Nature & Environment : Science World Report

Apr 02, 2012 10:19 AM EDT

Corals 'Could Survive a More Acidic Ocean'

Corals may be better placed to cope with the gradual acidification of the world's oceans than previously thought - giving rise to hopes that coral reefs might escape climatic devastation.

Apr 02, 2012 07:27 AM EDT

Expert Task Force Recommends Halving Global Fishing for Crucial Prey Species

Fishing for herring, anchovy, and other "forage fish" in general should be cut in half globally to account for their critical role as food for larger species, recommends an expert group of marine scientists in a report released today.

Apr 02, 2012 07:22 AM EDT

British Greenhouse Gas Emissions Down 7 Percent in 2011

Britain's greenhouse gas emissions fell 7 percent in 2011, putting one of the European Union's biggest emitters further ahead of its internationally binding target under the Kyoto Protocol, provisional government data showed on Thursday.

Apr 02, 2012 07:12 AM EDT

Japan's Quake Defenses not Enough, Official Reports Warn

Japan's defenses against a major tsunami and the safety of its nuclear plants were thrown into further doubt after two official studies predicted much higher waves could hit and that Tokyo quake damage could be bigger than it was prepared for.

Apr 02, 2012 07:00 AM EDT

Analysis: Young U.S. Farmers Coax Crops from Conservation Lands

North Dakota farmer Justin Zahradka will plant wheat this spring on 40 acres that has been off-limits for two decades, protected by a government conservation program that is shrinking as high crop prices make farmland more valuable.

Mar 31, 2012 09:44 PM EDT

Stanford Global Climate and Energy Project Awards $8.4 Million for Innovative energy Research

The Global Climate and Energy Project (GCEP) at Stanford University has awarded $8.4 million to seven Stanford research teams to develop new technologies that could significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Mar 31, 2012 09:36 PM EDT

Some Corals Like it Hot: Heat Stress May Help Coral Reefs Survive Climate Change

A team of international scientists working in the central Pacific have discovered that coral which has survived heat stress in the past is more likely to survive it in the future.

Mar 31, 2012 09:20 PM EDT

Major Quake Impact on Tokyo Could be Worse than Thought: Study

The impact on Tokyo from a major quake could be much more devastating than the government has predicted, a new study shows.

Mar 31, 2012 09:09 PM EDT

Russia's Pacific Sakhalin Island Braces for Blizzard

Russia's Emergencies Ministry said on Saturday it expected blizzards and high winds to batter the northern parts of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands on Sunday, an area that is home to international oil and gas projects.

Mar 30, 2012 04:18 PM EDT

Planet under Pressure Conference, London: Final Statement

Scientists issued the first "State of the Planet" declaration at a major gathering of experts on global environmental and social issues in advance of the major UN Summit Rio+20 in June.

Mar 30, 2012 12:20 PM EDT

Declines in Caribbean Coral Reefs Pre-date Damage Resulting from Climate Change

The decline of Caribbean coral reefs has been linked to the recent effects of human-induced climate change. However, new research led by scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego suggests an even earlier cause. The bad news â€“ humans are still to blame. The good news â...

Mar 30, 2012 11:45 AM EDT

True Economic Measure Includes Natural Assets: Scientists

Traditional measures showing strong economic growth in Brazil and India over nearly two decades fail to take account of the depletion of their natural resources, scientists and economists at a climate conference said on Wednesday.