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Jan 31, 2007

Caution: Don't Eat Fish as Old as Your Grandmother

SAN FRANCISCO—Over-fishing facilitated by new technologies is threatening the long-term survival of deep-sea fish populations, a panel of experts said here today. Many of the fish living in the depths of the ocean take 30 or 40 years to reach maturity and breed, so when too many of them are...

Jan 31, 2007

Why Americans are Skeptical of Their Role in Global Warming

SAN FRANCISCO—While the evidence is clear that human-caused global warming is occurring and is a threat to many humans and other organisms on the planet, many Americans have been slow to buy the whole argument. Yesterday at its annual meeting here, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the...

Jan 31, 2007

First Humans: Time of Origin Pinned Down

The lineages of humans and chimpanzees, our closest relatives, diverged from one another about 4.1 million years ago, according to a new estimate that is said to be far more precise than previous ranges for this critical evolutionary moment. However, the claim is a bad match with previous estimates based...

Jan 31, 2007

Strange New Creatures Found in Antarctica

Several strange creatures including a psychedelic octopus have been found in frigid waters off Antarctica in one of the world’s most pristine marine environments. Others resembled corals and shrimps. At least 30 appear to be new to science, said Julian Gutt, chief scientist of an expedition that was part of...

Dec 31, 2006

Electric Earth: Stunning Images of Lightning

Lightning seen from space (Image credit: NASA Earth Observatory)This image of lightning over Kuwait was taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station on Dec. 12, 2013. Bolivia lightning (Image credit: NASA Earth Observatory)The glow of this lightning strike was captured by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station...

Dec 31, 2006

Warmer Seas Leave Fish Gasping

Warming oceans, one of the major consequences of global climate change, are making another marine species feel like a fish out of water, scientists report. Biologists have known for years that global warming is linked to declining fish stocks, but a new study of eelpouts--big-headed fish that resemble eels--is the...

Dec 31, 2006

Homicide Rates Higher in States with More Guns at Home

Guns are used to kill two out of every three homicide victims in the United States, and new research shows that easy-access guns in the home make a difference. Homicide rates are highest in states where more households have guns, the national survey concludes. The finding held even after taking...

Dec 31, 2006

Tsunamis: The Grave, Global and Unpredictable Threat

In an eerie repeat of an event two months ago, thousands of resident in Japan fled to higher ground this weekend after a faraway magnitude 8.2 earthquake triggered a tsunami warning. Only small and relatively harmless waves developed this time, as in November. The warnings came in part because of...

Dec 31, 2006

Strange Old Skull: Human or Not?

A strange ancient skull recently uncovered adds to mounting evidence that humans and Neanderthals interbred and suggests that humans evolved considerably after settling the European continent some 40,000 years ago. Modern humans emerged from Africa about 150,000 years ago, according to the leading theory (which has been challenged in recent...

Dec 31, 2006

Severe Weather Warnings to be More Precise

Anyone who lives in tornado country would agree a twister knows no politics. Like any storm, a tornado follows its own course rather than county lines or any other geopolitical boundaries. So beginning Oct. 1, the National Weather Service will recognize this whim of Nature and begin issuing severe-weather warnings...

Dec 31, 2006

Study: Microwaves Kill Kitchen Germs

Sponges and kitchen scrub brushes can be loaded with disease-causing viruses and bacteria. So microwave them, scientists say. Researchers soaked sponges and scrubbers in a disgusting brew of raw wastewater containing fecal bacteria, viruses, protozoan parasites and bacterial spores, including Bacillus cereus spores—known for being very hard to kill with...

Dec 31, 2006

Drilling Caused Deadly 'Mud Volcano'

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- A mud volcano that inundated dozens of villages was probably triggered by commercial gas drilling, research published in a respected scientific journal shows, contradicting an Indonesian government minister who insists it was a natural disaster. It is very likely'' that the mud flow on the island...

Dec 31, 2006

Pest and Virus Cooperate in Global Invasion

A rapidly spreading crop pest is teaming up with a virus to speed up both their invasions across the globe, scientists in China reported today. A variety of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci known as the B biotype is a super-invasive organism, Shu-Sheng Liu, an entomologist at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou,...

Dec 31, 2006

The History of Climate Change Science

This is the text of an essay on the web site “The Discovery of Global Warming” by Spencer Weart, January 2007. For an overview see the book of the same title (Harvard Univ. Press, 2003). Copyright © 2003-2007 Spencer Weart & American Institute of Physics. Reprinted here with permission. Here...

Nov 30, 2008

Photos of Melt: Glaciers Before and After

Agassiz Glacier (1913) (Image credit: 1913 photograph by W. C. Alden (Glacier National Park Archives))BEFORE: Take a look at Agassiz Glacier, in this photograph taken in 1913, near Boulder Pass, Glacier National Park. NEXT IMAGE: Agassiz Glacier (2005) Agassiz Glacier (2005) (Image credit: 2005 photograph by Greg Pederson (USGS))AFTER: Compare...