Human : Science World Report

Mar 07, 2012 09:24 AM EST

Running Hot and Cold in the Deep Sea: Scientists Explore Rare Environment

Among the many intriguing aspects of the deep sea, Earth's largest ecosystem, exist environments known as hydrothermal vent systems where hot water surges out from the seafloor. On the flipside the deep sea also features cold areas where methane rises from "seeps" on the ocean bottom.

Mar 07, 2012 08:41 AM EST

15-year Study: When It Comes to creating Wetlands, Mother Nature Is in Charge

Fifteen years of studying two experimental wetlands has convinced Bill Mitsch that turning the reins over to Mother Nature makes the most sense when it comes to this area of ecological restoration. Mitsch, an environment and natural resources professor at Ohio State University, has led the effort t...

Mar 06, 2012 09:39 AM EST

The Blue Planet's New Water Budget

Investigating the history of water on Earth is critical to understanding the planet's climate. One central question is whether Earth has always had the same amount of water on and surrounding it, the same so-called "water budget". Has Earth gained or lost water from comets and meteorites? Has water ...

Mar 06, 2012 09:14 AM EST

Insight: Papua New Guinea Mountain Disaster Questions Exxon

A deadly landslide in the mountains of Papua New Guinea, near where U.S. oil major Exxon Mobil is building a $15.7 billion gas project, is raising fresh questions about the global energy industry's scramble for ever harder-to-reach resources.

Mar 06, 2012 07:01 AM EST

Scientists See Rise in Tornado-creating Conditions

When at least 80 tornadoes rampaged across the United States, from the Midwest to the Gulf of Mexico, last Friday, it was more than is typically observed during the entire month of March, tracking firm AccuWeather.com reported on Monday.

Mar 05, 2012 04:31 PM EST

Pond Hockey Heats Up

Would Wayne Gretzky have blossomed into the Great One had he not honed his skills on a backyard rink as a kid? It's a good thing that he grew up before global warming began wreaking havoc with our weather because the days of a game of shinny on that frozen pond are numbered.

Mar 05, 2012 03:34 PM EST

New Report Questions Hard-edged 'Living Shorelines' in Estuaries

The increasing use of large breakwaters and other hard structures to reduce erosion in "living shorelines" along coastal estuaries may be no better for the environment than the ecologically harmful bulkheads they were designed to replace, according to a report this week by scientists at Duke and Wes...

Mar 05, 2012 03:12 PM EST

UN Scientists Warn of Increased Groundwater Demands Due to Climate Change

Climate change has been studied extensively, but a new body of research guided by a San Francisco State University hydrologist looks beneath the surface of the phenomenon and finds that climate change will put particular strain on one of our most important natural resources: groundwater. SF State...

Mar 05, 2012 02:22 PM EST

SRS Publishes Global Change Research Strategy

In March 2012, the Southern Research Station (SRS) published the Southern Research Station Global Change Research Strategy, 2011-2019, a Science Update that outlines SRS research priorities over the next decade in relation to climate change. Southern forests are invaluable, providing essential go...

Mar 05, 2012 01:53 PM EST

1 Year After Fukushima

The Fukushima disaster happened one year ago â€“ the impacts are not over yet, neither in Japan nor in Germany. Immediately after the reactor accident became known, KIT established working groups that are still processing scientific findings for the public. Meanwhile, the KIT Energy Center is s...

Mar 05, 2012 11:28 AM EST

Warming of 2 Degrees Inevitable Over Canada

Even if zero emissions of greenhouse gases were to be achieved, the world's temperature would continue to rise by about a quarter of a degree over a decade. That's a best-case scenario, according to a paper co-written by a Simon Fraser University researcher.

Mar 05, 2012 09:52 AM EST

Sand Layer Plays a Key Role in Protecting the Underlying Permafrost in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The permafrost is degrading, and at the same time, the desertification is also developing at the surface of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, under the condition of global warming. Sand layer is accelerated permafrost degradation or protecting permafrost? No significant conclusions have been drawn currently. S...