungle is the largest single cave passage yet found, a new survey shows. At 80-by-80 meters in most places, the Son Doong cave beats out the previous world-record holder, Deer Cave in the Malaysian section of the island of Borneo.
Auroras in Northern and Southern Hemispheres Are Not Identical
Jul 24 2009 - ScienceDaily
Norwegian researchers have shown that the auroras in the Northern and the Southern hemispheres can be totally asymmetric. These findings contradict the commonly made assumption of aurora being mirror images of each other.
Solar Eclipse on July 22 May Be Most Viewed Ever
Jul 22 2009 - National Geographic News
A total solar eclipse passing over some of Earth's most densely populated regions on Wednesday, July 22, 2009, may become the most viewed eclipse ever.
Pacific Tsunami Threat Greater Than Expected
Jul 22 2009 - National Science Foundation
The potential for a huge Pacific Ocean tsunami on the West Coast of America may be greater than previously thought, according to a new study of geological evidence along the Gulf of Alaska coast.
Asia Set for Total Solar Eclipse
Jul 21 2009 - BBC News
Millions of people in Asia will see the longest total solar eclipse this century on Wednesday as swaths of India and China are plunged into darkness.
Satellites Can Spot Tsunamis: Study
Jul 16 2009 - Reuters
Satellites can spot the leading edge of a tsunami, U.S. government researchers said on Wednesday in a study that might lead to better ways of detecting the giant waves and get people out of their way.
Ancient Climate-Change Event Puzzles Scientists
Jul 15 2009 - ScienceNow Daily News
Scientists say they can't entirely blame the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide for a curious spike in Earth's temperature 55 million years ago. New research reveals that something else also seems to have warmed the planet during that time, though no one's quite sure what it was.
Mississippi River Delta to "Drown" by 2100?
Jul 1 2009 - National Geographic News
The Mississippi River Delta is drowning, according to new research that predicts the surrounding coastline will be inevitably reshaped in coming decades.
Most Complete Earth Map Published
Jun 30 2009 - BBC News
The most complete terrain map of the Earth's surface has been published. The data, comprising 1.3 million images, come from a collaboration between the US space agency Nasa and the Japanese trade ministry; it covers 99% of the Earth's surface and will be free to download and use.
Cloud Clue in Space Blast Mystery
Jun 26 2009 - BBC News
There is new evidence in the debate regarding the 1908 Tunguska event that destroyed 80 million trees in Siberia.
Warp-Speed Raindrops
Jun 15 2009 - ScienceNow Daily News
In the meteorological equivalent of breaking the light-speed barrier, new research shows that the smaller droplets in a rainstorm often surpass what appears to be the speed limit for rain. The findings should help scientists devise models that could lead to more accurate weather forecasts.
Typhoons Trigger Slow Earthquakes
Jun 11 2009 - BBC News
Typhoons trigger "imperceptible" earthquakes, and potentially reduce the number of more powerful ones, say researchers.
Not So Windy: Research Suggests Winds Dying Down
Jun 10 2009 - Yahoo! News
The wind, a favorite power source of the green energy movement, seems to be dying down across the U.S. And the cause, ironically, may be global warming—the very problem wind power seeks to address.
Are Midwestern Earthquake Faults Shutting Down?
Jun 8 2009 - Scientific American
Midwesterners may have already seen the last of earthquakes in their region. New research suggests the crack in the Earth behind the Mississippi Valley events may actually be shutting down. If so, geoscientists will need to rethink how earthquakes work.
Himalayas Warming Faster than Global Average
Jun 5 2009 - India Times
The Northwestern Himalayas have become 1.4 degrees Celsius warmer in the last 100 years, a far higher level of warming than the 0.5 to 1.1 degrees for the rest of the globe, Indian scientists have found.
Origin of Antarctic Ice Revealed
Jun 4 2009 - BBC News
The East Antarctic ice sheet was formed against an "Alpine" backdrop 14 million years ago, research suggests.
Space Rock Yields Carbon Bounty
May 26 2009 - BBC News
Formic acid, a molecule implicated in the origins of life, has been found at record levels on a meteorite that fell into a Canadian lake in 2000. An analysis showed four times more formic acid in the fragments than has been recorded on previous meteorites.
Sun Entering Weakest Cycle Since 1928
May 12 2009 - U.S. News & World Report
The Sun has entered its weakest cycle of magnetic activity since 1928, meaning fewer solar flares and coronal mass ejections, scientists predict. A panel of solar scientists reports that the cycle, which scientists believe began in December 2008, will peak in May 2013.
Scientist Says Volcanic Eruption in Congo Imminent
May 8 2009 - USA Today
Scientists found evidence of intense volcanic activity—including tremors, pools of lava, and plumes of smoke—at two volcanoes near a major city in eastern Congo, and said some residents had fled for fear of an eruption.
Marine Scientists Return from Expedition to Erupting Undersea Volcano
May 7 2009 - National Science Foundation
Scientists who have just returned from an expedition to an erupting undersea volcano near the Island of Guam report that the volcano appears to be continuously active, has grown considerably in size during the past three years, and its activity supports a unique biological community thriving despite the eruptions.
Did Ancient Tsunami Hit New York City?
May 4 2009 - CBS News
The thought of a tsunami crashing into Manhattan sounds like a scene out of a sci-fi thriller, but some scientists believe a giant wave crashed into what is now New York City more than 2,000 years ago.
New Blow for Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid Theory
Apr 27 2009 - National Science Foundation
The enduringly popular theory that the Chicxulub crater holds the clue to the demise of the dinosaurs, along with some 65% of all species 65 million years ago, is challenged in a paper to be published in the Journal of the Geological Society on April 27, 2009.
Days to Stretch Longer with Climate Change
Apr 21 2009 - Discovery Channel
Climate change will make the day longer by the end of the century, according to a new study. Earth's atmosphere plays a large role in controlling how fast the planet rotates. As the seasons change, variations in high-level jets of wind shift, adding and subtracting about a millisecond to our day each year.
West Africa Faces Megadroughts
Apr 17 2009 - BBC News
Severe droughts lasting centuries have happened often in West Africa's recent history, and another one is almost inevitable, researchers say. They say the droughts are going to happen again, and societies should begin planning for them.
Scientists Capture Volcano’s Lightning
Apr 9 2009 - MSNBC
For the first time, scientists have been able to "see" and trace lightning inside a plume of ash spewing from Alaska's actively erupting Mount Redoubt volcano.
Undersea Volcano Explodes in S. Pacific
Mar 19 2009 - Discovery News
Scientists sailed Thursday to inspect an undersea volcano that has been erupting for days near Tonga—shooting smoke, steam, and ash thousands of feet into the sky above the South Pacific ocean. Authorities said the eruption does not pose any danger to islanders at this stage, and there have been no reports of fish or other animals being affected.
Earth's Crust Melts Easier than Previously Thought
Mar 19 2009 - ScienceDaily
A recent study has found that the Earth's crust melts easier than previously thought. In the study, researchers measured how well rocks conduct heat at different temperatures and found that as rocks get hotter in the Earth's crust, they become better insulators and poorer conductors.
Big Melt Seen in Antarctic Past, and Maybe Future
Mar 18 2009 - Yahoo! News
The West Antarctic ice sheet collapsed periodically between 3 million and 5 million years ago, adding more than 16 feet to global sea level, according to the first examination of soil cores far below the surface of the Ross ice shelf. Also, new computer models suggest that warmer waters nearby attacked the ice from below, triggering those collapses.
Growing Pollution Leads to "Global Dimming"
Mar 13 2009 - Reuters
Visibility on clear days has declined in much of the world since the 1970s thanks to a rise in airborne pollutants, scientists said on Thursday.
Earth's Highest Microbial Ecosystem Found
Mar 5 2009 - US News & World Report
Gases rising from deep within the Earth are fueling the world's highest known microbial ecosystems, which are perched on the rim of a 19,850-foot-high Andean volcano along with a few patches of plants, researchers announced.
Harmless Debris on Earth Is Devastating in Orbit
Feb 27 2009 - The Wall Street Journal
A spreading cloud of shrapnel from the collision of two satellites earlier this month is making wrecks for working spacecraft around Earth all but inevitable, analysts warn.
Study: Antarctic Glaciers Melting Swiftly
Feb 25 2009 - CBS News
Antarctic glaciers are melting faster than previously thought, which could lead to an unprecedented rise in sea levels, scientists said Wednesday.
U.S.-Led, International Research Team Confirms Alps-Like Mountain Range Exists under East Antarctic Ice Sheet
Feb 24 2009 - National Science Foundation
An international team of scientists has not only verified the existence of a mountain range that is suspected to have caused the massive East Antarctic Ice Sheet to form but also has created a detailed picture of the rugged landscape buried under more than 4 kilometers of ice.
Upgrade to Warning System on Tsunamis Is Going Slowly
Feb 23 2009 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
a tsunami in the Indian Ocean killed hundreds of thousands of people in 2004, the American government moved to improve the nation's tsunami warning systems. But some of the upgrades are temporary and have not been made to the highest standards.
Cache of Ice Age Fossils Found in L.A.
Feb 18 2009 - USA Today
Scientists are studying a huge cache of Ice Age fossil deposits recovered near the famous La Brea Tar Pits in the heart of the nation's second-largest city.
Iron on Its Route to the Sea-Floor: A New Path
Feb 9 2009 - National Science Foundation
Iron dust, the rarest nutrient for most marine life, can be washed down by rivers or blown out to sea or—a surprising new study finds—float up from the sea floor in the material spewed from hydrothermal vents.
Underground Particles Forecast Winter Storms
Jan 30 2009 - Discovery.com News
Without getting a weather report—or even stepping outside—scientists have found a way to predict when a winter storm is on its way. The tip-off? Tabulating the number of cosmic ray particles reaching detectors a half-mile underground.
Basalt Rock Wall Found in Ocean Near Taiwan
Jan 5 2009 - Reuters
A biodiversity researcher has found a huge basalt rock formation in the Taiwan Strait, resembling a city wall and rivaling similar monoliths on land. The 200 meter-long, 10 meter-high undersea wall, which looks like thousands of pillars packed together, is near the Pescadores archipelago.
New Deep-Sea Reefs Found with Sonar
Dec 18 2008 - National Geographic News
High-resolution sonar images taken in early December have identified three huge deep-sea coral reefs off the coast of Florida. At depths of nearly 400 meters, the recently discovered reefs are home to hundreds, if not thousands, of species, according to scientists.
Global Warming Impacts on U.S. Coming Sooner than Expected, Report Predicts
Dec 18 2008 - ScienceDaily
A new report provides new insights on the potential for abrupt climate change and the effects it could have on the United States, identifying key concerns that include faster-than-expected loss of sea ice, rising sea levels and a possibly permanent state of drought in the American southwest.
Hole Found in Earth's Magnetic Field
Dec 17 2008 - Time Magazine
Recent satellite observations have revealed the largest breach yet seen in the magnetic field that protects Earth from most of the Sun's violent blasts, researchers reported Tuesday. The discovery was made last summer by Themis, a fleet of five small NASA satellites.
Climate Change, Drought to Strain Colorado River
Dec 5 2008 - Yahoo! News
Seven Western states will face more water shortages in the years ahead as climate change exacerbates the strains drought and a growing population have put on the Colorado River, scientists say.
Ocean Growing More Acidic Faster Than Once Thought
Nov 26 2008 - ScienceDaily
University of Chicago scientists have documented that the ocean is growing more acidic faster than previously thought.
Mega Wind Farms Could Steer Storms
Nov 25 2008 - Discovery.com News
Mega wind farms of the future could have a major impact on weather, clearing up cloudy skies and even steering storm systems, according to new research.
New Ice Age Predicted—But Averted by Global Warming?
Nov 14 2008 - National Geographic News
Deep ice sheets would cover much of the Northern Hemisphere thousands of years from now, if it weren't for us pesky humans, a new study says. Emissions of greenhouse gases, such as the carbon dioxide that comes from power plants and cars, are heating the atmosphere to such an extent that the next ice age, predicted to be the deepest in millions of years, may be postponed indefinitely.
Mystery Deepens Over Unseen Antarctic "Alps"
Nov 10 2008 - National Geographic News
The existence of a massive Antarctic mountain range buried under miles of ice has become an even deeper mystery, a new study says. The little-researched Gamburtsev Mountains seem to challenge geologic patterns seen in other mountain ranges on Earth.
Mud Eruption Caused by Drilling
Nov 3 2008 - BBC News
Leading geologists from around the world decide that a mud volcano disaster in Indonesia was triggered by oil and gas exploration.
Night-Shining Clouds May Have Metal Lining
Oct 16 2008 - Discovery.com News
It's not a silver lining that causes night-shining clouds to bounce radar, but that's close, claims plasma physicist Paul Bellan. He thinks the clouds, which sit on the edge of space, may be coated with a thin layer of metals. The ability to reflect radar is one of a handful of mysteries about noctilucent clouds, so named because of their luminescence in deep twilight.
Rocks May Be Oldest on Earth, Scientists Say
Sep 26 2008 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
A swath of bedrock in northern Quebec may be the oldest known piece of the Earth's crust. Researchers report that this rock is 4.28 billion years old and formed when the Earth was less than 300 million years old.
Iran Sinking as Groundwater Resources Disappear
Sep 26 2008 - National Geographic News
Iran's insatiable demand for water, which is being drawn out of aquifers far faster than it can be replenished, is causing large chunks of farmland to sink and buildings to crack, according to a new study.
Permafrost May Not Thaw even During Global Warming
Sep 22 2008 - The New York Time (requires free registration)
One of the potential consequences of a warmer world, according to scientists, is the deep thawing of the permafrost. But a new study published in the journal Science suggests that the impact of warming on the permafrost may not be as bad as forecast.
Supercontinent Pangaea Pushed, not Sucked, into Place
Sep 9 2008 - National Geographic News
Supercontinents can form when a huge plume of hot rock from deep inside Earth wells up between the continental plates, pushing them apart until all Earth's landmasses collide. This is the finding from a new study that suggests—contrary to accepted theory—that such a process formed the supercontinent Pangaea 300 million years ago.
Sea Level Rise May Be Twice More Than Expected
Sep 5 2008 - Discovery.com News
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison say the oceans could rise by as much as 1.3 meters by the end of the century, double the estimate of The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's worst projections of 68 centimeters by the year 2100. Such a rise would imperil coastal cities around the world.
Scientists: More Hurricanes to Come
Sep 4 2008 - Time Magazine
Hurricane experts say all the weather ingredients, which normally fluctuate, are set on boil for the formation of storms. And it's going to stay that way for a while, they said.
Greenland Ice Core Reveals History of Pollution in the Arctic
Aug 20 2008 - National Science Foundation
A Greenland ice core reveals pollution in the Arctic region was higher 100 years ago. In fact, the research showed pollutants were two to five times higher at the beginning of the previous century than today. Continuous, monthly and annually averaged pollution records taken from the Greenland ice core dating from 1772-2003 produced the results. And although data showed heavy-metal pollution in the North Atlantic sector of the Arctic is substantially lower today than a century ago, researchers say there is still cause for concern.
Deadly San Andreas Fault Longer Than Thought
Aug 5 2008 - National Geographic
If the tremor that struck California recently was not enough of a reminder of the region's dangerous side, a new study says the powerful San Andreas Fault extends further south than previously believed.
Is Smokey the Bear Worsening Global Warming?
Jul 29 2008 - ScienceNow Daily News
Scientists have long believed that preventing or dousing forest fires helps combat global warming by saving trees and thus allowing forests to take up more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. But surprising new data on hundreds of California forest sites suggest the opposite. The work could help quantify the role of forests in the global carbon cycle and shape U.S. federal fire policy.
Scientists Find Trigger for Northern Lights
Jul 25 2008 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
Researchers working on a NASA mission to understand the interplay of magnetic fields and charged particles blown outward from the Sun have identified the trigger for the colorful electrical storms in the polar regions. They hope this is a step in developing reliable forecasts of geomagnetic storms that can disrupt satellites in orbit and power grids on the ground.
Amazon River Powers Tropical Ocean's Carbon Sink
Jul 22 2008 - ScienceDaily
Nutrients from the Amazon River spread well beyond the continental shelf and drive carbon capture in the deep ocean, according to the authors of a multi-year study. The finding does not change estimates of the oceans' total carbon uptake, but it reveals the surprisingly large role of tropical oceans and major rivers.
A Single Boulder May Prove that Antarctica and North America Were Once Connected
Jul 18 2008 - National Science Foundation
A lone granite boulder found against all odds high atop a glacier in Antarctica may provide additional key evidence to support a theory that parts of the southernmost continent once were connected to North America hundreds of millions of years ago.
Methane Formation in the Oceans: New Pathway Discovered
Jul 11 2008 - National Science Foundation
A new pathway for methane formation in the oceans has been discovered, with significant potential for advancing our understanding of greenhouse gas production on Earth, scientists believe.
Seasonal Factor Seen in Melting and Ice Shifts in Greenland
Jul 7 2008 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
A study using 17 years of satellite measurements suggests that the movement of glacial ice is not as rapid as had been feared.
The Tunguska Event: A Century Later, It's Still Mysterious
Jul 1 2008 - Discover Magazine
One hundred years ago, a fireball streaked across the morning sky over Siberia and exploded, flattening the forest across an area of 830 square miles. The cause of the Tunguska Event, named for the nearby Tunguska River, has been a source of speculation ever since, and a century after the event scientists still don't have enough evidence to conclusively say what happened.
Don't Rebuild on China Quake Faults, Experts Warn
Jun 20 2008 - National Geographic
Rebuilding should be banned along the tectonic faults that caused the massive May 12 earthquake, two scientists say.
Utah Announces 'Major Dinosaur Fossil Discovery'
Jun 18 2008 - U.S. News & World Report
A newly discovered batch of well-preserved dinosaur bones, petrified trees, and even freshwater clams in southeastern Utah could provide new clues about life in the region some 150 million years ago. The Bureau of Land Management announced the find, calling the quarry in which they were found "a major dinosaur fossil discovery."
Something's Shaking in Antarctica
Jun 9 2008 - ScienceNow Daily News
Scientists have discovered massive, slow-motion "ice quakes" trembling twice a day through the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, an Alaska-sized swath of Antarctica. Detective work has traced the source of the shaking to the Whillans Ice Stream, a glacier 100 kilometers across and 1 kilometer thick, which flows from the ice sheet's interior.
Plan for Quake "Warning System"
Jun 5 2008 - BBC News
NASA researchers say they have found a close link between electrical disturbances on the edge of our atmosphere and impending quakes on the ground below. Just such a signal was spotted in the days leading up to the recent devastating event in China. They have teamed up with experts in the UK to investigate a possible space-based early warning system.
Is Sound the Cause of Shadow Spectacle?
May 22 2008 - BBC News
Mysterious bands of shadow that sometimes pass across the ground during an eclipse might be produced by sound pulses, according to a new theory.
Supernova Caught Starting to Explode for First Time
May 22 2008 - National Geographic News
A brilliant burst of light marking a dying star's final moments before exploding has been glimpsed by astronomers for the first time. Called a shock breakout, the x-ray flash (detected in January) signals the destruction of a star several times more massive than our Sun.
Is There a Hidden Order to the Northern Lights?
Apr 30 2008 - NewScientist.com
The Northern Lights might be more ordered than anyone realized. New observations suggest that, contrary to expectations, some of the colorful light shows appear to be polarized, with their electromagnetic waves lined up in a common orientation. If confirmed, the discovery will provide a powerful new tool to understand the Earth's magnetic field and the atmospheres of other planets.
Climate "Fix" Could Deplete Ozone
Apr 25 2008 - BBC News
Research has cast new doubt on the wisdom of using Sun-blocking sulphate particles to cool the planet. Sulphate injections are one of several "geo-engineering" solutions to climate change being discussed by scientists. But new data suggest that the strategy would lead to drastic thinning of the ozone layer.
Mystery Of Ancient Supercontinent's Demise Revealed
Apr 25 2008 - Science Daily
Scientists reveal how Gondwana, a "supercontinent" that existed between 500 and 180 million years ago, met its demise.
Glaciers Suffer Record Shrinkage
Mar 17 2008 - BBC News
The rate at which some of the world's glaciers are melting has more than doubled, data from the United Nations Environment Program has shown.
Antarctica's Unique Space Rocks
Mar 14 2008 - BBC News
A pair of meteorites discovered in Antarctica are in a class all of their own, a major space conference has been told. Studies of the extra-terrestrial rocks have revealed qualities that set them apart from any meteorites previously known to science.
"Giant Fireball" Impact in Peru Upends Meteorite Theory
Mar 13 2008 - National Geographic
A meteorite that smacked into the Peruvian highlands last September may have punched holes into long-held theories about how such meteorites, called chondrites, interact with Earth's atmosphere.
Discovery Of Earth's Inner, Innermost Core Confirmed
Mar 11 2008 - ScienceDaily
Geologists at the University of Illinois have confirmed the discovery of Earth's inner, innermost core, and have created a three-dimensional model that describes the seismic anisotropy and texturing of iron crystals within the inner core.
Grand Canyon Still Grand but Older
Mar 7 2008 - New York Times (requires free registration)
By dating mineral deposits inside caves along the Grand Canyon's walls, geologists now claim the canyon's formation began 11 million years earlier than previous estimates.
Climate Change Pushing Tropics Farther, Faster
Dec 4 2007 - National Geographic News
A new study shows that the tropics have expanded by as much as 300 miles north and south during the past 25 years. The new research means that rain-drenched regions near the Equator are growing and that global warming could be pushing deserts pole-ward in several countries. Researchers note if the trend continues the environmental impacts would extend well beyond the tropics. More information about the study can be found in the advance online edition of the journal Nature Geoscience.
Sun May Be Smaller than Thought
Nov 19 2007 - NewScientist.com
A new study suggests the Sun may be smaller than thought. If the findings are true, scientists explain that other properties of the Sun, such as its internal temperature and density might be slightly different than previously calculated.
Scientists Map Near-Earth Space Bubbles
Oct 24 2007 - MSNBC.com
For the first time, scientists have mapped bubbles of plasma trapped within Earth’s magnetic field. A research team led by Stein Haaland, a scientist at the Max Planck Institute in Germany, used data gathered by four spacecraft to create the maps. The scientists note the data collection is helping them understand connections between the sun and the Earth. Scientists also note understanding how such particles are trapped is key to safeguarding astronauts and satellites.
How El Nino Slows the Earth's Spin
Oct 21 2007 - NewScientist.com
For years, scientists have wondered why El Nino has made the planet spin more slowly. They have also wondered why the effect did not kick in for several weeks after ocean temperatures reached their peak. But now a research team at the California Institute of Technology says the answer is blowing in the wind.
Shifting Volcanoes Made Early Complex Life Possible
Aug 30 2007 - National Geographic News
A new study suggests shifting volcanoes might have enabled Earth’s atmosphere to fill with oxygen, prompting the development of complex life. A massive tectonic upheaval pushed submerged volcanoes above ground, where they stopped spewing oxygen-destroying chemicals, the research says. The increase in oxygen levels took place about 2.5 million years ago. At that time, Earth’s atmosphere was unable to breathe, so the fumes put a stop to evolution. Complex life began when the planet’s skies began to fill with oxygen.
Cities Stay Afloat with Hot Rock
Jul 6 2007 - NSTA News
A new study shows how various regions of North America are kept afloat by heat within Earth’s rocky crust, and how much of the continent would sink beneath sea level if not for heat that makes rock buoyant.
Cities Stay Afloat From Heat in Earth's Core
Jun 25 2007 - MSNBC.com
Many American coastal cities would lie beneath the sea unless heat from the Earth’s deep interior were to keep most of North America afloat by warming the continental crust and making it buoyant, according to scientists. “We have shown for the first time that temperature differences within the Earth’s crust and upper mantle explain about half of the elevation of any given place in North America,” said study team member David Chapman of the University of Utah. Chapman noted that rock differences can explain the other half. The findings are discussed in two studies published in the Journal of Geophysical-Solid Earth, a publication of the American Geophysical Union.
Moon Might Be Best Place to Study Earth's Climate
May 31 2007 - NewScientist.com
Where is the best place to study the Earth’s climate? The moon, according to one U.S. researcher. Shoapeng Huang of the University of Wisconsin has obtained temperature records taken by instruments that were left on the moon’s surface in 1971 by the Apollo 15 mission to make his claim. However, others are not so convinced by the findings.
Earth Nears Tipping Point on Climate Change
May 30 2007 - Christian Science Monitor
Dangerous climate change has not yet arrived, but the tipping point may not be far off. It may be reached with a smaller temperature rise than recent studies suggest. Those are among the conclusions from an international team of climate scientists in a study this month, which they say bolsters the case for an alternative strategy to combat climate change. The main idea: focus intensely on cutting greenhouse gas emissions other than carbon dioxide in the short term, giving the world a little leeway in dealing with the trickier issue of CO2.
Scientists to List all Species on the Web
May 9 2007 - MSNBC.com
The world’s scientists plan to compile everything they know about all of Earth’s 1.8 million known species and put it all on one website that will be open to everyone. The effort, called the Encyclopedia of Life, will include species descriptions, pictures, maps, videos, sound, sightings by amateurs, and links to entire genomes, and scientific journal papers. The website’s first pages of information will be shown May 9 in the nation’s capital where the massive effort is being announced by some of the world’s leading institutions. The project will take about 10 years to finish.
Snowball Fight Erupts Over Frozen Earth Theory
May 8 2007 - MSNBC.com
The theory that the Earth long ago froze completely over, like a giant snowball, is challenged by new data from desert outcroppings in Oman. The geological measurements indicate that even as glaciers spread across all the continents 700 million years ago, warm spells with liquid water were still common. The question now is how did our planet resist becoming a popsicle.
Deep Tremors May Help Predict Quakes
May 3 2007 - MSNBC.com
Researchers have identified a link between a series of recently discovered earth movements that they believe may hold the key to better forecasting major earthquakes. Instances of deep tremors, low-frequency, and silent earthquakes have only been observed in the past two decades, with the advent of equipment like the Global Positioning System, and researchers have been studying them as disparate events. But scientists in Japan and the United States say these events may be symptoms of what is known as a “slow earthquake,” if they occur in the same place and around the same time.
Volcanic Activity Triggered Deadly Prehistoric Warming
Apr 27 2007 - National Geographic News
The prehistoric bout of volcanic activity that slowly ripped Greenland from Europe triggered a deadly global warming event, according to a new study. The event, which happened 55 million years ago, has similarities to today’s climate changes. These changes have been linked to the human generation of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels.
NASA Launches First Ice Cloud Mission
Apr 26 2007 - Science Daily
NASA has launched the first spacecraft dedicated to exploring the mysterious ice clouds that dot the edge of space in Earth’s polar regions. The Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) spacecraft was launched April 25 by a L-1011 aircraft from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California to study the noctilucent clouds. These types of clouds can be seen from the ground only at night, when they are illuminated by sunlight no longer visible from the Earth’s surface.
Mystery Fossil Turns Out to Be Giant Fungus
Apr 24 2007 - ABC News
Scientists have identified the Godzilla of fungi, a giant, prehistoric fossil that has evaded classification for more than a century. Known as Prototaxites, the giant fungus originally was thought to be a conifer. Then some believed it was lichen, or various types of algae. Some suspected it was a fungus.
Astronauts Recall View Before Earth Day
Apr 20 2007 - CBS News
The rarest view in humanity—Earth from afar—moves many of the lucky few observers to tears and gives them a new appreciation of that blue marble we all call home. When astronauts return from space, what they talk about is not the brute force of the rocket launch or the exhilaration of zero gravity. It’s the view. Click on the link above to read some of their observations.
Was Early Earth Purple?
Apr 11 2007 - MSNBC.com
Ancient microbes might have used a molecule other than chlorophyll to harness the Sun’s rays, one that gave the organisms a violet hue, according to new research. For more information on Regulation and Behavior in Organisms, NSTA members can refer to the April/May 2007 issue of Science Scope.
Tree Destruction of Forests Predicted to Cool Earth
Apr 10 2007 - Nature News
Deforestation on a large-scale could cool Earth, according to researchers behind one of the first attempts to model the phenomenon on a global scale.
Powerful Earthquake Rocks Japan
Mar 26 2007 - NewScientist.com
A powerful earthquake killed one person and injured at least 160 in central Japan on March 25. The quake, which measured 6.9 on the Richter scale demolished houses, buckled roads, triggered landslides, and cut off water supplies to thousands of homes. For more information on Natural Disasters, NSTA members can refer to the March 2007 issue of Science Scope.
Ancient Earth Shows Moving Crust
Mar 26 2007 - Science News
Tectonic movements of Earth’s crust began at least 3.8 billion years ago, according to new evidence from the oldest known rock formation.
Scientists Observe 'Magnetic Reconnection'
Mar 12 2007 - Science Daily
British-led European Space Agency (ESA) physicists have reported making an unprecedented measurement in their study of the Earth’s magnetic field. The researchers say they have used the ESA’s four Cluster satellites to detect an electric field thought to be a key element in the process of “magnetic reconnection.”
Rock Scientists to Make Map of the World
Mar 9 2007 - ABC News
Rock scientists from across the globe plan to create the first geological map of the Earth in an effort to better understand the planet. The OneGeology project will pool national geological survey information and present it on the internet for all to observe rather like Google Earth already does with satellite images. “We believe that increasing the availability of geological data will increase our knowledge of environmental factors that affect human health and welfare,” explains Ian Jackson of the British Geological Survey.
Earthquakes Shake Sumatra, Killing at Least 70
Mar 7 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Two powerful inland earthquakes rattled the Indonesian island of Sumatra on March 6, leveling hundreds of buildings and killing at least 70 people, according to government officials in Jakarta. The death toll was expected to increase as rescue workers continued to dig through the rubble. For more information on Natural Disasters, NSTA members can refer to the March 2007 issue of Science Scope.
A Cloudy View of Cloudiness
Feb 21 2007 - Nature News
Satellite evidence that cloud levels are decreasing could just be pie in the sky. The trend might simply be a result of where the satellites are positioned, according to new research.
Earth's Moon Destined to Disintegrate
Jan 22 2007 - Space.com
The Sun is midway through its stable hydrogen-burning phase known as the main sequence. But when the Sun enters the red giant phase in around five billion years, things are going to get a lot rougher in the Earth moon system, according to one researcher.
Long Term Global Forecast? Fewer Continents
Jan 9 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Geologists have long prided themselves on their ability to peer into the distant past and discern the slow movements of land and sea that have continuously revised the planet’s face over eons. Drawing on new insights, theories, measurements, and technologies, and perhaps a bit of scientific bravado, they are now forecasting the shape of terra firma in the distant future.
Carbon Globules in Meteorite May Have Seeded Earth Life
Dec 1 2006 - NewScientist.com
Life on Earth may have started with the help of tiny hollow spheres that formed in the cold depths of space, a new study suggests. The analysis of carbon bubbles found in a meteorite shows they are not Earth contaminants and must have formed in temperatures near absolute zero.
Scientists Study 'Snowball Earth'
Nov 28 2006 - Science Daily
Canadian scientists have determined the factors involved in ending a severe ice age 750 million years ago that almost completely froze Earth’s oceans.
Was Life on Earth Inevitable?
Nov 14 2006 - Nature News
The appearance of life on Earth seems to face so many obstacles, sourcing the right ingredients, for example, and arranging them into living things (while being bombarded by meteorites), that scientists often feel forced to regard it as almost miraculous. Now two researchers suggest that, on the contrary, it may have been inevitable.
Early Life Fed on Organic Haze, Study Suggests
Nov 6 2006 - National Geographic News
A haze of atmospheric chemicals similar to those now found on Saturn's giant moon Titan might have been a major source of food for ancient life on Earth, a new study suggests.
Humans Will Need Two Earths, Report Claims
Oct 24 2006 - MSNBC.com
Humans are stripping nature at an unprecedented rate and will need two planets worth of natural resources every year by 2050 if current trends continue, according to a new report published by the World Wildlife Fund and the Global Footprint Network.
Rare Meteorite Found in Kansas
Oct 17 2006 - CBS News
Scientists were excited when they pulled a 154–pound meteorite from deep below a Kansas wheat field, but what got them most electrified was the way they unearthed it. The team uncovered the find four feet under a meteorite–strewn field using new ground-penetrating radar technology that someday might be used on Mars.
Earth's Orbit Linked to Extinctions
Oct 12 2006 - Nature News
Can a tiny change to the Earth’s orbit wipe out life? New research suggests that perhaps it can, at least in Spanish rodents.
What's Behind Earth's 'Killer Electrons'?
Oct 4 2006 - MSNBC.com
Scientists say weather that originates at the sun, and not on the Earth, is responsible for radio waves that cause an unusual shape of two belts of radiation that encircle the Earth and contain “killer electrons” that can damage satellites and pose a risk to space travelers.
Satellite Captures Creation of New Continental Crust
Jul 20 2006 - Scientific American
Scientists have been able to capture an unprecedented glimpse of the workings of tectonic plates stretching in a new sea forming in the desert of northeastern Ethiopia, thanks to the availability of satellite imagery. “The Afar region provides a unique study area for continental break up and formation of new ocean basins” because it is one of the few active rifts on land rather than in the depths of the old oceans, observed research team member Cindy Ebinger of the University of London.
New Way to Find Life on Mars?
Jul 3 2006 - MSNBC.com
Scientists say a shiny coating found on rocks in many of Earth's deserts suggest a new way to search for signs of life on Mars. The coating, known as desert varnish, binds traces of DNA, amino acids, and other organic compounds to desert rocks over the eons. More information about the finding can be found in the July edition of the journal Geology.
Seismic Shaking Could Make Oil Extraction Easier
Jun 29 2006 - Scientific American
Earthquakes, which can damage property and make life difficult above ground, appear to ease fluid flow through the rock under ground. The enhanced permeability could be artificially induced with seismic wave generators to help extract oil from natural reservoirs, according to new research. Researchers from several campuses of the University of California system came to their conclusions by examining 20 years worth of data collected at the Pinon Flat Observatory in southern California.
Weather Makes Earth Wobble
Jun 27 2006 - MSNBC.com
Weather can have huge affects on the planet, from sinking a city to causing hillsides to slip away. But scientists report weather might have an even larger impact, such as making the whole planet wobble. Some of Earth’s major wobbles have been well studied, but smaller variations, lasting a week or so, have proved difficult to investigate. However, scientists from the Royal Observatory of Belgium have determined that weather patterns in the Northern Hemisphere can affect small wobbles, thanks to new global positioning satellite data that establishes the exact location of the planet’s poles.
Study: Earth Feeling the Heat
Jun 22 2006 - CBS News
Scientists from the National Academy of Sciences have told Congress that the Earth is “running a fever and that human activities are responsible for much of the recent warming.” The scientists note that the “recent warmth is unprecedented for at least the last 400 years and potentially the last several millennia.” Global surface temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere rose about one degree during the 20th century, according to a report by the organization. The report was requested in November by the chairman of the House Science Committee as a way to address individuals who question whether global warming is a major threat.
Experts Hope Rocks Unravel Earth's Secrets
Jun 19 2006 - ABC News
Geologists drilling into the sea floor of the Pacific Ocean have recovered gray and black rocks that could help unravel some of Earth’s secrets. The rocks, known as gabbros, were found in the ocean’s crust about 400 miles west of Costa Rica. The gabbros were once red-hot magma boiling from deep within the Earth that formed the sea floor when it contacted water 15 million years ago. “Consider 60% of the earth’s surface is made in this fashion,” said Jeff Fox, director of the Integrated Ocean Drilling program. “What’s exciting to geologists is, although it’s frozen now, it will provide a record of this fundamental planetary process, which is responsible for paving the floors of the oceans.”
Early Life Survived 'Snowball Earth'
Jun 9 2006 - MSNBC.com
Ancient relatives of today’s planets and animals may have survived Earth’s oldest and longest winter when the planet was covered in a deep sheet of ice, according to a new study. Inside rocks collected near Elliott Lake in Ontario, Canada, scientists have found oil trapped in water droplets. Scientists say the oil holds answers to age-old questions about when oxygen-producing bacteria and eukaryotes first appeared on Earth. “We can use these biomarkers to say something about what the early history of life and the planet was like,” said Roger Buick of the University of Washington, co-author of the study. “It gives us another powerful tool to understanding the evolution of life on Earth.”
Fossils Point to Oldest Life on Earth
Jun 8 2006 - ABC News
New research shows the oldest life on Earth is found in odd-shaped, rock-like mounds in Australia that are actually fossils created by microbes 3.4 billion years ago. The strange geologic structures, which range in size from smaller than a fingernail to taller than a man, are the types of early life astrobiologists are searching for on Mars and elsewhere. Called stromatolites, scientists have studied the fossil mounds for several years, but the big question has been: were they once teeming with life?
Magnetic Field Weakening in Stages, Old Ships' Logs Suggest
May 11 2006 - National Geographic News
The Earth’s magnetic field is weakening in staggered steps, according to a new analysis using old ship logs. The finding could help scientists better understand the way Earth's magnetic poles reverse. The field last flipped about 800,000 years ago. Since 1840 when accurate measures of the intensity were first made, the field strength has declined by about five percent per century. If the decline is continuous, the magnetic field could drop to zero and reverse sometime within the next 2,000 years. But the field might not always be in decline, according to a study published in the May 12 issue of the journal Science.
Drill Digs Deeper Than Ever Into Earth's Crust
May 1 2006 - NewScientist.com
Scientists have reached the “gabbro” layer of the Earth’s oceanic crust for the first time. About 60% of the Earth’s surface is covered in oceanic trust, but scientists have many questions about how it forms. Gabbro, a coarse-grained rock that forms as trapped magma slowly cools, might hold some of the answers.
Moon Rocks Shed Light on Earth's Rough Ride
Apr 17 2006 - MSNBC.com
New dating of lunar rocks add to a growing body of evidence that the moon and the Earth were pelted by a flurry of large meteorites during a relatively brief geologic time span about 3.9 billion years ago. Known as the Late Heavy Bombardment, this period of heightened meteorite activity would have had important implications for life on Earth, since it coincides roughly with the time that scientists think the first primitive bacteria appeared on our planet.
Predicting Earthquakes Still Elusive
Apr 15 2006 - ABC News
Although the monster earthquake that turned San Francisco into smoky rubble gave rise to seismology, scientists remain uncertain when the next big earthquake will take place. At the heart of the problem are two fundamental questions: how does an earthquake begin and what causes it to stop? “If we can find a magic signal, some telltale sign, then maybe we will know when an earthquake is coming,” said Tom Jordan, director of the Southern California Earthquake Center in Los Angeles.
And Life Created Continents...
Mar 24 2006 - NewScientist.com
The Earth formed 4.6 billions years ago, coalescing as a homogeneous mass that in time separated into the discrete layers we know today: the core, mantle and crust, plus oceans and atmosphere. However, during the first 600 to 800 million years of Earth’s existence there were no stable continents. The oldest vestiges of continental crust, which date from the Archaean aeon about four billion years ago, are in Acasta in northwest Canada. The ingredients for granite were there before the Acasta rocks, yet in all that time it didn’t form. A team of geologists says the appearance of photosynthetic life might have given this process the boost it needed.
What Causes Earth's Seasons?
Mar 19 2006 - MSNBC.com
The seasons can play a powerful force in our lives. They affect the activities we perform, the foods we crave, the clothes we wear and quite often, the moods we are in. Spring officially begins today in the Northern Hemisphere, while autumn starts in the Southern Hemisphere. What is it that causes the change in seasons? Click on the link above to find out.
Did Earth Seed Life Elsewhere in the Solar System?
Mar 17 2006 - Nature News
Scientists suggest earthly bacteria could have reached distant planets and moons after being thrown into space by massive meteorite impacts. The proposal reverses the panspermia theory, which suggests that life on Earth was seeded by microbes on comets or meteorites from elsewhere. Both theories envision life spreading through the solar system in much the same way that germs race around a crowded classroom, says Jeff Moore, planetary scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffet Field, California. “Once one planet comes down with life, they all get it.”
Break-up of Asteroid Blanketed Earth in Dust Storm 8 Million Years Ago
Jan 19 2006 - MSNBC.com
Although interplanetary dust is nothing new to scientists—20,000 tons of it land on Earth every year—"scientists report a spike in helium 3, a type of helium that's rare on Earth and typically of extraterrestrial origin, in a layer of sediment dated to that time frame," reports the January 19 issue of Nature. "The helium 3 spike found in these sediments is the smoking gun that something quite dramatic happened to the interplanetary dust population 8.2 million years ago," said Caltech geochemist Ken Farley. "It's one of the biggest dust events of the last 80 million years."
New Ocean Forming in Africa
Dec 10 2005 - CBS News
Ethiopian, American, and European researchers have observed a fissure in a remote northeast dessert in Africa. The fissure, now 13-feet wide, formed in three weeks after a Sept. 14 earthquake in a barren region called Boina. “We believe we have seen the birth of a new ocean basin,” explains Dereje Ayalew, who leads the team of 18 scientists studying the phenomenon. “This is unprecedented in scientific history because we usually see the split after it has happened. But here we are watching the phenomenon.”
Earth's Magnetic Pole Drifting Quickly
Dec 8 2005 - ABC News
Earth's north magnetic pole is drifting away from North America and toward Siberia at such a clip that Alaska might lose its spectacular Northern Lights in the next 50 years, scientists say. Despite accelerated movement over the past century, the possibility that Earth's modestly fading magnetic field will collapse is remote. But the shift could mean Alaska may no longer see the sky lights known as auroras, which might then be more visible in more southerly areas of Siberia and Europe.
Scientists Discover New Hydrothermal Vents
Dec 6 2005 - ABC News
Scientists exploring the world's sea floor have discovered new super-hot, mineral-rich geysers belching from the southern Atlantic, Arctic, and Indian oceans. The findings are significant because they show that such hydrothermal vents are a global phenomena, which may help shed light on Earth's geological development and the origins of simple life.
NASA Scientists Confirm Toxic Seas During Earth's Evolution
Oct 10 2005 - Science Daily
NASA exobiology researchers confirmed Earth's oceans were once rich in sulfides that would prevent advanced life forms, such as fish and mammals, from thriving. A team of scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, working with colleagues from Australia and the United Kingdom, analyzed the fossilized remains of photosynthetic pigments preserved in 1.6 billion-year-old rocks from the McArthur Basin in Northern Australia. They found evidence of photosynthetic bacteria that require sulfides and sunlight to live.
Big Mammals Evolved Thanks to More Oxygen
Oct 3 2005 - Scientific American
A newly compiled record of the Earth’s atmospheric oxygen shows a large peak 50 millions year ago. The abundance of oxygen, which came on the heels of the dinosaur decline, could have fueled not only the evolution of giant placental mammals, but also large-brained creatures, including humans. The new data stems from deep-sea sediment cores dating back to 205 million years ago that contain inorganic carbon-rich minerals, as well as the organic remains of single-celled marine phytoplankton.
Snowball Earth Theory Comes Under Fire
Sep 30 2005 - Scientific American
Geologists have produced evidence of abundant marine life on the earth from a period when others say a thick layer of ice gripped the entire planet. The find lends support to one side of a scientific controversy that has been widely debated for decades.
Asian Quake Tears 1,000-km Rupture
Jul 14 2005 - BBC News
The earthquake which triggered last December's Asian tsunami caused a rupture in the ocean floor more than 1,000 km long, a new study reveals. The finding is based on data gathered from Asian research stations which used GPS to monitor ground movements.
Cleaner Air Makes Brighter Skies
May 6 2005 - BBC News
Two new studies suggest the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface is increasing. Using different methods, scientists discovered that solar radiation at the Earth’s surface has risen for at least the last decade. Previous work had found the opposite trend, leading to a popular theory known as “global dimming.” But the latest research, conducted in Switzerland and the United States, indicates the dimming in the past has now been reversed. Scientists attribute this to the possibility of reduced atmospheric pollution.
Experts: New Data Show Global Warming
Apr 28 2005 - Yahoo-Associated Press
Climate scientists armed with new data from deep into the ocean and far into space have found the Earth is absorbing more heat that it gives off, a conclusion they say validates projections of global warming. James Hansen, lead scientist for the study and a NASA climatologist, described the findings on the planet’s out-of-balance energy exchange as a “smoking gun” that should dispel doubts about forecasts of climate change. A European climate expert called the finding “a valuable contribution to climate research.”
Things That Make the Earth Go Hm
Feb 4 2005 - Wired News
Although inaudible to human ears, powerful ocean waves produce a quasi-harmonic humming sound in the ground that can be detected just about anywhere with seismometers. Long dismissed as “background noise” by seismologists, a new look at this constant hum is opening a window into ocean activity, providing insight into the Earth’s structure that may one day be used to give advance warning of earthquakes.
Quake's Echo Raised Surface Around Globe
Jan 13 2005 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
New studies of the giant earthquake that produced devastating tsunamis in the Indian Ocean show that its shock waves ricocheted around the globe and lifted the Earth’s surface nearly an inch half a world away. The closest readings came from the Australian Cocos Islands, south of Sumatra and Sri Lanka, and the farthest from Ecuador. Scientists note the waves traveled around the Earth for six hours and were a 1,000 times the size of those that seismologists customarily measure.
U.S. Scientists Map Tsunami Zones
Jan 5 2005 - CBS News
Scientists in the United States are using a computer model and maps to predict the impact of a tsunami from the San Francisco Bay area to Alaska. The tools will be used to create simulations that show how waves propagate and how they would affect the West coast. The data could give emergency workers a better idea of where to place vital equipment or facilities, such as fire stations.
Scientists: Quake May Have Made Earth Wobble
Dec 29 2004 - CNN.com
The deadly Asian earthquake may have permanently accelerated the Earth's rotation, shortening days by a fraction of a second and caused the planet to wobble on its axis. Richard Gross, a geophysicist with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, theorized that a shift of mass toward the Earth's center during the quake Sunday caused the planet to spin 3 microseconds, or millionths of a second, faster and to tilt about an inch on its axis. An added wobble of an inch is unlikely to cause long-term effects, Gross said.
Opinion: World's Next Energy Source May Be Just a Moon Away
Dec 9 2004 - USA Today
With congressional approval of President Bush’s “Moon, Mars, and Beyond” initiative, human civilization has started a new age of lunar exploration, argues the author of this editorial. Mark R. Whittington explains this new age has more potential to change Earth for the better than supporters or opponents of space exploration can imagine. Whittington notes that according to scientists, the moon may hold the solution for the Earth’s growing energy needs.
Supernova Debris Found on Earth
Nov 2 2004 - Nature News
Cosmic fallout from an exploding star dusted the Earth about 2.8 million years ago, and may have triggered a change in climate that affected the course of human evolution. Brian Fields, an astrophysicist from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, says the result "marks the birth of a completely new area of research," which he calls "supernova archaeology." Further information about this study can be found in the latest issue of Physical Review Letters.
Earth Reveals Its Sensitive Side
Oct 29 2004 - Wired News
A new look at climate conditions 55 million years ago shows the Earth is more sensitive to small changes than previously thought. The finding suggests the Earth’s response to current atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide, higher than they have been in 430,000 years, will be more like “a high-strung poodle than a laid-back hound dog.” For more information about Our Evolving Earth, NSTA members can refer to the October 2004 issue of Science & Children.
Earth's Big Moon Viewing Party
Oct 28 2004 - CBS News
Stargazers young and old turned out Oct. 27 to watch a total lunar eclipse. “It looks like chocolate,” Valerie Cazeau, 8, of Columbia, MD said of the display, which featured the Earth passing directly between the sun and the moon. Other stargazers described the eclipse as a “spectacular show” and an event that would hopefully introduce more young people to astronomy. The next total lunar eclipse will take place in March 2007.
Earth to See Total Eclipse of the Moon
Oct 27 2004 - ABC News
For more than an hour tonight, the moon will be entirely covered by the Earth’s shadow and resemble a glowing pumpkin. Residents of North and South America will be able to observe the total lunar eclipse in the late-night hours while people in Europe and western Africa will witness the display early Thursday morning. Those who miss the show will have to wait until March 2007 for a repeat performance. For more information about Our Evolving Earth, NSTA members can refer to the October 2004 issue of Science & Children.
Volcanoes May Have Sparked Life on Earth, Study Says
Oct 7 2004 - National Geographic News
Before life evolved on Earth, most scientists believe that amino acids were first formed via interactions on Earth or brought to it through collisions with comets and meteorites. But how did amino acids form peptides? What is the condensing agent? Scientists have come up with answers to these challenging questions and report their findings in the journal Science. They note carbonyl sulfide, a simple volcanic gas, can help free-floating amino acids to form peptides. For more information on Our Evolving Earth, NSTA members can refer to the October 2004 issue of Science & Children.
Volcano's Activity Puzzles Scientists
Sep 30 2004 - MSNBC
Thousands of tiny earthquakes at Mount St. Helens over the past week have left scientists puzzled as to why the area has erupted. Scientists who have flown over the volcano have detected negligible levels of carbon dioxide, but no hydrogen sulfide—both signatures of molten rock rising toward the surface. Scientists plan to search for the crater’s telltale gases. Researchers note it’s possible a smaller stream or gas eruption could push rocks, pumice, or ash above the crater, but don’t suspect a major magma-fueled eruption is imminent. Nonetheless it can’t be ruled out, scientists say.
What Causes Earth's Seasons?
Sep 22 2004 - MSNBC
The various seasons play a powerful force in our lives. They can impact the activities we perform, the foods we crave, the clothes we wear—and quite often, the moods we are in. Autumn officially begins today in the Northern Hemisphere, while spring starts in the Southern Hemisphere. What is it that causes the change in seasons? Click on the link above to find out.
Asteroid Impact Craters Could Cradle Life
Sep 10 2004 - New Scientist.com
A British researcher claims an enormous asteroid might have killed dinosaurs, but the craters that resulted from such impacts may become burgeoning hotspots for life on Earth, and possibly Mars. Charles Cockell and his colleagues gathered rock specimens from a 24 kilometer-wide crater on Devon Island for the past five years to make their conclusions. The scientists found that most of the dark minerals had vaporized during the initial explosion, which resulted in a thickness of near-translucent rocks. Cockell adds that impact events may have also temporarily melted any frozen water on Saturn’s moon, Titan, potentially giving life a chance to thrive.
Earth's Magnetic Field Is Fading
Sep 9 2004 - National Geographic News
The Earth’s magnetic field is fading. Scientists say it is about 10 percent weaker than it was when German mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss started monitoring it in 1845. If the trend continues, the Earth’s magnetic field may collapse altogether and then reverse. Scientists note, however, there is no need to worry. “The field has reversed many times in the past, and life didn’t stop,” said Gary Glatzmaier, an earth scientist and magnetic field expert at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Ice Core Reveals Gentle Start to Last Ice Age
Sep 8 2004 - Nature News
Preliminary studies of the oldest ice core in Greenland have revealed the last ice age began with a gradual cooling rather than a dramatic climate change. Previous studies of ice cores taken from Greenland had indicated that the North Atlantic area experienced sudden temperature changes during the ice age. The cores, however, were not reliable beyond 105,000 years ago and did not indicate how the ice age began. Scientists hope this new information will enable researchers to better predict future climate changes.
Millions of Years of Climate Clues
Aug 27 2004 - CBS News
A team of scientists from around the globe plans to drill deep into the Arctic Ocean ridge for the first time in an effort to uncover a 50-million-year record of the Earth’s climate. Researchers will position themselves above the Lomonosov Ridge, about 155 miles from the North Pole, to conduct their work. They plan to drill three 1,640-foot holes beneath the sea floor to extract sediments to obtain the complete historical record. The cores will then be taken to the University of Bremen in Germany for further study.
Benefits Seen in Earth Observation Data
Aug 17 2004 - Yahoo-Associated Press
Scientists from around the globe have agreed to participate in a 10-year project to collect and share information about the Earth. The aim of this effort is to improve weather forecasts, predict energy needs in advance, anticipate disease outbreaks, and even tell fishermen where the catch will be abundant. Organizers note that although most of the data has already been collected, the main focus of the project will be to combine the various collection systems so information can be easily shared with participants.
New Method May Predict Quakes Weeks Ahead
Aug 5 2004 - MSNBC
Predicting earthquakes can be a tricky business. Swedish geologists, however, may have discovered a solution to that challenge. The scientists report in the latest issue of the journal Geology that earthquakes can be predicted weeks in advance by monitoring the amount of metals such as zinc and copper found in subsoil water near earthquake sites. Alasdair Skelton, a Stockholm University geology professor who came up with the idea for the study, noted additional tests would be needed to confirm this discovery.
New Martian Meteorite Recovered
Jul 21 2004 - Scientific American
Researchers are investigating a new Martian meteorite recovered near the South Pole. Dubbed “MIL 03346,” the 715-gram piece of black rock is the seventh recognized member of the Nakhlite group of meteorites from the Red Planet that traveled to Earth after an impact on Mars 11 million years ago. Scientists interested in learning more about the Red Planet’s history can apply for a piece of the rock. For more information, click on the link above.
Storms Race From Sun to Brink of System
Jul 9 2004 - The Washington Post
Scientists report that the spectacular set of storms that exploded from the sun’s surface last fall continue to travel to the edge of the solar system. The storms started Oct. 22, after solar flares began exploding from sunspots, emitting surges of energy and radiation as billions of tons of charged particles deluged the solar system. Researchers note the solar storms sparked magnetic storms on Saturn and Jupiter and depleted a part of the upper atmosphere on Mars. Scientists hope to learn more about the effects of the storms through a set of spacecraft on different missions.
Earth Brightens After Years of Dimming
May 27 2004 - Yahoo-Associated Press
Although the Earth has appeared to dim for many years, scientists say in a new study that trend changed from 2001 to 2003. Scientists report in today’s issue of the journal Science the Earth brightened after dimming from 1984 to 2001. The shift appears to have resulted from changes in the amount of clouds covering the planet, which could signal climate change. Authors of the study warn, however, that it is too early too tell and that further observations will be needed to learn the possible implications for climate change.
Signs of Crater Linked to Mass Extinction
May 14 2004 - Scientific American
New findings published in the journal Science show that a meteor strike that took place 251 millions years ago resulted in a huge crater of the coast of Australia and possibly triggered the largest mass extinction in the Earth’s history. This data is the latest evidence offered by a group of California scientists that a meteor strike resulted in the extinction of the Permian-Triassic geological period. Most scientists, however, believe that a meteor strike near the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico caused the best-known mass extinction on Earth.
Scientists Say Less Sunlight Reaching Earth
May 9 2004 - The Salt Lake Tribune
Scientists say most of the Earth’s surface is receiving about 15 percent less sunlight than it did 50 years ago, thanks to thicker clouds and an increase in air pollution. Although global dimming remains controversial, support for this theory is growing. Researchers note that two types of data collected in recent decades including measurements from radiation meters and the decreasing rate of water evaporation from special measuring pans placed in sunlight support the theory of global dimming.
Climate Said to Influence Violin's Sound
Dec 2 2003 - Yahoo! News - AP
No one disputes that Stradivarius violins, in the right hands, produce a miraculously fine sound. The mystery is: why? Theories have abounded: long-lost secret-recipe varnishes, waterlogged logs floating down Italian rivers, etc. Now a tree-ring dating expert and a climatologist offer a new theory: the wood developed special acoustic properties as it was growing because of an extended period of long winters and cool summers - the "Little Ice Age" that gripped Europe from the mid-1400s to the mid-1800s.
Eruption Science: Volcanoes as Labs
Nov 18 2003 - The New York Times (Requires free registration)
Geologists are conducting a global effort to better understand what causes volcanoes to erupt. Scientists are studying the dynamics of the hot, pressurized bubbles that form in the magma before it erupts. Researchers are also analyzing the oscillations that ring out from the magma as it moves inside a volcano. The new work by scientists reveals frothy, viscous masses that crack and groan as they rise through irregular fissures.
What is Happening to the Sun?
Nov 4 2003 - BBC News
Scientists say additional explosions from the sun’s surface are expected after six flares erupted over the star in recent days. The outbursts pose no direct threat to people on Earth. Satellite operators, however, are taking precautions to limit damage from the incoming particles. Researchers note the recent activity is one of “the most turbulent periods in solar observations since 1940."
Purple Frog Delights Scientists
Oct 17 2003 - BBC News
Scientists have discovered a chubby purple frog in western India that is so unique it merits the establishment of not only a new species but also a new family of frogs. “It’s an important discovery because it tells us something about the early evolution of advanced frogs that we would not know otherwise because there are no fossil records from this lineage,” observed Frankly Bossuyt of Free University in Brussels, Belgium.
Gamma-ray Burst Linked to Mass Extinction
Sep 24 2003 - Nature News
A gamma-ray burst nearly 440 million years ago might have extinguished most of life on Earth, according to astronomers in the United States. Scientists believe the fossil record at the end of the Ordovician period fits with how such a cosmic explosion a few thousand light years away could have altered the environment. More than 100 species of marine invertebrates died at that time.
Most Efficient Solar Cell Yet Revealed
Aug 7 2003 - New Scientist.com
A California company has created the world’s most efficient photovoltaic cell capable of converting 36 percent of the sun’s rays into electricity. The development by Spectrolab, a subsidiary of Boeing, is more than double the amount of existing cells, which are 10 to 15 percent energy-efficient. Spectrolab officials say they hope to further their efforts by creating solar cells that are 40 percent efficient.
Scientists Say Ozone Depletion Slowing
Jul 30 2003 - The New York Times (Requires free registration)
There’s good news when it comes to the Earth’s ozone layer. Scientists report the rate at which ozone is disappearing in the upper parts of the atmosphere is slowing. Researchers note this finding matches the drop in chlorofluorocarbons, chemicals used in refrigeration and air conditioning.
Scientists Gather to Discuss Man's Future
Jul 22 2003 - Review-Journal (Las Vegas, NV)
Scientists from around the globe will meet in Reno, Nevada, this week to discuss climate changes and the future of mankind. The scientists plan to examine environmental changes to the Earth and the challenges they pose to the survival of the human species. Attendees will also discuss how scientists can better communicate the complexities of their research to the general public.
Asteroid Hazard Revised
Jul 17 2003 - Nature News
Scientists in Russia and Britain have concluded that large meteorites are more likely to break up in the atmosphere before they hit the Earth than previously thought. Philip Bland of the Imperial College in London and Natalia Artemieva of the Institute for Dynamics of Geospheres in Moscow note their finding will reduce the frequency of potentially catastrophic impacts of large meteorites to the Earth’s surface by 50 percent.
Same Sun, Different Views
Jul 17 2003 - The Christian Science Monitor
Scientists are paying more attention to the sun after discovering small changes in solar output might lead to significant changes in the Earth’s climate patterns. Climate researchers have discovered that an increase in human-generated “greenhouse gas” in the atmosphere since the Industrial Age has contributed to the overall warming trend in the past decade. Researchers note in the July 8 issue of Eos that “there is a compelling basis for concern over future climate changes…due to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases.”
Galactic Dust Cooling Earth?
Jul 8 2003 - Nature News
A new report suggests the impact of cosmic rays on the Earth’s climate might outweigh that of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. “Carbon dioxide is not the bad boy that people claim it is,” noted physicist Nir Shaviv of Hebrew University in Israel, one of the report’s authors. Climate change experts, however, question the new study.
Earth Formed Earlier, Study Says
Jun 6 2003 - Chicago Sun-Times
Scientists have changed their mind when it comes to the Earth’s age, according to a study published in the journal Science. Researchers say the Earth became a major planetary body 10 million years after the birth of the sun. An earlier study of chemical isotopes in the Earth’s crust had revealed the planet formed approximately 50 million years after the sun was born.
Cracking Idea Gets to the Core
May 15 2003 - Nature News
A California scientist has proposed sending a grapefruit-sized probe that would surf a wave of molten iron on a week-long journey to the center of the Earth. Geophysicist David Stevenson knows his proposal is far-fetched. He noted, however, that billions of dollars are spent exploring space every year, and the planet's interior is equally mysterious and deserves similar study. Earth scientists say Stevenson’s plan is “impractical, but intriguing."
Big Quakes Mean Far Less Shakes
Apr 15 2003 - New Scientist.com
A University of California, Los Angles scientist has come up with an explanation as to why big earthquakes may be far less destructive than previously thought. Geophysicist Emily Brodsky explains that it’s the high frequency shaking of earthquakes and not the movement of the Earth’s surface that make buildings collapse. Paul Somerville, a seismologist with a California engineering firm, says scientists have not noticed this effect before because of a lack of monitoring systems and the poor way buildings are constructed.
Water Scarcity Prompts Scientists to Look Down
Mar 10 2003 - The Washington Post
A short supply of water on Earth has prompted scientists to look at new underground sources for the clear liquid. Researchers are exploring aquifers—rivers and lakes far beneath the Earth’s surface—as a possible resource to increase the Earth’s water supply. Billions of people could be supported by aquifers for centuries, according to recent studies. Scientists and economists, however, worry that aquifers pose an international conflict since the underground rivers and lakes don’t apply to water treaties and shared-use agreements forged by countries in recent years.
New Technologies Emerge in Search for Alien Life
Feb 7 2003 - National Geographic
In an effort to search for alien life, scientists are using several new technologies. Tools and programs being used include radio telescopes from the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute in California, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Terrestrial Planet Finder, and the European Space Agency’s Darwin Project, which aims to expand the search for life on planets orbiting suns outside our solar system.
Scientists Debate Network of Big Island's Volcanoes
Jan 16 2003 - The Honolulu Advertiser
Two volcanoes—long seen as solo acts—might be connected, according to scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. “This came as a surprise to us,” said Peter Cervelli, an observatory geophysicist who with colleague Asta Miklius described the finding in today’s issue of Nature. Volcano experts not associated with this study say they endorse the finding by the observatory’s scientists.
For a Change of Climate, Team Treks Antarctica
Jan 13 2003 - The Washington Post
An international team of scientists is determined to figure out why Antarctica’s climate is the least understood of any continent. The researchers, part of the International Trans-Antarctic Scientific Expedition, hope to accomplish that task by investigating the changes in the continent’s sea levels, precipitation, temperatures, atmospheric patterns, among other features. Scientists observe that Antarctica plays a vital role in the entire global system despite its remote location.
New "Moon" Found Around Earth
Sep 11 2002 - BBC News
It may just be a piece of space junk--astronomers aren't sure yet. But it's definitely orbiting our planet. If it's not a discarded booster or other object of terrestrial origin, it will be Earth's third natural satellite. Yes, third: the second one is called Cruithne (perhaps you missed the news back in 1986, when it was discovered). Click here for a nice set of simulations of Cruithne's convoluted orbit.
Earth Formed Faster Than Thought, Studies Find
Aug 29 2002 - Yahoo -- AP
Working independently, two teams of scientists have found geological evidence that the Earth's core took shape about 30 million years after the solar system's birth. That's 30 million years earlier than previous research had estimated. The findings are also said to have implications for the genesis of Mars and the Moon, suggesting that those bodies, too, probably formed much faster than previously believed.
Ancient Space Rock May Have Shifted Life's Course
Aug 23 2002 - MSNBC -- Reuters
And you thought the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs was a big one. Scientists writing in today's Science offer evidence that nearly 3.5 billion years ago, a meteorite at least 12 miles in diameter (that's twice the size of the dinosaur-killer) slammed into the young Earth. The collision is said to be the oldest for which scientists have geological evidence. Where did the giant rock come from, and what was the impact on the planet? Click above to read more...
Glaciers Worldwide Melting at Increasingly Rapid Pace
Aug 22 2002 - National Geographic News
Most of Earth's 160,000 glaciers have been slowly shrinking for more than a century, the above article reports, with the fastest melting having occurred since the mid-1990s. In fact, by one estimate, glaciers around the world are losing some 22 cubic miles of ice per year -- an amount equivalent to the water used by America's homes, farms, and factories every four months. What's behind such rapid melting, and what are the anticipated effects? Click above to learn more...
Study Adds Up Economic Benefits of Conservation
Aug 20 2002 - National Geograhic News
Conservation pays, concludes a new study, which assigned dollar values to the ecological and social benefits of preserving large tracts of wild nature. These benefits include climate regulation, soil formation, flood protection, the sustainable harvesting of wild species, and aesthetics. In fact, the authors estimate that an annual investment of $45 billion in nature preservation would yield an astounding 100 to 1 return on the investment. Why, then, aren’t entrepreneurs rushing to put their money into conservation? Read more…
What's With the Weird Weather?
Aug 20 2002 - CBS News -- AP
From deadly floods in Europe to drought in America, this year's severe weather has millions wondering if something strange is happening. For instance, are recent weather events consistent with past trends, or are they manifestations of global climatic changes? Click above to see what some experts think...
Study: Oceans May Help Clean the Air
Aug 16 2002 - MSNBC -- AP
Ahhhhh, that sea air. You always knew there was something unusually refreshing about it. Now, new scientific evidence seems to support that perception. According to a study in today's Science, salty sea spray could be helping to clean the atmosphere, encouraging rain that washes out dust and other pollutants. The findings may also help scientists find new ways to increase rain in arid climates. Read more...
World Heads for Warmest Year Yet
Aug 5 2002 - Yahoo -- Reuters
Average global temperatures in 2002 could be the highest ever recorded, British weather experts said last week. Already, figures show that the northern hemisphere had its warmest-ever half year, with temperatures 1.31 degrees Fahrenheit above the long-term average. The researchers blame the warming, in part, on rising emissions of greenhouse gases.
Earth Getting "Fatter" Around the Middle
Aug 2 2002 - Nature News
Scientists have realized for some time that the Earth is not a perfect sphere; it's in some ways like a pumpkin, slightly wider around the equator than from pole to pole. But now a new study in this week's Science suggests that over the past four years, our planet has grown even fatter around the middle -- if only by a few millimeters. What's causing this bulge? The truth is, scientists don't really know. Find out more...
Unusally Well Preserved Crater Found in North Sea
Aug 1 2002 - National Geographic News
British geologists report in today's Nature that they have stumbled upon what they think is a crater caused by the impact of a meteor or comet that crashed into Earth more than 60 million years ago. The researchers say the 12-mile-wide, multi-ringed crater is remarkably well preserved in comparison with other known craters on Earth, looking more like craters seen on the Moon and Europa. It is hoped that the find will give scientists new insights into what happens when an object from space crashes into Earth.
Evidence Found for Early Meteorite Bombardment of Earth
Jul 26 2002 - National Geographic News
It has long been suspected that the Earth and its neighboring planets were bombarded by meteorites around four billion years ago. But unlike the moon, which is scarred by giant impact craters, no record of this event has been seen in the few surviving rocks of this age on Earth. That is, until now. The discovery, reported in this week's Nature, could also have important implications for the origins of life on Earth.
Scientists Debate Origins of Mystery Crater
Jul 23 2002 - CBS News -- AP
We do know this much: A mile-wide dent in the earth lies smack dab in the middle of Nebraska. But what caused it? As the above article reports, geologist Wakefield Dort Jr. believes -- and wants to prove -- that the depression was formed by the impact of a large meteorite that exploded between 3,000 and 500 years ago. But other scientists have their doubts, arguing that the crater was carved out over a long period of time by relentless winds. So who's right? "I don't think anybody can prove it one way or the other," says a long-time Nebraska resident who lives near the contentious depression. "They've been up here poking around for years, and they don't know anymore about it than I do."
Study: Alaskan Glaciers Melting Fast
Jul 19 2002 - Washington Post
A study in today's Science shows that Alaska's glaciers are melting at more than twice the rate previously thought, with the fastest melting having occurred over the past several years. As a result, the researchers estimate that the melt is contributing about .2 mm a year to sea levels -- a seemingly small rise, but one that could have long-term implications for flooding on Pacific islands and along coastal areas. Observers say the study offers a troubling picture of the impact of climate change (whether human-induced or not) on the world. "We're getting to the point that this melting is affecting human society," one expert said. "Until now it was just warning signs and signals that the Earth was warming."
Satellite Radar Finds Four Active Volcanoes in Andes
Jul 11 2002 - National Geographic News
Four volcanoes in the central Andes, all previously thought to be dormant, must now be considered active due to ground motions detected from space, geophysicists say. Aside from revealing important new information about potential eruptions in the Andes, researchers say the study also shows the promise of using remote-sensing satellites to detect ground deformation, a technique that could be used worldwide to help monitor and minimize volcanic hazards.
Report: Earth's Resources Could be Exhausted
Jul 10 2002 - Yahoo -- Reuters
The planet's resources are being used up faster than they can be regenerated, threatening the living standards of future generations, warns a new report by the World Wildlife Fund. What's more, North Americans and Europeans are among the biggest culprits, consuming far more natural resources than their Asian and African counterparts. "It's like drawing down on a bank deposit much faster than it is being fed by interest payments. At some point, the money's going to run out," said one WWF official.
Aqua Makes a Splash
Jun 28 2002 - BBC News
A new satellite named Aqua is already producing spectacular data on the stuff that makes us "The Water Planet." Its six sensors will study the infrared and the visible spectrum to determine cloud properties, sea-surface temperatures, and ocean color. Aqua is a joint project between the US, Japan, and Brazil. An Aqua scientist at NASA: "If all goes as planned, these data will lead to improved weather forecasts and a better understanding of Earth's climate system - especially the role of water in it."
Study: Warmer Climate Linked to Disease Epidemics
Jun 21 2002 - NewScientist.com
Global warming appears to be a major factor in the spread of diseases among marine and land animals, including humans, a study in this week's Science reports. The study found that as temperatures increase, pathogens and their carriers (e.g., mosquitoes) are able to spread into new areas where they can devastate species that have not been previously exposed. "We don't want to be alarmist, but we are alarmed," one of the researchers said. Critics, however, say there is insufficient evidence to support the climate-disease connection.
Volcanoes Loom as Sleeping Threat for Millions
Jun 19 2002 - National Geographic News
More than one billion people worldwide are living in volcanic hazard zones, researchers estimate, with the number expected to rise in future years. Moreover, despite major advances in monitoring technology, the ability to reliably predict when a volcano might blow remains elusive. This is particularly true in developing countries, where resources for monitoring efforts (and emergency planning) are limited. To learn more, read the above article, which also includes related lesson plans and activities for the classroom.
Massive Lava Flow Linked to Ancient Extinction
Jun 7 2002 - Nature News
About 250 million years ago, the Earth experienced one of the largest extinctions in its history -- a die-off that killed nearly 85 percent of all ocean creatures and 70 percent of all land ones. But what caused the extinction? Researchers writing in this week's Science provide additional evidence that a massive eruption of lava in Siberia was the culprit. According to their theory, the upwelling released vast quantities of gases into the atmosphere, drastically changing environmental and climatic conditions, and making it impossible for most life forms to continue. Find out more...
U.N. Unveils Web-Based Oceans Atlas
Jun 6 2002 - MSNBC -- AP
After a decade of planning, the United Nations yesterday launched an online atlas of the oceans. A collaborative effort involving numerous scientific institutions, the atlas features 14 global maps, links to hundreds of other sites, and more than 2,000 documents on 900 subjects (it will also be constantly updated). The ultimate aim of the project is to help scientists, policymakers, and educators better track key marine issues, such as overfishing, pollution, destruction of coastal areas, and the effects of climate change on the Earth's ice caps. Click above for the news article, or check out the atlas at www.oceansatlas.org.
Tracks From a Primordial Sea Are Found in Canada
Jun 4 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
In the past decade or so, specialists studying old rocks have steadily pushed back the time when sea animals are believed to have first come ashore. Now, a new discovery of terrestrial footprints in an abandoned Canadian quarry may push back that date even further -- to as long ago as the Cambrian period (which started 544 million years ago). What kind of creatures made the marks, and what led them out of the sea in the first place? Click above to learn more...
Climate Changing, U.S. Says in Report
Jun 3 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
In a sharp contrast to previous statements on the matter, the Bush administration has sent a climate report to the United Nations detailing the far-reaching effects that it says global warming will inflict on the American environment. But while the report mostly blames humans actions (e.g., the burning of fossil fuels) for recent global warming, it does not propose any major shift in the administration's policy on greenhouse gases, an omission that has reportedly irritated many environmental groups. Click above for the New York Times article, or click here to read an online version of the report.
Early Blooming Flowers Tied to Warmer Earth
May 31 2002 - MSNBC -- AP
British scientists report in this week's Science that the first spring flowering of many British plants has advanced by 4.5 to 15 days over the last decade, a finding that offers "the strongest biological signal yet of climatic change." Moreover, with still warmer temperatures predicted for upcoming years, the researchers warn that this trend toward changing biology is likely to continue: “Plants will respond (first) by flowering earlier. The next thing they will do will be to migrate, and I guess we will see that very soon.”
Scientists Return to Galapagos Sea Vents
May 30 2002 - National Geographic Today
In 1977, the discovery of deep sea hydrothermal vents and thriving ocean floor gardens captivated the world and revolutionized how biologists viewed the requirements for life. Now, 25 years later, scientists are revisiting the site of that discovery, the Galapagos Rift, hoping to compare the current inhabitants with those documented in previous years. They are also on the look-out for so-called "high-temperature black smokers," dramatic geological forms that may have nurtured the first life on Earth. How is the expedition faring so far? Click above for the latest report...
Geologists On the Look-Out for Terrorists
May 29 2002 - ABCNews.com
Everyone has a role in the global campaign against terrorism -- even geologists. That was one of the messages at a recent conference, where geologists and geophysicists were urged to start "listening" for the telltale signs of terrorist activity, such as the development and testing of explosives. "A seismometer doesn't care if a signal is recorded from a nuclear test or an earthquake -- it will record it either way," geologist Gregory van der Vink said. And considering how many researchers are out there, he added, "it's likely we can make a strong addition to national security."
UN Report: Global Environment in Jeopardy
May 22 2002 - NewScientist.com
Despite some positive signs, such as declining water and air pollution in some affluent countries, a new UN assessment reports "a steady decline in the [global] environment," especially in much of the developing world. In fact, by the year 2032, more than 70 percent of the Earth's land surface could be "destroyed, fragmented, or disturbed" by cities, roads, mines, and other human developments. But the report is also emphatic that the future does not have to be so bleak -- so long as meaningful action is taken now.
WWF Report: Climate Change Threatens Polar Bears
May 21 2002 - NewScientist.com
Polar bears depend on sea ice to launch hunting expeditions for ringed seals, their primary prey. But according to a new WWF report, rapidly rising Arctic temperatures are melting summer sea ice, thus threatening the polar bear's basis for survival. "The sea ice is melting earlier in the spring, which is sending the polar bears to land earlier, without them having developed enough fat reserves," explained a co-author of the report. Click above for the news article, or click here for the full WWF report.
Comets May Have Led to Birth and Death of Dinosaur Era
May 17 2002 - National Geographic
Live by the comet, die by the comet. Many scientists believe that a comet or asteroid collision with Earth triggered the end of the dinosaur era 65 million years ago. But now, a study in the May 17 issue of Science suggests that it was another such collision -- one that occurred 200 million years ago -- that may have enabled dinosaurs' rise to power in the first place. "It may well be that catastrophic events have a far more profound effect in the shaping of life than people had previously thought," a co-author of the report said. Learn more...
New Zealand Tries to Cap Gaseous Sheep Burps
May 14 2002 - National Geographic News
Who ever thought burping could be so harmful to the environment? Believe it or not, scientists estimate that 90 percent of New Zealand's methane emissions arise from "enteric fermentation," which is part of the normal digestive process of animals such as cows and sheep. The good news, however, is that researchers may have found a partial solution for curbing these noxious belches: feeding livestock plants that are high in condensed tannins. Read more...
Unraveling the Mysteries of Tornadoes
Apr 30 2002 - MSNBC -- AP
The power of tornadoes was tragically evident two days ago, when a series of twisters struck from Missouri to Maryland, leaving destruction in their wake. What conditions spawn tornadoes, and what are scientists doing to better predict these violent storms? The above article takes a look...
Is Venus Our Future?
Apr 23 2002 - ABC News.com
Enshrouded in a thick layer of carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid that traps heat in, Venus regularly attains surface temperatures of 800 degrees Fahrenheit. Are these inferno-like conditions a preview of what might happen on Earth under a worst-case global warming scenario? And what can Venus, sometimes called "Earth's evil twin," teach us about how to prevent such an outcome? "Venus is so hot that if we had the same run-away greenhouse effect on Earth it would snuff out all life," one scientist notes. "This isn't going to happen on Earth any time soon, but the planet gives us the big picture on long-term climate change." Read more...
Environmental Movement at 40: Is Earth Healthier?
Apr 22 2002 - National Geographic News
Forty years ago, Rachel Carson published Silent Spring, a book that is widely credited as the launching pad of today's environmental movement. With today being Earth Day, it seems only fitting to ask: Is the Earth better off (or worse) since Carson first opened our eyes to the chemical warfare that human beings are waging against nature? The above article takes a look...
China's Growing Deserts Are Suffocating Korea
Apr 15 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
Huge dust storms from China's deserts are blowing into Korea for the third consecutive year, creating serious economic and public health problems, the above article reports. Scientists say the storms are a result of the rapid desertification of China, a phenomenon most likely being accelerated by overfarming, overgrazing and the widespread destruction of forests. "The puzzle of Asian dust is a huge question in weather science right now," one expert noted. "And if human activity is proven to be the cause, it stands to reason that this problem is going to keep getting worse."
U.S. May See El Nino Impact by June
Apr 12 2002 - Yahoo -- AP
The United States could begin seeing the effects of the developing El Nino climate phenomenon by midsummer, government scientists warn. Click above to read about how this particular El Nino episode is shaping up and its possible impacts throughout the country. Or to learn more about El Nino in general, click here for a list of related websites that have been approved by NSTA's SciLinks program.
Deciphering Contradictory Antarctic Patterns
Apr 2 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
If you've been following science news in recent months, chances are you’re a bit perplexed by the conflicting reports that are coming out of Antarctica. The continent is warming. The continent is cooling. Ice shelves are disappearing. More sea ice is forming. And the contradictions go on and on. What are we to make of these mixed reports? The above New York Times article seeks to shed some light on that question...
Arctic Ice "Melting from Below"
Mar 26 2002 - BBC News
In answer to skeptics who argued that recent increases in air temperature are insufficient to cause thinning of the Arctic ice cap, scientists at the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, UK, offer evidence of a two-pronged thermal attack: warmer air above (during increasingly longer Arctic summers) and warmer water below. A shrinking ice cap would be a boon for shippers, but a serious challenge for wildlife, such as the polar bear.
Tree Rings Chart Natural Climate Cycle
Mar 22 2002 - MSNBC -- AP
A study of ancient tree rings concludes that temperatures in an era 1,000 years ago closely matched the warming trend of the 20th century. The study adds complications to existing theories on the "greenhouse effect," because it suggests the Earth is capable of rapid warming spells on its own without greenhouse warming. "We don't use this as a refutation of greenhouse warming," one of the study's co-authors said. "But it does show that there are processes within the earth's natural climate system that produce large changes...The real challenge is to factor out the natural variability."
Massive Antarctic Ice Shelf Collapses Into Sea
Mar 20 2002 - MSNBC
An Antarctic ice shelf the size of Rhode Island has collapsed into the sea, shattering into thousands of icebergs. "We knew what was left would collapse eventually," one expert said, "but the speed of it is staggering." Both U.S. and British scientists attribute the collapse to warmer temperatures in the region over the last half century, although it's still unclear, they say, whether that warming is due to natural shifts or manmade causes. Because the ice shelf was already floating, its break-up will not cause global sea levels to rise, scientists added. However, because shelves hold back ice sheets on the continent, their collapse could allow ice on the ground to slowly move into the sea, thereby raising sea levels over time.
New Satellites to Map Gravity More Precisely
Mar 19 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
How much do really know about the earth’s gravitational field – and all its subtle variations across place and time? Not nearly as much as we should, scientists say. As a result, NASA and the German Aerospace Center have launched the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (Grace). The project consists of a pair of satellites (nicknamed Tom and Jerry), which will produce a gravity map of the planet 100 times as accurate and detailed as any done before. “The Grace measurements are going to revolutionize our understanding of the earth’s structure, the oceans, and the changes going on underneath, ... changes that can affect climate and many other things,” one NASA scientist said.
Giant Blue Jet Caught on Film
Mar 15 2002 - Nature
Images taken last September and published in this week's Nature show the largest blue jet ever caught on camera. The images provide the first direct evidence that blue jets (fleeting electrical discharges that occur above thunderstorms) may connect the cloud top to a layer of electrically charged air known as the ionosphere. Similarly, scientists say, flashes of this magnitude could explain the 300,000-volt difference between the electrical charge of the ionosphere and that of the ground, thus constituting an important part of the global electrical circuit (GEC).
"Microfossils" Spark Controversy
Mar 12 2002 - MSNBC -- AP
Researchers using a highly sensitive laser say they have detected fossilized traces of bacteria in 3.5-billion-year-old rocks from western Australia. "This pushes back by a billion years the prior definitive evidence of the earliest life on Earth," one of the researchers said. But another team of scientists is casting serious doubt on the claim, saying that their tests show no evidence that the microscopic formations were once ancient life. Rather, they might just be traces of the mineral graphite. Who's right? Click above to read more...
Inner Earth May Hold More Water Than the Seas
Mar 8 2002 - National Geographic
From tabletop lab experiments, Japanese researchers have concluded that more water probably exists deep within the Earth than is present on Earth's surface -- as much as five times more. "Our results suggest that the lower mantle can potentially store considerable amounts of water," one of the lead authors said. The finding, the authors maintain, could have important implications for how the Earth formed and how its surface forces, such as plate tectonics, behave today.
Study Says Global Warming May Rob States of Their Official Birds
Mar 5 2002 - Washington Post
Can you imagine the state of Maryland without its beloved Baltimore oriole? Unfortunately, that scenario is highly likely, says a new study that will be released this week by the National Wildlife Federation and the American Bird Conservancy. The study claims that the Earth's rising temperature is already altering songbird ranges and migration behavior; as a result, Maryland and a half-dozen other states could lose their state birds later this century. Can such a gloomy outcome be averted? Click above to read more...
New Satellite Will Track Earth's Health
Feb 28 2002 - Nature
Our planet will soon be getting the equivalent of a full-body check-up. On Friday, the European Space Agency plans to launch Envisat, the world's biggest and most expensive environmental monitoring satellite. From its vantage point 500 miles above the planet, the huge spacecraft, equipped with an array of sensors, will simultaneously check Earth's vital signs, from its surface features to its atmosphere. Of particular interest, the craft will make the first ever attempt to study global carbon dioxide levels from space. Read more...
Researchers Rethink Dinosaur Die Off Scenario
Feb 27 2002 - National Geographic
Most scientists agree that an asteroid impact 65 million years ago killed off the dinosaurs, as well as other life forms. What is under dispute, however, is the chain of events that followed the collision. The original theory holds that asteroid dust from the impact formed dense clouds that surrounded the Earth, obscuring the sun, and causing plants -- and thus animals -- to die. But geologist Kevin Pope is now challenging that theory, arguing that sulfur gases produced from impacted rocks and soot from global fires were the likely culprits behind the shut down of photosynthesis. And why does all this even matter, you may be wondering. "The difference is important because it may have implications...for future asteroid impacts," Pope says. Find out more...
Science and Public Policy: A Look at Global Warming
Feb 26 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
On Feb. 14, President Bush outlined a new environmental plan that relies on voluntary efforts to slow, but not halt, the growth in emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. In doing so, Bush reiterated his position that there is no scientific justification for the mandatory emissions cuts set forth in the Kyoto Protocol, an international climate treaty that the Bush administration rejected last year. Is the administration right? What does the most recent scientific research say about the relationship between greenhouse gases and global warming? Click above to find out more...
Fish Fossils Shed Light on Origin of El Nino
Feb 25 2002 - Scientific American
As most of us learned four years ago, El Nino refers to the periodic warming of Pacific Ocean waters -- a climate phenomenon that affects weather worldwide. But when did El Nino conditions first arise? Based on an analysis of ancient fish bones, scientists think they have the answer.
Volcanic Activity Tied to Lunar Cycles, Research Suggests
Feb 21 2002 - National Geographic
The recent eruption of Congo's Mount Nyiragongo provided a harsh reminder that scientists still lack the ability to accurately predict deadly eruptions. But if predicting eruptions is a confusing puzzle, Steve and Donna O'Meara, a husband-and-wife research team, believe that they may have identified a key piece: lunar cycles. According to their work, peak volcanic activity appears to occur at a point in time just between full moon and perigee. The goal now: incorporating lunar factors, along with other more traditional variables, into a complete equation for predicting eruptions.
Bush Offers Alternative Plan on Greenhouse Gases
Feb 14 2002 - Reuters
Offering an alternative to the Kyoto Treaty, President Bush today proposed a set of voluntary measures and tax incentives aimed at reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. Environmentalists immediately criticized the plan, however, arguing that it will have a negligible effect on the growing problem of global warming. Read more...
Study Suggests Supernova Caused Ancient Mass Extinction
Feb 13 2002 - Scientific American
A new report suggests that cosmic rays from the explosion of a dying star precipitated a mass extinction of marine life two million years ago. According to the theory, the cosmic rays catalyzed large-scale destruction of the Earth's ozone layer, allowing the Sun's ultraviolet rays to kill off plankton and thus the marine life that lived off them. Will the theory hold up? Click above for the full article, or click here for a list of websites on supernovas approved by NSTA's SciLinks program.
Tree Invaders Reshape the American Landscape
Feb 5 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
Imported tree diseases are sweeping across the nation, the above article reports, destroying forests, altering ecosystems, and causing economic losses along the way. The devastation is being felt from Maine to California, with chestnuts, Dutch elms, oaks, dogwoods, butternuts, cedars, and other species among the victims. Moreover, many believe the problem is only going to get worse before it gets better. "I get concerned about what the forests of the future will look like," one ecologist commented. Read more...
Mountain Ecosystems in Danger Worldwide, UN Says
Feb 4 2002 - National Geographic
Most people flee to the mountains for fresh air and tranquility. But according to a new United Nations analysis, pressures from tourism, development, pollution, climate change, and other forces are permanently eroding the landscape of many mountain ranges, posing serious problems for society. In the U.S., the Rockies in particular were singled out as being in ecological danger, with tourism and soaring development cited as the chief culprits. Read more...
Is Logging Bane or Balm? Plan Stirs Debate
Jan 29 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
In Montana, immense fires from the summer of 2000 have blackened the dense forests on the Bitterroot Mountains. Under a proposed plan, the United States Forest Service wants to cut and sell many of the burned trees, arguing that careful logging is not only benign, but critical to the forests' recovery and protection. Some environmentalists, however, take a different view, claiming that logging could exacerbate the damage; it's better to let the forests recover naturally, they say. Who's right? The above article examines the debate...
Why the Weather Outside Isn't Frightful
Jan 28 2002 - ABC News
Depending on where you live, you've probably noticed that this has been an unusually warm January, and that January was preceded by an unusually warm autumn. What explains these recent meteorological extremes? Scientists say responsibility lies with a giant wave of wind and weather called the Madden-Julian Oscillation. Click above to find out more...
Study Finds Rapid Warming Change in Antarctic Lakes
Jan 25 2002 - Associated Press
In a surprise discovery, scientists found that a small rise in air temperature in the Antarctic Peninsula region set off a chain reaction that made the water temperature in the region's lakes rise three times faster--up to 1.3 degrees Celsius between 1980 and 1995. That might not sound like much of an increase, but scientists say it was enough to trigger "extreme ecological change" among the plant life found in the lakes. The findings are important, experts say, because they may prove a model for how global warming might ultimately affect waters in other parts of the world.
Dino-Era Crater Probed for Clues to Mass Extinction
Jan 24 2002 - National Geographic
According to a widely accepted theory, a mountain-sized comet or asteroid slammed into the Earth 65 million years ago, wiping out the dinosaurs, and clearing the way for the rise of mammals. But what exactly did the giant space rock do when it penetrated Earth's crust, and how was the global environment affected? To find out, scientists have begun drilling a mile-deep hole into a huge underground crater that is believed to have been left by the ancient collision. "Since we can't go back 65 million years in a time machine, drilling down to the 65-million-year level is the best we can do," one scientist said.
Africa's Congo Devastated by Volcanic Eruption
Jan 22 2002 - Reuters, MSNBC
The furious eruption of Mount Nyiragongo in Congo has displaced hundreds of thousands of residents and threatens to wipe out wildlife in nearby forests. The tragic event also raises an important question: Are scientists any closer to predicting where and when the next volcano will blow? Click above to learn more about what's happening in Congo, as well as ongoing efforts to monitor volcanic activity worldwide...
Newly Discovered Microbes Offer Model for E.T. Life
Jan 17 2002 - MSNBC--Washington Post
Question: What organisms could possibly live without sunshine or organic carbon as food? The answer: Archaea, tiny hydrogen-eating microbes that were recently discovered living in the darkness of a geothermal hot spring 600 feet beneath southeastern Idaho. And what's more, experts say, the existence of such ecosystems on Earth suggests they may be present elsewhere in the solar system--for example, deep beneath the chill surface of Mars. "[It's] one of the best analogues for what might exist underground outside our own planet," one scientist said.
Underground Coal Fires Menace Land and Climate
Jan 15 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
From Pennsylvania to Mongolia, underground coal fires are burning at an alarming frequency, experts say, pumping large amounts of toxic gases and heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. For example, it is estimated that fires in China's rich northern coal belt produce nearly as much carbon dioxide as is emitted each year by all the cars and small trucks in the United States. And while scientists and government agencies worldwide are stepping up efforts to map and extinguish the fires, their work confronts a harsh reality: Once these fires get going, they're extremely difficult to stop.
Study Challenges "Geritol Solution" to Global Warming
Jan 9 2002 - National Geographic
The so-called "Geritol solution" to global warming asserts that seeding the oceans with iron will dramatically increase levels of phytoplankton and therefore draw more carbon dioxide (a contributor to global warming) from the atmosphere. But a new study debunks the idea, arguing that the excessive iron that spurred major phytoplankton blooms in the past was not the result of an external factor, but came from deep inside the ocean itself. Thus, if iron were dumped on the ocean's surface to promote phytoplankton growth, as "Geritol" advocates have proposed, the ocean would most likely strip it away before it could have any effect. "It would take massive amounts of iron to sustain bloom productivity," one of the study's co-authors said.
Did Planetary "Belch" Cause Prehistoric Warming?
Dec 31 2001 - National Geographic
According to a new study by NASA scientists, the Earth belched a massive bubble of methane gas from beneath the sea floor around 55 million years ago, triggering a 100,000-year period of intense global warming. The theory, if true, begs the question: Could it happen again today? While the answer is still anyone's guess, the study at the very least suggests that scientists should "look at climate change from a much broader perspective," says lead author Gavin Schmidt. "We can't get too fixated on just one [greenhouse] gas like carbon dioxide when we think about global warming. It's complicated and surprises happen--they happened in the past and they can happen now."
Antarctica's Climate Clues
Dec 26 2001 - BBC News
Why in the world would anyone want to sail through the rough and icy waters that separate the southern tip of South America from Antarctica? For the sake of science, of course. Equipped with sophisticated equipment, British scientists aboard the James Clark Ross research vessel are braving the elements to monitor the temperature and movement of these notoriously treacherous waters. The data they collect, they say, could provide important insights into the extent and impact of global climate changes.
Geologist's Melting Story of a Lost Civilization
Dec 24 2001 - Washington Post
Did the city of Atlantis actually exist? And if so, where was it, and how exactly did it vanish? Scientists and scholars have debated these questions for years, often with conflicting answers. Recently, French geologist Jacques Collina-Girard presented research suggesting yet another account: Atlantis was a real place, a small mid-channel island sitting in what is now the Strait of Gibraltar, that disappeared 11,000 years ago when rising seas caused by melting ice swamped it. Although this account clashes with the most popular current view that Atlantis was an Aegean island destroyed by volcanic eruptions in 1470 B.C., Collina-Girard is not deterred. "The trouble up to now has been that geologists are not generally interested in Atlantis, while the people who are interested in Atlantis are not geologists."
What Causes Earth's Seasons?
Dec 20 2001 - MSNBC News
If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, it may interest you to know that the official time for this year's winter solstice is tomorrow at 2:21 p.m. ET. But what is the solstice, why does it occur, and what does it have to with the change of seasons? Click above to learn more about the science behind the seasons.
Global Warming: How Much Is It Happening? Where? And Why?
Dec 19 2001 - Reuters, National Geographic, Cosmiverse, CBS News
There is no question that the earth as a whole is gradually warming, scientists say, but beyond that simple statement, the issue quickly gets more complex. For starters, the trend toward warmer temperatures has not been uniform--it is much more pronounced in some areas of the world than others. Second, it's still unclear the extent to which climate changes are natural or human-induced (e.g., the result of higher emissions of greenhouse gases). Four recent news articles explore the causes and effects of global warming worldwide and in various parts of the planet: 1) A Reuters article
reports that 2001 has been the second warmest year on record and that the trend toward higher mean global temperatures is likely to continue; 2) A National Geographic story
reports that Alaska’s glaciers are retreating due to rising temperatures there; 3) An article at cosmiverse.com
suggests that Adelie penguins could abandon the Antarctic peninsula if the region continues to warm; and 4) A CBS news story
looks into how weeks of calendar-defying warm weather are confusing plants around much of the country.
Abrupt Climate Change Likely
Dec 14 2001 - Nature
Abrupt changes in global climate, common in the past, will become more so in future, thanks to the impact of humans on the environment, according to a new report from the US National Research Council. "Realization has been growing over the past decade that climate change is not always gradual," says Richard Alley of Pennsylvania State University in University Park, chair of the committee that produced the report. Studies of past climate swings indicate that climate is flexible up to a point, but that beyond certain thresholds change can be rapid and long-lasting. It can be like turning the dial on a thermostat, says Alley. "But now we know that climate has switches as well as dials," he says.
Scientists Find Hot Spots Under Polar Ice Cap
Nov 29 2001 - MSNBC-Reuters
Defying expectations, scientists aboard a U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker have discovered pockets of intense volcanic activity throughout the Gakkel Ridge, which runs for 1,100 miles beneath the Arctic ice cap. The mission also retrieved evidence of a vast field of undersea vents known as “black smokers” that nurture exotic life forms and complicated ecosystems along the ocean floor. Previously unknown organisms may also live in these ecosystems, scientists say.
Mount Rainier: "America's Most Dangerous Volcano"
Nov 26 2001 - Science News
Mount Rainier, located in Washington state, is the tallest peak in the Cascades, a chain of mountains that parallels the Pacific Coast. Although Mount Rainier is currently dormant, some experts have dubbed it the "most dangerous volcano in America." Why has it earned that title? Read on to learn about the risks posed by this sleeping giant.
Weather Forecasters Look Ahead, Far Ahead
Nov 19 2001 - New York Times (requires free registration)
Competing for companies and consumers seeking reliable weather information, commercial forecasters are sharply expanding the boundaries of their predictions--in some cases, offering detailed forecasts up to 15 days ahead. But while almost all meteorologists agree that new technologies have paved the way for dramatic improvements in climatology, a vigorous debate remains over how far into the future scientists can accurately predict day-to-day conditions.
Climate Change Caused Extinction of Big Ice Age Mammals, Scientists Say
Nov 15 2001 - National Geographic
What caused the mass extinction of more than 30 large mammals in North America some 10,000 years ago? For years, the so-called "overkill hypothesis," which blames the extinction on excessive hunting by humans, has reigned supreme. But now, some scientists are leading a renewed assault against that theory, arguing instead that climate shifts and related changes in weather and vegetation patterns were the true culprits. Who's right? And why does it matter?
Mosquito Adapting to Global Warming, Study Finds
Nov 6 2001 - National Geographic News
Scientists at the University of Oregon have found a mosquito that appears to have evolved and adapted to climatic changes induced by global warming--the first documented case of a genetic change in response to the planet getting warmer. What's more, the lead scientist said, it appears that this evolutionary change can occur in as little as five years.
Is Greenland's Future Looking Wet?
Nov 6 2001 - Nature
The icesheet over northwest Greenland shows a trend of "significant long-term thinning," a new study says. While scientists debate the extent of the thinning and the causes (global warming?), some say the finding may be a foretaste of still more rapid melting, and in turn, rising sea levels.
The Microbes That "Rule the World"
Oct 1 2001 - BBC News
New research suggests that the Earth's climate may be dependent on tiny rock-eating microbes that live beneath the sea floor, giving the microorganisms an importance way out of proportion to their size.
Yellowstone Volcano: Is "The Beast" Building to a Violent Tantrum?
Sep 4 2001 - StandardNET
Few visitors know this, but Yellowstone National Park sits atop a "huffing, puffing, breathing" volcano, one of the largest in the world. The last huge eruption took place more than 600,000 years ago, and now scientists are wondering: Will it blow again?
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