Meteorologists: It Could Have Been Worse
August 31, 2005Devastating as Katrina was, it would have been far worse but for a puff of dry air that came out of the Midwest, weakening the hurricane just before it reached land and pushing it slightly to the east. (Associated Press)
Water Level in New Orleans No Longer Rising: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
August 31, 2005The level of floodwaters that rushed into New Orleans this week after levees holding back Lake Pontchartrain gave way has stabilized, Major General Dan Riley of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers told reporters. (AFP)
Many More Hurricanes to Come
August 31, 2005The past 10 years have seen more ferocious and more frequent hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean and scientists are confident that there will be more to come, and while some believe it's due to global warming, others say it's just part of a natural cycle. (LiveScience.com)
NASA Researchers Back Home after Successful Tropical Storm Tracking Mission in Costa Rica
August 31, 2005Researchers are drying off after a successful Tropical Cloud Systems and Processes (TCSP) mission in Costa Rica, where they tracked two major Atlantic Ocean hurricanes, witnessed the entire lifecycle of tropical storms and documented a number of unexpected surprises about the short, violent lives of these seagoing tempests. (Space Daily)
Three States Sue over U.S. Roadless Changes
August 31, 2005California, New Mexico and Oregon sued the Bush administration over the government's decision to allow road building, logging and other commercial ventures on more than 90,000 square miles of untouched forests. (Associated Press)
Pollution Prompts France to Cut City Road Speed Limits
August 31, 2005Pollution spikes caused by hot, windless weather and vacationers returning home prompted French authorities to cut speed limits around Paris and Marseille. (AFP)
New Atlas Highlights Plight of World's Great Apes
August 31, 2005The first detailed global map of the world's great apes -- from gorillas to orangutans -- shows they are in deep trouble. (Reuters)
Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal Gives Birth
August 31, 2005An endangered Hawaiian monk seal known as Seal 310 gave birth to a pup on the beach in front of Kiahuna Plantation Resort near Poipu. (Associated Press)
'Worst Seabird Season on Record'
August 31, 2005Seabird colonies in Scotland have suffered one of the worst breeding seasons on record, experts have warned. (BBC)
Volcano Activity Puts El Salvador on Alert
August 31, 2005Salvadoran authorities activated emergency plans as a western volcano continued to spew gas and vapor in what experts said was a "significant increase" in activity. (Associated Press)
Environment Key to Helping Poor
August 31, 2005The key Millennium Goal of halving poverty in a decade cannot be met without better environmental protection, according to a new report. (BBC)
Coral 'Little Damaged by Tsunami'
August 30, 2005Almost 90 percent of coral reefs hit by the Indian Ocean tsunami escaped severe damage, according to research. (BBC)
Study: Oregon Wild Fish Face Extinction
August 30, 2005The first status report on wild fish in a decade suggests that nearly half the native species in the state are at risk of extinction. (Associated Press)
Scientists: Bison in Illinois Earlier
August 30, 2005The discovery of bison bones in Peoria County proves the animals were in Illinois about 1,700 years earlier than previously thought, according to scientists. (Associated Press)
Beach Clean-up in Malaysia Will Aim to Protect Rare Turtle Habitat
August 30, 2005About 1,000 volunteers will next month clean up rubbish-strewn Malaysian beaches where rare turtles lay their eggs amid fears over a steep decline in nesting, organizers say. (AFP)
Judge Blocks Plan to Poison Sierra Stream
August 30, 2005A federal judge issues a preliminary injunction barring wildlife officials from poisoning a Sierra waterway in an attempt to recover a rare species trout. (Associated Press)
Katrina Joins List of Worst Weather Disasters
August 30, 2005As Hurricane Katrina slows down and fades over the next couple of days, the full extent of her wrath will be evaluated and compared to previous weather disasters, and so far, Katrina has been responsible for more than 80 deaths and billions of dollars of destruction along the Gulf Coast. (LiveScience.com)
Hundreds Feared Dead, Waters Still Rising in Katrina's Wake
August 30, 2005Fresh floods, fires and looting rode in the destructive wake of Hurricane Katrina, deepening a humanitarian crisis that left hundreds feared dead and sections of New Orleans submerged to the rooftops. (AFP)
Floodwater Inundates New Orleans after Hurricane
August 30, 2005Floodwaters engulfed much of New Orleans as officials feared a steep death toll and planned to evacuate thousands remaining in shelters after the historic city's defenses were breached by Hurricane Katrina. (Reuters)
Crews Pass Dead to Reach Storm Survivors
August 30, 2005Rescuers along the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast pushed aside the dead to reach the living in a race against time and rising waters, while New Orleans sank deeper into crisis and Louisiana's governor ordered storm refugees out of this drowning city. (Associated Press)
Brace for More Katrinas, Say Experts
August 30, 2005For all its numbing ferocity, Hurricane Katrina will not be a unique event, say scientists, who say that global warming appears to be pumping up the power of big Atlantic storms. (AFP)
Taiwan Issues Land Warning as Strong Typhoon Nears
August 30, 2005Taiwan issued a land warning as a powerful typhoon headed toward the island with the government warning of strong wind and heavy rain that could trigger landslides and flooding in mountain regions. (Reuters)
Widening Ozone Hole is as Big as Europe
August 30, 2005The seasonal ozone hole over Antarctica has widened sharply this year, making it the biggest hole since 2000 and the third largest on record, according to measurements reported by the European Space Agency (ESA). (AFP)
Ozone Layer has Stopped Shrinking, U.S. Study Finds
August 30, 2005The ozone layer has stopped shrinking but it will take decades to start recovering, U.S. scientists say. (Reuters)
Portuguese Wildfires Take Heavy Toll on Environment
August 30, 2005Wildfires which strike Portugal every summer have taken a lasting toll on the environment, ravaging forests, destroying the habitats of animals and increasing the risk of soil erosion and polluted water supplies, experts say. (AFP)
California May Impose Air Controls on Wineries
August 30, 2005Environmental regulators say the same process that gives Napa and Sonoma Valley such tasty wine is also producing a share of the smog that makes the region one of the nation's dirtiest air basins -- and they aim to do something about it. (Associated Press)
Strong Earthquake Jolts Northeastern Japan
August 30, 2005A strong earthquake measuring about 6.2 on the Richter scale hit northeastern Japan, meteorological services said, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. (AFP)
Idaho Stargazers Fret over Light Pollution
August 30, 2005The increasing urbanization of eastern Idaho cities, coupled with brighter security lights at Idaho National Laboratory and the Idaho Cleanup Project, are making it harder to spot heavenly bodies from the region. (Associated Press)
Katrina May Cost Insurers $30 Billion, Forecaster Says
August 29, 2005Hurricane Katrina may cost U.S. insurers more than $30 billion, which would make the storm the most expensive to hit the United States, a storm modeler says. (Reuters)
Katrina Charges toward New Orleans
August 29, 2005Hurricane Katrina makes landfall in southeast Louisiana with 140-mph winds and the threat of a catastrophic storm surge. (Associated Press)
Monster Hurricane Claims First Victims as it Hit U.S. Islands
August 29, 2005Hurricane Katrina claimed its first victims in Louisiana as it slammed into barrier islands while dumping torrential rain on a wide swath of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico coast and threatened more death and massive destruction. (AFP)
New Orleans Facing Environmental Disaster
August 29, 2005As Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans experts said it could turn one of America's most charming cities into a vast cesspool tainted with toxic chemicals, human waste and even coffins released by floodwaters from the city's legendary cemeteries. (Associated Press)
Spanish Fires Ravage Record 130,000 Hectares
August 29, 2005Spain has posted its worst wildfire damage for a decade, with nearly 130,000 hectares (321,000 acres) of forests and pasture charred since the beginning of the year, the Spanish environment ministry said. (AFP)
Dreading a Replay of the 1938 Hurricane
August 28, 2005Experts say conditions are right this year for a severe hurricane to lash Long Island, New York, but it's been a long time - 67 years - since the last Big One, and officials worry that Long Islanders accustomed to the glancing blows of minor storms have little grasp of just how devastating a major hurricane could be. (The New York Times)
Hurricane Could Leave 1 Million Homeless
August 28, 2005When Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans within the next day, it could turn one of America's most charming cities into a vast cesspool tainted with toxic chemicals, human waste and even coffins released by floodwaters from the city's legendary cemeteries. (Associated Press)
Immense Hurricane Roars Toward New Orleans
August 28, 2005A monstrous Hurricane Katrina barreled toward New Orleans with 160-mph winds and a threat of a 28-foot storm surge, forcing a mandatory evacuation of the below-sea-level city and prayers for those who remained to face a doomsday scenario. (Associated Press)
Europe Counts the Cost of Flood Crisis
August 28, 2005Countries across a swath of central and eastern Europe were counting the cost of a flood crisis that left at least 70 people dead, thousands evacuated and a massive reconstruction bill. (AFP)
Swiss Must Invest Billions to Ward off Future Floods
August 28, 2005Switzerland will need to spend billions in the coming years if it is to escape a repeat of last week's flood crisis which killed six people, forced the evacuation of thousands and caused massive damage. (AFP)
Four New Fires Flare in Portugal as Temperatures Rise
August 28, 2005Four new wildfires broke out in Portugal as temperatures rose - just hours after firefighters tamed three blazes overnight, including one that raced through a nature reserve. (AFP)
Boost to Carbon Dioxide Mass Extinction Idea
August 28, 2005A computer simulation of the Earth's climate 250 million years ago suggests that global warming triggered the so-called "great dying." (BBC)
Almanac Warns of Temperature Fluctuations
August 28, 2005Get your sweaters, mittens and hats ready; The Farmers' Almanac warns that the coming winter will bring unusually sharp fluctuations in temperature, and says readers "may be reminded of riding a roller, or in this case, 'polar' coaster." (Associated Press)
Europe Picks up the Pieces as Flood Waters Recede
August 27, 2005Flood waters were receding in Europe, following a weeklong crisis which left at least 70 people dead across the center and east of the continent. (AFP)
Hurricane Katrina reaches Category Three over Gulf
August 27, 2005Katrina became a major hurricane as it strengthened over the warm Gulf of Mexico waters, with winds near 185 kilometers (115 miles) per hour threatening New Orleans and offshore oil rigs. (AFP)
Hurricane Katrina Kills Seven People
August 26, 2005Florida's panhandle braced for yet another hit as Hurricane Katrina strengthened over the Gulf of Mexico after pummeling the Miami area, killing seven people and leaving 1.4 million without power. (AFP)
Typhoon Mawar Hits Japan, at Least One Dead, Two Missing, Four Injured
August 26, 2005Powerful typhoon Mawar hit central Japan, bringing heavy rain and fierce winds that left at least one person dead, two people missing and four injured, officials say. (AFP)
A Quest to Decode a Hurricane's Secret Force
August 26, 2005Scientists are undertaking a $3 million, 45-day field project to uncover key processes within a hurricane that help turbo-charge it or sap its strength in a matter of hours; research that will ultimately enable forecasters to predict trends in the landfall strength of a hurricane 12 to 24 hours before it reaches shore. (Christian Science Monitor)
Portugal Arrests Scores over Forest Fires
August 26, 2005Police in Portugal have arrested 127 people suspected of starting forest fires that have destroyed swaths of land as authorities stepped up efforts to ensure fires do not restart when temperatures rise again. (Reuters)
Spanish Renewable Energy to Produce 12 Percent of Electricity in 2010
August 26, 2005The Spanish government approved a 2005-2010 Renewable Energy Plan that envisages renewable energy sources accounting for 12 percent of total electricity generation in 2010, officials say. (AFP)
Deforestation of Amazon 'Halved'
August 26, 2005Brazil's government has announced estimates suggesting that deforestation of the Amazon rainforest has fallen by 50 percent this year. (Associated Press)
Forest Service Admits Logging Mistake
August 25, 2005The Forest Service admits to making a "serious" mistake that allowed the logging of 17 acres inside a rare tree reserve in Oregon as part of the salvage harvest of timber burned by a fire in 2002. (Associated Press)
High-Tech Buoy Monitors Weather in Michigan
August 25, 2005A solar-powered buoy bobbing on the surface of Grand Traverse Bay is providing boaters, forecasters and other interested people with up-to-date information about the Lake Michigan waterway's sometimes volatile weather. (Associated Press)
Scientists Try to Harness Wave Energy
August 25, 2005The potential for harnessing the power of waves has drawn serious study by Oregon State University, federal and state agencies, and communities along the Oregon Coast. (Associated Press)
Deadly Tsunami Reached Around the Globe
August 25, 2005Last year's Sumatra tsunami focused its death and destruction on the lands around the Indian Ocean, but the great wave traveled around the world and was recorded as far away as Peru and northeastern Canada. (Associated Press)
Hurricane Katrina Lands in Florida, Killing 2
August 25, 2005Hurricane Katrina slammed into Florida's densely populated southeastern coast with sustained winds of 80 mph and lashing rain; two people were killed by falling trees. (Associated Press)
Typhoon Mawar Hits Japan, One Dead
August 25, 2005Powerful Typhoon Mawar slammed into central Japan, bringing heavy rain and fierce winds that left at least one person dead and two injured, police and the weather bureau says. (AFP)
Earth's Core Spinning Faster Than Crust
August 25, 2005The solid core that measures about 1,500 miles in diameter is spinning about one-quarter to one-half degree faster, per year, say researchers. (Associated Press)
Italy Eyes Concept of Selling Sun's Energy
August 25, 2005Italy is blessed with some of Europe's most brilliant sun and cursed with some of its highest electricity rates, but the nation has long lagged behind its more inclement neighbors in harnessing energy from the sun's rays. (Associated Press)
Recordings of Rare Woodpecker Presented
August 25, 2005Scientists publicly presented recordings of the ivory-billed woodpecker, noting that the tape suggests there might be more than one of the rare birds in an eastern Arkansas swamp. (Associated Press)
Tanzania Receives Grant for Coastal Conservation
August 25, 2005Tanzania gets a World Bank loan to help it conserve and protect stocks of fish, a vital food source for millions living by the sea. (Reuters)
Lots More Bacteria Under Your Feet, Scientists Say
August 25, 2005Scientists now think Earth's soil contains 100 times more bacteria species than previously thought. (LiveScience.com)
Fires Continue in Portugal, But More Subdued
August 25, 2005Nine forest fires were burning in parched central and northern Portugal just hours after firefighters aided by cooler weather brought blazes which have ravaged the country over the past two weeks under control. (AFP)
Landslides Triggered by Monsoon Kill 12 in India
August 25, 2005Twelve people were killed and 20 injured in landslides triggered by monsoon rains in India's northeastern Assam state as the main Brahmaputra River swelled to danger levels, officials says. (AFP)
Swiss Floods Trigger More Earth Tremors
August 25, 2005The disastrous flooding that has swept through Switzerland over the past four days has triggered an increase in the number of Earth tremors, the Swiss seismological service says. (AFP)
Two Million Cambodians May Face Food Shortages in 2006
August 25, 2005Up to two million Cambodians may face serious food shortages next year as the impoverished country suffers its worst drought in 50 years. (AFP)
Trees Don't Suck Up Carbon Dioxide as Hoped
August 25, 2005Trees don't seem to grow any faster when given an extra dose of carbon dioxide, Swiss scientists say, a finding that could shatter the widespread belief that rising concentrations of carbon dioxide may be kept partly in check by blossoming plant growth. (Nature)
Peru's Glaciers in Retreat
August 25, 2005Many glaciers in Peru will soon disappear and the nation is one of the countries worst affected by climate change in the world, say scientists. (BBC)
New Plan Targets Illegal Fishing
August 24, 2005A coalition of environmental and development agencies has launched a new program which aims to stem the loss of fish stocks worldwide. (BBC)
World's 3rd Longest River Gets Longer
August 24, 2005A group of international explorers claims it has pinpointed a new site for the source of China's storied Yangtze River, placing it 4 miles farther west than previously thought. (LiveScience.com)
Agriculture Reviving in Aceh after Tsunami: Scientists
August 24, 2005Fears that the most fertile agricultural land in the Indonesian province of Aceh has been wrecked by seawater that swept inland from the December 26 tsunami are unfounded, scientists say. (AFP)
Court: Feds Must Up Groundfish Protection
August 24, 2005A federal appeals court ruled that the federal government must increase protections for a Pacific fish species whose population has been depleted by overfishing. (Associated Press)
N.D. Pelicans Probably Headed to Canada
August 24, 2005Thousands of American white pelicans that abandoned the Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge in central North Dakota after their chicks mysteriously died appear to have headed across the border to Canada, in southern Manitoba. (Associated Press)
Major Geomagnetic Storm Hits Canada, a Second on the Way
August 24, 2005A major geomagnetic storm washed over Canada early in the day and a second smaller event was forecast, providing a light show for sky watchers and potential headaches for satellite companies. (Canadian Press)
Strong Wind Fans Portuguese Forest Fires
August 24, 2005Portuguese forest fires flared anew, defying hopes that cooler weather would bring relief for one of the country's worst outbreaks of fires in decades. (Reuters)
Northeast States to Reduce Emissions
August 24, 2005Officials of nine Northeastern states have reached a preliminary agreement on an initiative to freeze power plant greenhouse gas emissions at current levels and reduce them by 10 percent by 2020, a newspaper reports. (Associated Press)
Meteor Dust Could Affect Climate, Study Suggests
August 24, 2005A space boulder that disintegrated in a fiery descent over Antarctica last year has sparked a theory that meteor dust may play a hidden role in our climate system. (AFP)
Weather Forecasting Getting More Complex
August 24, 2005Beginning this month the complex computer programs used by forecasters are getting more data on temperatures, water vapor and gases in the air and on how the ground affects the weather, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says. (Associated Press)
Panel Sees Growing Melting Arctic Threat
August 24, 2005The rate of ice melting in the Arctic is increasing and a panel of researchers says it sees no natural process that is likely to change that trend. (Associated Press)
Arctic Summer Could be Ice-Free by 2105
August 23, 2005If the current warming trends continue in the Arctic, the region may have ice-free summers within 100 years, a new report concludes. (LiveScience.com)
Forecasts Help Farmers Improve Harvest
August 23, 2005Farmers in Zimbabwe who attended meetings to learn how the forecasts were made and then used those outlooks in making their planting decisions did better in both dry and normal seasons, according to a new study. (Associated Press)
Heavy Rains Trigger More Floods in Europe
August 23, 2005Rescue workers piled sandbags to hold back surging floodwaters and evacuated hundreds of people from alpine valleys as heavy rains and landslides battered central and southern Europe. (Associated Press)
Floods Cause Chaos in Southern Germany
August 23, 2005Severe floods caused havoc in southern Germany as rivers burst their banks and towns were cut off from the outside world, authorities say. (AFP)
Two More Dead as Alpine Deluge Hits Switzerland
August 23, 2005Two people were killed and two were missing after three days of heavy rain in central and eastern Switzerland turned Alpine streams into raging torrents and triggered flooding around the country's lakes. (AFP)
Fires, Floods Leave Trail of Death and Destruction in Europe
August 23, 2005Rescue workers struggled to contain floods that left a trail of death and destruction across parts of central Europe, as parched Spain and Portugal in contrast battled dozens of raging wildfires. (AFP)
Floods in Southern Ethiopia Leave 7,000 Homeless
August 23, 2005Around 7,000 people have been left homeless by raging flood waters in southern Ethiopia after heavy rain caused rivers to burst their banks in the Horn of Africa's Oromia state. (AFP)
State of Emergency Declared in Northern Croatia over Floods Threat
August 23, 2005Local authorities declared a state of emergency in northern Croatia over fears that the Mura River on the border with Slovenia could burst its banks. (AFP)
China Landslides Kill 25, Five Missing
August 23, 2005The death toll from landslides caused by torrential rain in parts of central China's Hubei province has risen to 25, with five others still missing. (AFP)
Cameroon Scientist Denies Dam about to Collapse
August 23, 2005A Cameroon government scientist dismissed a warning that the natural dam holding back Lake Nyos in the northwest of the country was about to burst, threatening thousands of lives. (Reuters)
Tropical Storm Jose Dissipates Over Mexico
August 23, 2005Jose, the 10th tropical storm of the Atlantic season, started falling apart over the mountains of central Mexico, less than a day after it gained enough strength to earn its name. (Associated Press)
European Aircraft Help Battle Portugal Forest Fires
August 23, 2005Water-dumping aircraft from around Europe battled to help drought-hit Portugal contain raging forest fires that have killed at least 14 people. (Reuters)
Spanish Firefighters Battle 24 Blazes in Galicia
August 23, 2005Firefighters in the northwestern Spanish province of Galicia battled 24 blazes, including one that has burned for three days and threatened homes near the coast, local government sources say. (AFP)
Two New Bird Species Identified in Colombia
August 23, 2005Two new species of birds called Tapaculos have been identified in the mountains of Colombia, a conservation group says. (Reuters)
Barbary Apes: Threatened in Africa, Flourishing in Europe
August 23, 2005Barbary apes are threatened with extinction in their native habitat in North Africa, scientists say, but the species is doing well in Europe, and some have even been restored. (AFP)
Feds Cut Land for California Tiger Salamander
August 23, 2005Federal wildlife officials say they would cut by nearly half the amount of land set aside for the California tiger salamander, saying it would be too costly to restrict development in those areas to protect the threatened amphibian. (Associated Press)
Antarctic Ozone Hole Grows from Last Year
August 23, 2005The winter hole in the ozone layer above Antarctica appears to have grown from last year but is still smaller than in 2003, when it was at its largest, the World Meteorological Organization says. (Reuters)
Asia Failing to Properly Repair Tsunami-hit Coasts
August 23, 2005Asian governments are failing properly to restore coastal mangrove forests damaged in the tsunami, which saved lives and homes by absorbing the force of the waves. (AFP)
Thailand's Coastline Retreating Rapidly due to Development
August 23, 2005The northern coastline of the Gulf of Thailand is retreating at a rate of at least 65 meters (213 feet) per year due to rapid industrialization and overuse of groundwater. (AFP)
Malaysia to Act against Haze-causing Plantations
August 23, 2005Malaysia said it will take action against four plantations which conducted open burning during the haze crisis that recently choked parts of the country. (AFP)
The Ilulissat Glacier, a Wonder of the World Melting Away
August 22, 2005The Ilulissat glacier in Greenland, a United Nations heritage site considered one of the wonders of the world, has shrunk by over 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) in just a few years, in one of the most alarming examples of global warming in the Arctic region. (AFP)
Haze Eases as Rain, Firefighters Douse Indonesia Blazes
August 22, 2005Heavy rains and an international firefighting effort on Indonesia's Sumatra have extinguished most forest fires that had spewed choking haze over parts of the island and neighboring Malaysia, officials say. (Reuters)
Foreign Aid Pours in as Portugal Struggles to Control Wildfires
August 22, 2005Fire-fighting aircraft from Germany, Italy and the Netherlands headed to Portugal as the country struggled to contain its biggest wave of wildfires to hit so far this year amid rising temperatures. (AFP)
Two Firemen Killed as Rains Cause Havoc in Switzerland
August 22, 2005Two Swiss firemen have been killed in a landslide as heavy rain caused flooding and cut roads, railway and electricity lines across central and western Switzerland. (AFP)
Bulgarian Army Helps Out in Flood-hit Regions
August 22, 2005The Bulgarian army is helping build dykes and re-build houses in flood-hit regions near Sofia and in the east of the country where thousands are still homeless, the Defense Minister says. (AFP)
Floods, Landslides Kill 47 across China
August 22, 2005Heavy rain and landslides have killed at least 47 people across China and storms are snarling transport and flooding reservoirs, domestic media reports. (Reuters)
Four Dead in Landslide in Northeast Turkey
August 22, 2005Four people were killed in a landslide triggered by heavy rain in the Black Sea province of Rize in northeast Turkey. (AFP)
Rare Chinese Tiger Dies in South African Reserve
August 22, 2005A rare Chinese tiger brought to South Africa to learn how to hunt has died, dealing a fresh blow to efforts to save the species from extinction. (Reuters)
Water Management must be Integral Part of Sustainable Development
August 22, 2005Water management issues must be an integral aspect of sustainable development and ought to be adapted to take specific country situations into account, experts said as a World Water Week conference opened in Stockholm. (AFP)
Troops Called Out as Floods Swirl across Central Europe
August 22, 2005The armies of several central and eastern European countries were mobilizing to cope with heavy rains and floods which have killed nearly 70 people in the region this summer, with Romania and Bulgaria the worst hit. (AFP)
High-Tech Spy Planes Might Fight Fires
August 22, 2005Firefighters are getting a high-tech ally in their battle against wildfires: a remote-controlled spy plane that doesn't mind smoke, never sleeps and can see in the dark. (Associated Press)
Survey Confirms Sea Squirts in Maine
August 22, 2005A survey of Cobscook Bay has uncovered the presence of sea squirts, an invasive species that scientists fear could overwhelm valuable shellfish beds and alter the marine ecosystem, researchers say. (Associated Press)
New Radar System Developed To Monitor Space Weather
August 22, 2005Scientists are one step closer to developing radar technology that will make more accurate measurements of space weather conditions possible. (LiveScience.com)
Endangered Sea Turtles Get a Second Chance at Italian Volunteer Center
August 21, 2005On the small Italian island of Lampedusa south of Sicily, a "field hospital" maintained by a group of volunteers from the World Wildlife Fund ecological activist group gives a second chance to sea turtles injured as a result of human activity. (AFP)
Quake Jolts Northern Japan, No Damage Reported
August 21, 2005An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.0 jolted northern Japan, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. (Reuters)
Original Einstein Manuscript Discovered
August 21, 2005The original manuscript of Albert Einstein's paper "Quantum theory of the monatomic ideal gas," published in 1925, has been found in the archives of Leiden University's Lorentz Institute for Theoretical Physics, scholars say. (Associated Press)
Canada to Tap Niagara Falls to Boost Electricity Production
August 20, 2005Canada hopes to squeeze more hydroelectric power out of Niagara Falls, the famed honeymoon destination on the Canada-U.S. border, officials say. (AFP)
WHO: Dirty Air a Regular Killer in Asia
August 20, 2005A smoky haze that shrouded parts of Southeast Asia this month, forcing schools and businesses to close, is just one element of an air pollution problem that kills hundreds of thousands of people in the region annually, the World Health Organizations says. (Associated Press)
Global Warming Brings Earlier Spring Thaw to Great Lakes
August 20, 2005The Great Lakes of the U.S., the planet's largest concentration of fresh water, is thawing earlier each spring, according to an analysis of ice break-ups dating back to 1846. (New Scientist)
Romanian Floods Death Toll Rises to 14
August 20, 2005The death toll from extensive floods across Romania over the past four days has risen to 14, with more than 1,200 people evacuated from their collapsing houses, the Interior Ministry says. (Reuters)
Flight over Africa: 100,000 Pictures and a Dire Warning
August 20, 2005For seven months, U.S. pioneer and environmentalist Michael Fay flew low over Africa in a small plane, and he brought back 100,000 photographs and a dire warning of an environmental and human debacle. (AFP)
Scientists Mess with the Speed of Light
August 19, 2005Researchers in Switzerland have succeeded in breaking the cosmic speed limit by getting light to go faster than, well, the speed of light - by using simple off-the-shelf optical fibers, without the aid of special media such as cold gases or crystalline solids. (LiveScience.com)
Ship Zones Recommended to Help Whales
August 19, 2005Scientists are recommending speed zones for ship traffic as one way to help to help the endangered North Atlantic right whale population. (Associated Press)
Russian Trawlers Flout Cod Quotas in Arctic
August 19, 2005Russian trawlers are flouting cod quotas in the Arctic in a threat to the last major stock of the fish, the World Wildlife Fund says. (Reuters)
Feds Ordered to Improve Wolf Protection
August 19, 2005A federal judge ordered the Bush administration to step up efforts to restore the gray wolf to four northeastern states, a ruling environmentalists called a major victory. (Associated Press)
Conservationists Denounce U.S. Wildlife Park Plan
August 19, 2005African conservationists dismissed with contempt a suggestion by U.S. scientists that the best way to save the planet's large wild mammals, most of them native to Africa, is to build a huge nature preserve in the Midwest United States. (AFP)
Scientists Try to Save Rare and Randy Warbler
August 19, 2005Europe's rarest songbird is facing extinction, despite being the most promiscuous and energetic lover in the avian world, and concerned scientists are looking urgently for ways to save it. (Reuters)
Cameroon Yields Plant Spectacular
August 19, 2005A ten-year survey in Cameroon by scientists from the United Kingdom's Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew has turned up more than 200 previously unknown plants. (BBC)
Ocean Bug Has 'Smallest Genome'
August 19, 2005Humans have around 30,000 genes that determine everything from our eye color to our sex, but Pelagibacter has just 1,354, U.S. biologists report. (BBC)
Water Worries Hit Los Angeles
August 19, 2005Worried that global warming could impact Los Angeles' water supply, the Department of Water and Power is studying how to deal with potential changes in supply and demand. (Los Angeles Daily News)
Scientists Find New Life Forms under Rocky Mountain Snowpack
August 19, 2005University of Colorado researchers have found several new kingdoms of life previously unknown to science two years ago in the frozen soil beneath Colorado's alpine snowpack, a discovery that could lead to a greater understanding of the global biosphere and new antibiotics. (Scripps Howard)
Firefighters in Parched Portugal Battle Eight Forest Fires
August 19, 2005Hundreds of firefighters backed by water-dropping aircraft were battling eight blazes that raced through tinder-dry forests in the center and north of the country, which is facing its worst drought since 1945. (AFP)
Tornadoes Cause Damage near Toronto
August 19, 2005Tornadoes flipped over cars and damaged trees in an area about 85 kilometers (53 miles) west of Toronto, according to Canada's main weather authority, while at least one unconfirmed report said a funnel had touched down just outside the city. (Reuters)
Some Alberta Crops Hit by Patchy Frost Overnight
August 19, 2005Temperatures dipped below freezing in some parts of Alberta early today for about two hours, Environment Canada says. (Reuters)
Britain's Climate Blamed for Bird Changes
August 18, 2005Climate change is to blame for alterations in the number and distribution of birds in Britain, and more changes are expected, according to a new report. (Associated Press)
Greenland to Set Quotas on Polar Bear Hunt, but Allow Tourist Hunt
August 18, 2005Greenland will introduce hunting quotas on polar bears as of January 2006 to protect the species threatened by global warming in the Arctic, but will also allow a limited tourist hunt, officials say. (AFP)
U.S. Coral Reef Ecosystems in Decline
August 18, 2005Coral reef ecosystems, among the oldest and most diverse forms of life, are declining in U.S. waters because of overfishing, climate change, marine diseases, land-based pollution, storms and grounded ships. (Associated Press)
Severe Drought Reopens 'Water War' among Spain Agricultural Workers
August 18, 2005The worst drought that parched Spain has endured since the 1940s has reopened a 'water war' among agricultural workers in the southwestern corner of the country around Murcia. (AFP)
Twisters in Wisconsin Kill One, Injure Dozens
August 18, 2005A rash of tornadoes killed one man, and injured at least 30 others, while destroying or damaging 200 homes in small towns near Madison. (Associated Press)
Climate Change a 'Blind Spot' for U.S. Insurers
August 18, 2005Looking ahead at a warmer planet, British insurers see more frequent and severe storms ahead, with losses on insured property perhaps rising 65 percent by 2080, but climate change is barely on the radar for the U.S. insurance industry. (The Argus, San Francisco)
World Officials Want Global Warming Action
August 18, 2005Environmental ministers and officials from 23 countries met near a glacier that is retreating at an alarming pace and agreed that governments must stop arguing over global warming and start acting. (Associated Press)
Climate Change Fueled Human Evolution?
August 18, 2005Climate changes that affected Africa over a million years ago may have profoundly influenced human evolution, according to a new study published in this week. (Discovery.com)
Lion Attacks on the Rise
August 17, 2005Lions are killing people in Tanzania three times as often as they did 15 years ago, and the study's authors say that farmers should clear their land of bush pigs, an attractive prey to lions, to reduce the number of clashes between lions and local people. (Nature)
Group Wants to Transplant African Animals
August 17, 2005Prominent ecologists are floating an audacious plan that sounds like a Jumanji sequel - to transplant African wildlife to the Great Plains of North America. (Associated Press)
Experts: Georgia Pocket Gopher near Extinction
August 17, 2005Biologists think the Georgia gopher has been devastated by loss of natural habitat -- longleaf pine savannas and naturally vegetated rolling sand hills. (Associated Press)
Torrential Rainfall Stops in Texas
August 17, 2005Flooding forced about 150 people out of their homes along the shore of a West Texas lake that had risen about 9 1/2 feet above its normal level following torrential rainfall. (Associated Press)
Hurricane Irene Continues to Weaken
August 17, 2005Hurricane Irene continued weakening as it headed northeastward across the north Atlantic, far from land. (Associated Press)
Dinosaur-era Tree Set for First Auction Sale
August 17, 2005Saplings of a giant tree that was a snack for dinosaurs and was believed to also be extinct until a chance discovery in Australia will be offered for sale to the public next month for the first time. (Reuters)
Drought-hit Spain and Portugal Battle Blazes in Searing Heat
August 17, 2005Hundreds of firefighters battled several heat-fueled forest fires that raged across Spain and Portugal amid a severe drought that has dried reservoirs and led to water restrictions in many places. (AFP)
Volcano Could Wipe Out DR Congo City, Say Experts
August 17, 2005The Nyiragongo volcano that looms over Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo could soon wipe out the city, said a risk analysis report by volcano experts. (AFP)
Japanese Agency Issued Alert 14 Seconds before Major Tremor
August 17, 2005Japan's meteorological agency says it warned residents of a major earthquake 14 seconds before it hit under a new trial alert system in one of the world's most quake-prone countries. (AFP)
Kenyan Parliament Passes Long-delayed Law to Protect Dwindling Forest Cover
August 17, 2005After a nearly 10-year delay, the Kenyan parliament has approved legislation to protect the nation's dwindling forests from rampant encroachment, Environment Minister Kalonzo Musyoka says. (AFP)
Monsoon Comes on Strong and Persistent
August 17, 2005For the past three weeks the monsoon has been messing with many sections of California's mountains and deserts; as the National Weather Service issued 80 flash flood warnings for southwest California, 35 severe-storm warnings, plus a tornado warning. (San Diego Union Tribune)
Sea Ice May Be on Increase in the Antarctic: A Phenomenon Due to a Lot of "Hot Air"?
August 16, 2005A new NASA-funded study finds that predicted increases in precipitation due to warmer air temperatures from greenhouse gas emissions may actually increase sea ice volume in the Antarctic's Southern Ocean. (Science Daily)
Record-Breaking Heat: Is Global Warming to Blame?
August 16, 2005The dog days of summer are here, and many people are feeling the heat, but scientists continue to debate whether prolonged hot spells, which have hit many areas of the world this summer, might be linked to global warming. (National Geographic)
Senators Attest to Alaska Climate Change
August 16, 2005Fresh from a trip to Barrow, America's northernmost city, senators say anecdotes from Alaskans and residents of the Yukon Territory confirm scientific evidence of global warming. (Associated Press)
Study: Car Exhaust Polluting Puget Sound
August 16, 2005Mud and sand at the bottom of Puget Sound is increasingly tainted by pollution from vehicle exhaust, not heavy industry, a state Department of Ecology study says. (Associated Press)
Supervisors Move to Reduce Contra Costa's Greenhouse Emissions
August 16, 2005Contra Costa County, California, could soon be on the forefront in the battle against global warming, as officials voted unanimously to begin working on an ordinance to help the county find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (San Jose Mercury News)
Malaysia and Singapore Call for ASEAN Response to Haze Crisis
August 16, 2005Malaysia and Singapore have called for a coordinated Southeast Asian response to the annual haze problem, as the smoke and dust which smothered Malaysia last week shifted north to Thailand. (AFP)
Mountain Villages Evacuated as Fires Rage on in Portugal
August 16, 2005Nearly 2,200 firefighters were battling dozens of wildfires in parched Portugal, including 10 major blazes which were raging out of control and forced the evacuation of several mountain villages, officials say. (AFP)
Poisonous Algae in Baltic Should Be Fought with Oxygen
August 16, 2005Carpets of poisonous blue-green algae which regularly invade Baltic coastlines in the summer could be eliminated with massive injections of oxygen, Swedish researchers say. (AFP)
Red Tide Bloom Strikes Off Florida Coast
August 16, 2005An unusually fierce red tide bloom this summer has choked off oxygen and killed undersea life in a region of the Gulf of Mexico bottom about 10 miles off the coast of Florida, scientists say. (Associated Press)
Pacific Coast Ecosystems Return to Normal
August 16, 2005The northerly winds that sustain the Pacific Coast's marine ecosystems have returned, but their arrival came too late for fish and birds that couldn't survive the unseasonably warm waters. (Associated Press)
Major Earthquake Hits Japan, at Least 56 Injured
August 16, 2005A powerful earthquake off Japan's Pacific coast has injured at least 56 people, set off small tsunami waves and swayed towering buildings in the heart of Tokyo. (AFP)
July 2005 Sets Record for Tropical Storms
August 16, 2005The five named tropical storms recorded in July were the most on record for that month, and worldwide it was the second warmest July on record, the National Climatic Data Center reports. (Associated Press)
Web Shoppers Destroying Endangered Wildlife
August 16, 2005Internet shoppers in search of the exotic have sparked a booming trade that is threatening the existence of many endangered species, a report shows. (Reuters)
Floods Kill at Least 14, Leave Scores Missing in China
August 16, 2005Torrential downpours and severe flooding have killed at least 14 people in northern and central China and left scores missing. (AFP)
New Sea Wall May Fall Short as Water Rises, Report Says
August 15, 2005Global warming and rising water levels could force Seattle to build its new Elliott Bay sea wall higher than expected. (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
Japan to Set Up Climate Change Monitoring Network with Neighbors
August 15, 2005Japan will set up a climate change monitoring and assessment network in cooperation with Asian neighbors to study how global warming affects developing countries in the region. (AFP)
Amazon Study Shows Rivers Carry Away Carbon Dioxide
August 15, 2005A researcher finds that forests, like those in the Amazon, may not absorb as much carbon dioxide as earlier believed. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Wildfires Worsen as Temperatures Soar in Portugal
August 15, 2005Wildfires which have raged in parched woodland in Portugal over the past three days, killing two firefighters, worsened as temperatures soared to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some regions. (AFP)
China Choked by Pollution but Signs Emerge It is Addressing the Issue
August 15, 2005China, the factory of the world, is being slowly choked by the pollution brought on by its unrelenting economic transformation and the government is starting to realize it needs to do something about it. (AFP)
China to Build Offshore Wind Power Complex
August 15, 2005China plans to construct its first offshore wind power complex next year in hopes of easing chronic electricity shortages, the official Xinhua News Agency reports. (Associated Press)
Jellyfish Invade the Globe, Thanks to Humans
August 15, 2005Scientists announce the discovery of 16 new species of "moon jellyfish" while also saying the creatures are invading marine environments all over the world. (LiveScience.com)
Scientists Track Alien Seaweed in Hawaii
August 15, 2005An alien seaweed introduced in Hawaii 31 years ago has spread rapidly and has even reached the remote, unspoiled Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, worrying scientists. (Associated Press)
At a Cold Place in Alaska, Scientists Gather to Monitor Global Warming
August 14, 2005Twice a day, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 drops down in Barrow, Alaska, and as the jet disgorges one carefully wrapped scientific instrument after another from the cargo hold, the Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport takes on the air of a bazaar, one whose currency is scientific knowledge. (Los Angeles Times)
Cloud Whitener Offered as Global Warming Cure
August 14, 2005The government is examining a British-designed system for spraying seawater into the air to make clouds whiter to reflect more radiation away from the Earth and slow the worldwide rise in temperatures. (The Sunday Times, Britain)
Haze in Northern Malaysia Persists, Criticism Grows
August 14, 2005A choking smog persisted over northern Malaysia as Kuala Lumpur lashed out at Indonesia's handling of forest fires causing the haze. (Reuters)
More than 800 Firefighters Battle Wildfires in Parched Portugal
August 14, 2005More than 800 firefighters in Portugal battled wildfires which swept the parched center and north of the country for the third consecutive day amid scorching temperatures, emergency services say. (AFP)
Tropical Storm Moves Away from East Coast
August 14, 2005Tropical Storm Irene started moving away from the East Coast and posed no threat to land, forecasters say. (Associated Press)
Tropical Storm Sweeps Ashore in China
August 13, 2005A tropical storm swept ashore in southern China after bringing heavy rain a week after a typhoon tore up the east coast killing three people and causing havoc. (Reuters)
After Floods, Water-borne Diseases Claim 157 Lives in Western Indian State
August 13, 2005Over 157 people have died from water-borne illnesses in India's financial capital Mumbai and surrounding regions following a week-long deluge of rain, health officials say. (AFP)
Fires in Indonesia Cause Ecological Crisis
August 13, 2005Palm oil farmers have used fire to clear their land of tall grass, shrubs and trees for years, without any idea that the noxious fumes caused problems in neighboring Malaysia or anywhere else. (Associated Press)
Researcher Anatoly Larkin Dies at 72
August 13, 2005Anatoly Larkin, a University of Minnesota researcher whose work led to advances in the understanding of theoretical physics, died at age 72. (Associated Press)
Giant Waterfall Discovered in California Park
August 13, 2005Park officials recently discovered a 400-foot waterfall in a remote corner of the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, 43,000 acres of wilderness in northern California. (Associated Press)
Government Cuts Back Pacific Salmon Habitat
August 13, 2005The federal government has cut back the critical habitat for 19 species of threatened and endangered Pacific salmon, arguing that an earlier designation demanded by environmentalists was poorly executed and that voluntary habitat improvements will work better. (Associated Press)
Hong Kong Hoists First Typhoon Warning of Year
August 12, 2005Hong Kong officials hoisted the year's first typhoon warning as Tropical Cyclone Sanvu inched within range of the southern Chinese territory. (AFP)
U.S. State Besieged by Wildfires: Governor
August 12, 2005Frontline firefighters expressed optimism in the battle against wildfires that caused part of the northwestern United States to be declared an emergency zone. (AFP)
Portugal Hit Hardest by European Wildfires Due to Poor Forest Management
August 12, 2005Portugal has been hit hardest by wildfires which have swept drought-hit southern Europe this year because of human negligence and a focus on planting profitable but highly combustible tree species, experts say. (AFP)
Death Toll from China Floods Rises to 910, another 218 Missing
August 12, 2005Floods and related disasters have killed 910 people in China so far this year with another 218 missing, the International Red Cross says as it launched an emergency appeal for 4.4 million dollars in aid. (AFP)
Polar Bear Makes Huge 74 Kilometer One-day Arctic Swim
August 12, 2005Scientists have tracked a tagged polar bear swimming at least 74 kilometers (46 miles) in just one day -- and maybe up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) -- providing the first conclusive proof the bears can cover such giant distances in the water. (Reuters)
Thawing Peat Bog Could Speed Warming
August 12, 2005A huge expanse of western Siberia is going through an unprecedented thaw that could speed the rate of global warming dramatically, scientists say. (AFP)
Trees Hold Record of Ancient Hurricane Activity
August 11, 2005Georgia pine trees harbor a record of every hurricane to hit the area in the past century, a new study found, and further research across the Southeast uncovered a hurricane record stretching back more than two centuries. (LiveScience.com)
Tropical Storm Irene Expected to Intensify
August 11, 2005A renewed Tropical Storm Irene was gradually intensifying Thursday as it moved closer to the East Coast, forecasters say. (Associated Press)
At Least 43 Dead in Iranian Floods
August 11, 2005At least 43 people have drowned and another 15 are missing in flash floods caused by torrential rains in Golestan province in northeastern Iran, the official news agency IRNA reports. (AFP)
Floods Leave 20,000 Homeless in Central African Republic
August 11, 2005Floods caused by days of heavy rain have caused the collapse of some 3,000 houses and left up to 20,000 people homeless in the capital of the Central African Republic, a local Red Cross official told state radio. (AFP)
Report: Icier Clouds Make More Lightning
August 11, 2005Whether the storm was over land, ocean or coastal areas, clouds with more ice produced more lightning, finds new research. (Associated Press)
Volcanic Blast Location Influences Climate Reaction
August 11, 2005New research funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation shows that major volcanic eruptions far north of the equator affect the world's climate much differently than volcanoes in the tropics. (Terra Daily)
Weather Balloons' 1970s Design Caused Climate Spat
August 11, 2005Although most scientists today recognize the Earth's temperature is warming, disputes over the issue of global warming may have been caused in part by the placement of sensors on weather balloons when studies were done in the 1970s, researchers say. (Reuters)
Greenland Glacier Triples Speed Because of Climate Change
August 11, 2005The Greenland glacier Kangerdlugssuaq has unexpectedly picked up speed and become one the world's fastest moving glaciers because of global warming, the environmental organization Greenpeace says. (AFP)
Summers in Europe's Cities Getting Hotter
August 11, 2005Summers in European cities have grown up to 2.2 degrees Celsius (4.0 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter since the 1970s and global warming may cause ever more sweltering temperatures, the WWF conservation group says. (Reuters)
Sun Was Shining Brightly from Beginning
August 11, 2005Our Sun was already shining brightly more than 4.5 billion years ago, as dust and gas was swirling into what would become the planets of the solar system, U.S. researchers report. (Reuters)
Dangerous Haze Returns to Haunt Southeast Asia
August 11, 2005A thick haze, created from burning by farmers, plantation owners, loggers and miners to clear land, is creating especially unhealthy conditions in Malaysia, where asthma attacks have soared, tourists are holing up in their hotels, and some schools, ports and airports have closed. (Reuters)
Fires in Southern Spain Environmentally Disastrous, Authorities Say
August 11, 2005Fires which have ravaged thousands of acres of forests in a national park in southern Spain are under control but have left an ecological disaster behind them, according to the park's head. (AFP)
Satellite Photos Show Portugal's Fire Damage Worse than Authorities Claim
August 11, 2005Satellite images show Portuguese authorities have seriously underestimated the damage from wildfires that have ravaged the drought-stricken country, a report from the European Union's executive commission says. (AFP)
U.S. Wildfire Chars Homes, Farms, Forest
August 11, 2005Firefighters battled a wildfire that has devoured more than 41,000 acres of forest and ranch land and destroyed 35 homes in the state of Washington, officials say. (AFP)
Caterpillars Damage Vermont Trees
August 11, 2005Forest tent caterpillars have munched through thousands of acres of trees this year, but state officials don't expect the state's sugar maples to suffer any long term damage. (Associated Press)
Australian Volcano Erupts in Southern Ocean
August 10, 2005A volcano on Australia's remote, tiny and uninhabited McDonald Island in the Southern Ocean is erupting for the first time since 2001, when lava flows had doubled its size, the government announces. (AFP)
Carbon Emissions from U.S. Autos on the Rise
August 10, 2005Emissions of heat-trapping carbon dioxide from U.S. cars and trucks soared 25 percent between 1990 and 2003 as more vehicles hit the roads and consumers flocked to gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles, a U.S. environmental group says. (Reuters)
Acid Rain Still Hurting Canada
August 10, 2005Lakes and waterways in North America, especially in eastern Canada, are struggling to recover from the effects of acid rain, despite reduced emissions of the pollutants that cause it; but without further cuts, it could be millennia before the worst-affected sites recover, say environmentalists. (Nature)
NIU to Share $13 Million Grant to Study 'Global Thermostat'
August 10, 2005Northern Illinois University and the University of Nebraska in Lincoln will share a $13 million grant from the National Science Foundation for ongoing Antarctic research on global warming. (Chicago Sun-Times)
A Roof Garden? It's Much More Than That
August 10, 2005As temperatures soared and New York City broke records for electricity use at the end of July, landscapers were installing a "green" roof at Silvercup Studios, hoping to use data collected from it to convince commercial property owners and developers that not only are green roofs good for the environment, they can benefit the bottom line. (The New York Times)
Britain Swelters in Record Heat
August 10, 2005Britain records its hottest day ever as the temperature soars to 38.1 degrees Celsius (100.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in Gravesend, Kent, beating the previous record of 37.1 degrees Celsius (98.8 degrees Fahrenheit), set in Cheltenham in 1990. (BBC)
Common Intruders Threaten Galapagos Species
August 9, 2005Common species of blackberries, goats and red ants are endangering the survival of far rarer flora and fauna native to the Galapagos Islands. (NPR)
'Extinct' Birds in Comeback but No Hope for Dodo
August 9, 2005Scientists beware: don't count your extinct bird species - because one of them may hatch - but there's still no hope for some, such as the famed dodo of Mauritius, a large flightless bird that died out long ago because of human activities such as overhunting, says the WWF. (Reuters)
New Lemurs Found in Madagascar
August 9, 2005Two new species of lemur have been found in Madagascar, bringing the number of known species to 49. (BBC)
U.S. Forests Getting 'Loved to Death'
August 9, 2005America's national forests are becoming islands of green that are increasingly trapped by an expanding sea of new houses, according to a new study. (LiveScience.com)
Firefighters Tame Blaze in Portugal's Largest Protected Zone
August 9, 2005Firefighters in Portugal said the arrival of cooler, damper weather had helped them bring a wildfire which ravaged the nation's largest protected area for over 36 hours under control. (AFP)
Major Fire Still Out of Control in Southern Spain
August 9, 2005A fire which has laid waste to some 7,400 acres of vegetation in the southern Spanish region of Jaen remains out of control, two days after breaking out, local government sources says. (AFP)
Tropical Depression Irene Organizes More
August 9, 2005Tropical depression Irene was getting better organized in the central Atlantic, forecasters said, but still posed no threat to land. (Associated Press)
Floods Recede in Western Indian State after More than 1,000 Die
August 9, 2005Flood waters in the western Indian state of Maharashtra including India's commercial capital Mumbai have receded, allowing life to slowly return to normal, state officials say. (AFP)
More Tests, More Closed Shores
August 9, 2005Extensive shoreline water testing resulted in 20,000 days of beach closings in 2004. (Christian Science Monitor)
Newfoundland Shortlists 4 for Huge Hydro Project
August 9, 2005Newfoundland and Labrador has narrowed its search for proposals to build a massive hydroelectric project that could supply electricity to up to 2 million homes. (Reuters)
Malaysians Advised to Wear Masks as Haze Persists
August 8, 2005Malaysians have been advised to wear masks outdoors to protect themselves from thick haze blanketing several cities including the capital Kuala Lumpur, reports says. (AFP)
Powerful Storm Kills 13, Heads to Beijing
August 8, 2005A tropical storm that killed 13 people in eastern China churned toward the capital, where authorities prepared to evacuate tens of thousands of residents in outlying areas prone to landslides. (Associated Press)
Another "Dead Zone" May Loom Off Oregon Coast
August 8, 2005The Pacific Ocean off of Oregon has experienced a die-off of birds, declining fisheries and wildly fluctuating conditions in the past few months, and has set the stage for another hypoxic "dead zone" like those of 2002 and 2004, according to experts at Oregon State University. (Oregon News Online)
Alaska Sea Otters to Get U.S. Protection
August 8, 2005Southwest Alaska's sea otters, which came back from the brink of extinction in the 1800s, are facing another dramatic decline and could be named a "threatened" species. (Associated Press)
Hawaii Study: Trees Buffer Tsunami Impact
August 8, 2005Planting trees and bushy plants between buildings and the ocean helped to lessen the impact of the waves when the December 26 killer tsunami struck in the Maldives Islands, University of Hawaii researchers say. (Associated Press)
Researchers Study Changes in Hurricanes
August 8, 2005Researchers are using a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation in an effort to learn why sudden, dramatic changes occur in the intensity of hurricanes, focusing on how the interaction between a storm's outer rain bands and its inner eye can influence abrupt fluctuations in its strength. (Associated Press)
Alaskan People Tell of Climate Change
August 7, 2005For the past 20 years climatologists have been working in Alaska studying climate change and now they have discovered a rich new source of records extending their knowledge back by decades through the oral history of native Alaskans. (BBC)
Forest Fires Continue to Rage in Spain
August 7, 2005Several forest fires were raging out of control in Spain, the day after two firefighters were killed battling blazes in the center and northwest of the country, which is experiencing both very hot weather and its worst drought in 60 years. (AFP)
New Forest Fires Hit Tinder-dry Southern France
August 7, 2005Two new fires were spreading in southeastern France, while a blaze that began earlier near the southern city of Aix-en-Provence was in check but not yet under control, firefighting officials say. (AFP)
Taiwan State Power Firm Mulling Multi-billion Dollar Wind Power Projects
August 7, 2005Taiwan's state power company is planning ambitious wind-generated electricity projects estimated to cost at least 120 billion Taiwan dollars ($3.76 billion U.S.) as oil prices hit record levels, an official says. (AFP)
Tropical Storm Irene No Immediate Threat
August 7, 2005The ninth named storm of the busy Atlantic hurricane season, Tropical Storm Irene, formed but posed no immediate threat to land, forecasters say. (Associated Press)
Planes Go Greener by Shifting Altitude
August 7, 2005Aircraft could reduce their impact on global warming just by making small changes in altitude, as the streams of water vapor and ice particles that form behind them, called contrails, are known to create cirrus clouds that warm the planet. (New Scientist)
Over 1.2 Million Evacuated as Typhoon Lashes East China
August 6, 2005More than 1.2 million people have been evacuated as Typhoon Matsa pounded the coast of eastern China, causing widespread flooding. (AFP)
Taiwan Sizes Up Damage after Typhoon Matsa
August 6, 2005Taiwan lifted sea alerts around its coast after Typhoon Matsa churned toward mainland China, but the storm caused considerable damage to agriculture and infrastructure, the government says. (Associated Press)
Bird-Filled Emirates Wetlands Diminishing
August 6, 2005The Khor al-Beidah lagoon is a pristine tidal flat teeming with wildlife, including endangered birds, sea turtles and manatee-like dugong that swim among its tangles of mangroves; but the area is about to be overtaken with luxury homes, shops, marinas and beach resorts aimed at foreign buyers and tourists. (Associated Press)
Canada, U.S. Agree Ways to Drain North Dakota Lake Safely
August 6, 2005Canada and the United States announced a deal that could end years of bickering over plans to drain a North Dakota lake into rivers that end up in Canada, saying there would be safeguards to prevent pollution and minimize risk from "nuisance species" of fish. (Reuters)
Chemist Tries to Solve World's Energy Woes
August 6, 2005A U.S. chemist is trying to determine how the world will produce enough energy to supply 9 billion people by mid-century -- and whether that can be done without pumping off-the-charts amounts of carbon dioxide into the air. (Associated Press)
Southern Europe Battles Blazes and Blazing Heat
August 6, 2005Firefighters in Portugal, Spain and France battled forest and brush fires as scorching temperatures punished the region hit by its worst drought in six decades. (AFP)
Listening System May Help Save Whales
August 5, 2005An estimated one in four whales are spotted by aerial surveys, leaving the rest vulnerable to ship strikes or fishing gear entanglements, but scientists say an underwater listening system they're developing will dramatically improve detection and reduce whale deaths. (Associated Press)
Green Sea Turtle Makes Rare Virginia Delivery
August 5, 2005A green sea turtle dug out of a nest in the sands of a Virginia resort beach left 124 eggs -- the first documented case of the protected turtle laying its eggs in the state. (Associated Press)
Scientists Study Arctic Climate Changes
August 5, 2005A Reno, Nevada scientist is among a team of researchers who will spend the next several weeks studying the icy Arctic Ocean to document historic climate changes. (Associated Press)
Portugal Calls in Troops to Help Contain Heat-fueled Wildfires
August 5, 2005Portugal called in the army to help hundreds of stretched firefighters battle 22 major blazes which raged across the parched country amidst forecasts that temperatures will remain over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) over the coming days. (AFP)
Indian Ocean Nations Agree to Share Tsunami Data
August 5, 2005Indian Ocean nations agreed to share real-time seismic data, despite some security sensitivities, and to set up seven regional tsunami warning centers instead of one. (Reuters)
Indian Task Force Says Tigers under Siege
August 5, 2005An Indian task force said that the country's tigers were under siege from poachers and people living in protected reserves, and called for thousands of villagers to be relocated to save the endangered big cat. (Reuters)
Over 222,000 Villagers Evacuated as India Reels from Rural Floods
August 5, 2005Villages in western and southern India were evacuated with at least 222,000 people moving to higher ground as waters released from near-bursting dams flooded vast rural tracts, officials say. (AFP)
Overflowing Dams Pose New Threat to Flood-hit Western India
August 4, 2005Authorities in flood-hit western India stepped up rescue and relief operations as thousands of people were evacuated from low-lying areas because of threats from overflowing dams. (AFP)
Endangered Turtles Disappear from Malaysian Nesting Sites
August 4, 2005Endangered turtles have disappeared from Malaysia's famous nesting beaches this year, with just one landing recorded compared to the thousands that used to lay eggs there, experts say. (AFP)
Rare Portuguese Seabird Moves Away from Extinction
August 4, 2005The Zino's Petrel, a rare seabird found only on the highest peaks of Portugal's Madeira Island in the Atlantic, has moved slightly away from extinction, a government official says. (AFP)
Trees Are Killed to Save Rare Woodpecker
August 4, 2005In a sort of ecological trade-off, conservationists headed into the Arkansas woods to kill dozens of trees in hopes of helping the ivory-billed woodpecker, a bird that up until recently was feared extinct. (Associated Press)
Crew to Track Monarch Butterflies
August 4, 2005The annual arrival of millions of Monarch butterflies from the forests of eastern Canada to the central Mexican mountains for the winter is an aesthetic and scientific wonder, and a crew of two plans to accompany the butterflies on their 3,415 mile-journey while riding in an oversized hang-glider to raise awareness to conserve the butterfly's habitats. (Associated Press)
Bugs Chewing Up Trees, Raising Fire Danger
August 4, 2005The mountain views along Red Stone Road suggest early autumn, with splashes of red, orange and rusty brown dotting the green hillsides above the homes and condominiums of a Colorado resort town; but this is summer and the colors represent dead pine needles on hundreds of pine trees that have been killed by beetles. (Associated Press)
Ice Cap on Germany's Highest Peak to Melt Away within 20 Years
August 4, 2005The ice cap on Germany's highest mountain peak, the Zugspitze, will have melted away within two decades due to global warning, Bavaria's state environment minister says. (AFP)
Fear over Scottish Climate Change
August 4, 2005Scotland's temperature has risen half way towards the limit forecasted by scientists, says WWF Scotland. (BBC)
Marble Dispute Threatens Michelangelo's Peak
August 4, 2005Michelangelo's peak, a mountain in the Apuan Alps where the Tuscan artist discovered some of the world's most prized marble, could disappear soon, environmentalists and art historians warn. (Discovery.com)
Taiwan Battens Down for Typhoon Matsa
August 4, 2005Taiwan have battened down for the approach of Typhoon Matsa with hundreds of villagers evacuated, as meteorologists say it could hit the north of the island and unleash torrential rain and strong winds. (AFP)
Giant Ocean Waves More Common Than Thought
August 4, 2005Last year's Hurricane Ivan generated an ocean wave that towered higher than 90 feet at one point, says a study that also suggests such giants may be more common than once thought. (Associated Press)
Tropical Storm Harvey Leaves Bermuda Behind
August 4, 2005Tropical Storm Harvey gained strength as it moved away from Bermuda after it soaked the mid-Atlantic British colony but caused little disruption. (Reuters)
Lightning Strikes Airliners Every 1,000 Hours
August 3, 2005When lightning strikes an airliner in the sky there is little risk, although the lights might fail; but if it strikes immediately after landing the brakes may fail, an expert says in light of the Airbus crash in Toronto in a storm. (AFP)
Earth "Air" Found on Moon
August 3, 2005The Moon's soil is impregnated with nitrogen that came from Earth's atmosphere, according to Japanese scientists. (AFP)
Dramatic Collapse of Antarctic Ice Shelf Linked to Global Warming
August 3, 2005The collapse of a huge ice shelf in Antarctica in 2002 has no precedent in the past 11,000 years, according to a study to be published that points the finger at global warming. (AFP)
Senators Heading to Alaska to Study Climate Change
August 3, 2005Four U.S. senators plan a trip to Alaska in two weeks to view melting permafrost, retreating glaciers and other consequences of global climate change. (Associated Press)
Fresh Analysis Points to Potential for Rising Seas
August 3, 2005After a fresh analysis, scientists today warned again that global warming is threatening the stability of fragile glacier systems in the Antarctic and could lead to sea level increases worldwide. (LiveScience.com)
Can We Control the Weather? Maybe
August 3, 2005University of California-Berkeley research suggests that it may be possible to literally take the wind out of hurricanes by simply pouring something like soapy water on the seas in front of an approaching storm. (ABC)
India to Chair New Tsunami Warning Group
August 3, 2005India was chosen to chair an international group tasked with implementing an early warning system for Indian Ocean countries after the December tsunamis killed more than 200,000 people. (AFP)
Scientists Drill Into San Andreas Fault
August 3, 2005Geologists are drilling a borehole into the San Andreas Fault to better understand the physics of earthquakes that have hit a seismically active section of the fault for the first time. (Associated Press)
Biologist: Yellowstone Wolf Pack May Have Died Out
August 3, 2005The alpha female at the head of the Geode Creek wolf pack in Yellowstone National Park has disappeared, and biologists think the rest of the pack may have been killed or dispersed. (Associated Press)
Official Says Pelican Exodus Not Alarming
August 3, 2005A top federal wildlife official says the pelican mystery at the Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge in North Dakota may be a natural correction. (Associated Press)
NY Authorities Battle Intruding Snakehead Fish
August 3, 2005The snakehead fish, a voracious predator from Asia, has taken up residence in a lake in New York, and experts are mulling options, including salt and poison, to evict it. (Reuters)
Earth from Space: Bloom in the Baltic
August 3, 2005A colorful summer marine phytoplankton bloom fills much of the Baltic Sea, European satellite imagery shows. (Science Daily)
Weather Service Boosts Hurricane Forecast
August 2, 2005With seven storms, including two hurricanes, already recorded -- a record for this early in the year -- National Weather Service Director David L. Johnson says there could be 11 to 14 more tropical storms, including seven to nine more hurricanes, by the end of November. (Associated Press)
Ivory Bill's Doubters Convinced by Tapes
August 2, 2005Recordings of the ivory-billed woodpecker's distinctive double-rap sounds have convinced doubting researchers that the large bird once thought extinct is still living in an east Arkansas swamp. (Associated Press)
New Mexico Tries to Grow Rare Plant in New Spots
August 2, 2005State Forestry is attempting to help an endangered plant that grows only in the Holy Ghost Canyon of the upper Pecos watershed by trying to grow it in two other areas. (Associated Press)
NAU Picked for Regional Climate Research Institute
August 2, 2005Northern Arizona University (NAU), along with Duke, Penn State, and Michigan State, will create the National Institute for Climatic Change Research to support research by academic scientists studying the effects of climate change on ecosystems and the atmosphere. (Arizona Daily Sun)
Malaysia's Capital Covered in Choking Haze
August 2, 2005Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur was blanketed in a choking haze after smoke from over 500 fires in Indonesia made its way over to the country. (AFP)
Relief Operations Underway in India
August 2, 2005Bombay restored train and telephone service, while cranes and bulldozers cleared landslide-hit areas in the outlying regions of India's financial capital after a week of torrential rains. (Associated Press)
Portugal Put on Alert for Wildfires as Temperatures Soar
August 2, 2005All of mainland Portugal will face a high risk of wildfires due to a forecast rise in temperatures and expected low humidity levels, the agriculture ministry warns. (AFP)
Beach Pollution Worse during Full Moon
August 2, 2005A new study of 60 beaches in Southern California concludes that water pollution varies with the lunar cycle, reaching the highest levels when tides are ebbing during the New and Full Moon. (LiveScience.com)
Greenpeace Boards Trawlers in the Northwest Atlantic
August 2, 2005The environmental group Greenpeace has boarded three shrimp trawlers in the northwest Atlantic to investigate the environmental damage done by bottom trawling, a Greenpeace spokesperson says. (AFP)
New Energy Probe May Harm Sea Life
August 2, 2005By using the latest techniques, government officials hope to discover new pools of oil and gas hidden miles under the ocean floor, but environmentalists fear the process - which involves blasting the ocean floor with sound waves - could threaten marine life. (Christian Science Monitor)
Pacific Coast Life Concerns Scientists
August 1, 2005Marine biologists are seeing mysterious and disturbing things along the Pacific Coast this year: higher water temperatures, plummeting catches of fish, lots of dead birds on the beaches, and perhaps most worrisome, very little plankton -- the tiny organisms that are a vital link in the ocean food chain. (Associated Press)
Survey Finds Gulf 'Dead Zone' Much Larger
August 1, 2005The dead zone off the coasts of Louisiana and Texas is nearly the size of Connecticut and much larger than federal researchers had predicted earlier this year, according to a new survey. (Associated Press)
Researchers Say Arctic Teeming With Life
August 1, 2005Beneath its ice, the Arctic Ocean is teeming with life, says a team of international scientists that just completed a 30-day expedition to the northern ocean. (Associated Press)
Scientists Tracking Fast-moving Glaciers
August 1, 2005Two University of Maine scientists studying the effects of climate change in the Arctic have discovered that two glaciers in Greenland are moving at a not-so-glacial pace. (Associated Press)
Rare Beetle Found in Massachusetts Forest
August 1, 2005A species of beetle never before seen in North America has been discovered in a Massachusetts forest, but the Asian insect does not appear to pose an ecological threat, experts say. (Associated Press)
War of the Exotic Species in the West
August 1, 2005Bug scientists in seven states will unleash swarms of hungry Asian beetles on a stubborn tree species that is choking life out of the West's waterways. (USA Today)
Loss of Wolves Changes Canadian Ecosystem
August 1, 2005The loss of once-plentiful wolves in a part of Canada's west allowed the elk population to mushroom, pushing out beavers and songbirds and showing the importance of top predators, Canadian researchers say. (Reuters)
Rain-hit Mumbai Continues Clean-up, High Water Forces Thousands to Evacuate
August 1, 2005Workers pushed on with a massive clean-up in India's financial hub Mumbai after torrential monsoon rain eased for the first time in a week, but high waters forced thousands to leave home and weather damage was put at around $888 million. (AFP)
Slovakia's Worst Fire in 60 Years Not Completely Under Control
August 1, 2005A Slovakian forest fire that broke out over the weekend in the northern High Tatras mountains, the worst blaze in 60 years, has not yet been brought completely under control, a fire official says. (AFP)
How Lowly Bacteria Froze Earth Solid
August 1, 20052.3 billion years ago, bacteria suddenly developed the ability to break down water and release oxygen, destroying methane in the atmosphere, which had acted as a blanket to keep the planet warm, a new study finds. (LiveScience.com)