Earthweek - A Diary of the Planet

Hungry Ravens Go On Killing Sprees Across Britain

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:20:57 CDT

Earthweek - May 9, 2008
The large birds, which are protected across the nation, have left many small farm animals still alive and in agony after having eaten their eyes, tongues and soft underbellies.

Listening for Whales to Prevent Ship Collisions

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:20:12 CDT

Earthweek - May 9, 2008
A new underwater acoustic system positioned around Boston Harbor is expected to help prevent collisions between North Atlantic right whales and the passing ships that often kill the marine mammals.

Chile Eruption - NASA Photo of the Week

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:18:04 CDT

Earthweek - May 9, 2008
When the spacecraft passed over southern South America at 3:15 p.m. Argentina time, the long plume of ash from Chaiten was clearly visible blowing hundreds of miles to the east over Patagonia and the coastal waters of Argentina.

Cyclone Nargis Inflicts Record Destruction on Myanmar

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:15:10 CDT

Earthweek - May 9, 2008
As many as 100,000 people may have perished across southern Myanmar (Burma) as Cyclone Nargis roared through the countrys Irrawaddy Delta and main city of Yangon.

Mass Evacuations As Chilean Volcano Spews Ash

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:13:43 CDT

Earthweek - May 9, 2008
Entire populations of towns and smaller outposts in remote southern Chile were evacuated due to a massive Andean eruption that blanketed the region with a thick coating of toxic ash.

China Launches Olympic Effort to Fight Disease

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:10:46 CDT

Earthweek - May 9, 2008
Chinese officials say they are launching a massive public hygiene program to battle a recent viral outbreak that has killed 30 children, as well as to curb the spread of any other diseases prior to this summers Beijing Olympic Games.

Pre-Monsoon Heat Kills 6 in Pakistan

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:09:54 CDT

Earthweek - May 9, 2008
The Indian subcontinents annual stretch of pre-monsoon heat has killed at least six people in Pakistan, where temperatures soared to 118 degrees Fahrenheit during the first week of May.

Offshore Quake Injures 6 in Eastern Japan

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:04:35 CDT

Earthweek - May 9, 2008
Six people were slightly injured when a strong offshore quake jolted a broad stretch of eastern Japan's Kanto region early Thursday morning.

Tropical Storm Rammasun Strengthens In Western Pacific

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:03:01 CDT

Earthweek - May 9, 2008
Forecasters predicted that Rammasun would rapidly attain typhoon force by the weekend as it drifted slowly north-northeastward over the Pacific Ocean.

Global Temperature Extremes

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:02:17 CDT

Earthweek - May 9, 2008
The world's hottest and coldest temperatures of the week.

Who's Watching Whom?

Thu, 01 May 2008 21:56:07 CDT

Earthweek - May 2, 2008
Researchers in Britain have discovered birds can be aware that humans are watching them, and will alter their behavior when being gazed at.

Cloud Streets - NASA Image of the Week

Thu, 01 May 2008 21:53:56 CDT

Earthweek - May 2, 2008
The cloud streets clearly seen in this Aqua satellite photo are swirls in the marine stratocumulus clouds caused by wind-terrain interaction.

Pesticide Kills Kenyan Hippos - Paralyzes Lions

Thu, 01 May 2008 21:52:18 CDT

Earthweek - May 2, 2008
A leading wildlife group is demanding that a highly toxic pesticide be banned across Kenya after five hippopotamuses in the world-famous Masai Mara National Park died from poisoning, and four lions that fed on their bodies became paralyzed.

Brief Reprieve From Global Warming Predicted

Thu, 01 May 2008 21:50:34 CDT

Earthweek - May 2, 2008
A new study by German researchers indicates that there will be a respite from global warming through the year 2015 before worldwide temperatures resume the upward trend predicted by most of the worlds climate experts.

Greenhouse Gases Overwhelming Earth's 'Thermostat'

Thu, 01 May 2008 21:48:43 CDT

Earthweek - May 2, 2008
Scientists from Hawaii and California say they have discovered that human activity has overwhelmed an eons-old mechanism that Earth uses to keep the atmospheres carbon dioxide (CO2) content in balance.

Bay of Bengal Cyclone Nargis Takes Aim on Myanmar (Burma)

Thu, 01 May 2008 21:47:22 CDT

Earthweek - May 2, 2008
An area of disturbed weather over the western Bay of Bengal intensified into potentially dangerous Tropical Cyclone Nargis.

Viral Outbreak Kills 20 Children in Eastern China

Thu, 01 May 2008 21:45:45 CDT

Earthweek - May 2, 2008
Delayed reports from eastern China say that nearly 2,000 children have been sickened by a severe form of hand-foot-mouth disease that has also killed at least 20 youths.

More Than 100 Injured in Iran Quake

Thu, 01 May 2008 21:44:54 CDT

Earthweek - May 2, 2008
A sharp earthquake striking just before dawn on Thursday injured more than 100 people in the western Iranian city of Boroujerd, according to state media.

Two-Month Quake Swarm Raises Alarm in Reno

Thu, 01 May 2008 21:43:45 CDT

Earthweek - May 2, 2008
Residents just west of Reno, Nevada, are on edge due to a string of earthquakes, which have increased in intensity since February.

Sharp Quake Jolts Southern Mexico

Thu, 01 May 2008 21:40:02 CDT

Earthweek - May 2, 2008
A moderate earthquake startled tourists in Acapulco as well as residents in other areas of southwestern Mexico on Sunday evening, but there were no reports of any injuries or damage.

Global Temperature Extremes

Thu, 01 May 2008 21:38:48 CDT

Earthweek - May 2, 2008
The world's hottest and coldest temperatures of the week.

Tokyo After Dark - NASA Astranaut Photo

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:44:46 CDT

Earthweek - April 25, 2008
At night, intricate details of humankinds imprint on the face of planet Earth can clearly be seen from space. This image is of metropolitan Tokyo.

Gibraltar to Kill Troublesome Troop of 25 Monkeys

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:43:58 CDT

Earthweek - April 25, 2008
A troop of about 25 of Gibraltars famed wild monkeys will be culled because the government there says they threaten human health in one of the British territorys most popular tourist areas.

Powerful Ocean Storms Increasing - Seismic Proof Discovered

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:41:31 CDT

Earthweek - April 25, 2008
Tiny squiggles on seismographs once thought to be only background noise in the data have been discovered to actually be the seismic records of large ocean waves crashing onto shorelines worldwide. Scientists in New Mexico have recently discovered that these microseisms have increased over the past three decades.

Jet Streams Shifting Poleward With Climate Change

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:39:45 CDT

Earthweek - April 25, 2008
Rivers of air that are the guiding force for weather in half of the planet have shifted toward the poles during the past few decades possibly in response to global warming, scientists say.

Massive Fires Blanket Buenos Aires in Smoke

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:38:54 CDT

Earthweek - April 25, 2008
Huge brush fires ignited by Argentine cattle ranchers and farmers created a vast pall of smoke that choked residents downwind in Buenos Aires and the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo.

Typhoon Neoguri Kills 3 in South China

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:38:11 CDT

Earthweek - April 25, 2008
Three people were confirmed dead in southern China's Guangdong province from mud flows and strong winds brought by Typhoon Neoguri.

Tropical Storm 27P Churns the South Pacific

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:37:17 CDT

Earthweek - April 25, 2008
Tropical Storm 27P formed just south of the Solomon Islands then brought beneficial rainfall to the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu as it weakened offshore.

Tropical Storms Durga and Rosie Form Off Indonesia

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:36:37 CDT

Earthweek - April 25, 2008
Two separate areas of disturbed weather to the south of Indonesia's Java and Sumatra islands formed into tropical storms Durga and Rosie within a two-day period.

Video - Alerts Issued For Two Indonesian Volcanoes

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:34:40 CDT

Earthweek - April 25, 2008
Indonesia raised the alert level for two of its volcanoes after both showed signs of increased activity.

Aftershocks Rattle Southeastern Illinois

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:33:19 CDT

Earthweek - April 25, 2008
A strong aftershock shook southeastern Illinois on Monday, three days after a magnitude 5.2 quake rattled the region and 20 other states. One farmers blames unusual egg production on the shaking.

Offshore Quake Causes Panic in Southeast Brazil

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:31:50 CDT

Earthweek - April 25, 2008
A moderate earthquake centered off Brazils southeastern coast caused high-rise buildings in Sao Paulo and other cities to rock, sending frightened residents fleeing into the streets on Tuesday evening.

Global Temperature Extremes

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:28:04 CDT

Earthweek - April 25, 2008
The world's hottest and coldest temperatures of the week.

NASA Photo of the Week

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:34:47 CDT

Earthweek - April 18, 2008
The western half of the Saudi Arabian Peninsula contains not only large expanses of sand and gravel, but also extensive lava fields known as harrat.

Biofuel Production Causing 'Crisis of Humanity'

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:33:41 CDT

Earthweek - April 18, 2008
Food riots in several poor nations during the past month have U.N. and other officials arguing that the growing diversion of grain harvest from food to ethanol fuel is causing a global food crisis.

World's Oldest Tree Found in Sweden

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:32:26 CDT

Earthweek - April 18, 2008
Swedish scientists say they have discovered a tree that is nearly 10,000 years old, making it the oldest living tree ever discovered on the planet.

Swiss Committee Say Killing Plants Can Be 'Morally Wrong'

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:31:13 CDT

Earthweek - April 18, 2008
A Swiss federal committee raised eyebrows in both the scientific and religious communities by professing that plants deserve respect, and that killing them arbitrarily is morally wrong.

Malodorous Invader Threatens Swiss Fruit Trees

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:30:01 CDT

Earthweek - April 18, 2008
A Southeast Asia agricultural pest with an extremely unpleasant aroma has invaded Europe for the first time on record.

Typhoon Neoguri Nears Southern China

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:27:51 CDT

Earthweek - April 18, 2008
The seasons first tropical cyclone in the northwestern Pacific basin this year formed from an area of disturbed weather over the western Philippines.

Colombian Volcano Spews Hot Ash

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:27:03 CDT

Earthweek - April 18, 2008
Thousands of people fled their homes in western Colombia as Nevado del Huila volcano erupted with a shower of hot ash that fell on nearby houses and farms.

Mild Tremor Shakes Rome and Nearby Hills

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:26:08 CDT

Earthweek - April 18, 2008
Italian authorities say a mild earthquake shook the Alban Hills southeast of Rome very early on Saturday morning, but no injuries or damage were reported.

Strong Quake Jolts Parts of Central America

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:25:20 CDT

Earthweek - April 18, 2008
A long stretch of Guatemalas and El Salvadors Pacific coastal strip were jolted by a 6.1 magnitude quake on Monday, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Sharp Quake Jolts Far Southern New Zealand

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:22:40 CDT

Earthweek - April 18, 2008
Parts of New Zealands Fiordland region were shaken soundly on Sunday afternoon by a 5.3 magnitude quake centered just off the coast.

Global Temperature Extremes

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:18:56 CDT

Earthweek - April 18, 2008
The world's hottest and coldest temperatures of the week.

Cold Autumn Dampness Kills Thousands of South African Birds

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:54:26 CDT

Earthweek - April 11, 2008
A shift to unseasonably cold and damp weather during late March appears to be the main reason tens of thousands of swallows died suddenly in one South African province.

NASA Photo of the Week

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:50:57 CDT

Earthweek - April 11, 2008
When NASA's Terra satellite passed over the Hawaiian Islands at 1:55 p.m. local time on Tuesday, it captured this image, clearly showing the volcanic smog, or vog, blowing across parts of Hilo toward the neighboring island of Maui.

Natural Clay Can Help Heal "Superbug" Infections

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:48:22 CDT

Earthweek - April 11, 2008
Researchers from Arizona say they have literally unearthed a natural way to fight deadly superbug infections by administering a compound used for thousands of years as a remedy for infected wounds and other health problems.

2008 Likely to Be a Cooler Year Globally

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:47:06 CDT

Earthweek - April 11, 2008
The head of the United Nations weather agency says that the current La Nina ocean cooling in the Pacific will cause global temperatures to be lower this year than in 2007, bucking a trend toward increased planetary warmth.

Toxic Volcanic Gas Forces Hawaii Evacuations

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:46:03 CDT

Earthweek - April 11, 2008
Plumes of toxic gas billowing from Hawaiis Kilauea volcano prompted officials to evacuate about 2,000 people from the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Late Winter Keeps Maple Sap Frozen in Canadian Trees

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:43:54 CDT

Earthweek - April 11, 2008
A lingering freeze and heavy snow pack over eastern Canada have delayed maple syrup producers from tapping into the stream of liquid gold that usually flows each spring.

Severe Hailstorm Kills 6 in Central China

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:35:19 CDT

Earthweek - April 11, 2008
A freak hailstorm that lasted less than an hour killed at least eight people and injured 66 others in Chinas Hubei province.

Year's Strongest Quake Strikes South Pacific

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:26:44 CDT

Earthweek - April 11, 2008
Geologists were closely monitoring parts of the South Pacific after seven strong earthquakes struck in quick succession overnight Wednesday.

Moderate Quake Strikes Northern Sumatra

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:23:27 CDT

Earthweek - April 11, 2008
Seismically active Sumatra was jolted by another tremor on Saturday morning with residents on the northern tip of the Indonesian island reporting that the shaking could be felt for nearly 10 minutes.

Rare Texas Earthquake Shakes State's South

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:12:48 CDT

Earthweek - April 11, 2008
A mild tremor shook an area between San Antonio and the Gulf of Mexico before dawn on Monday, but there were no reports of any damage or injuries.

Global Temperature Extremes

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:11:57 CDT

Earthweek - April 11, 2008
The world's hottest and coldest temperatures of the week.

Red Foxes Made an Astounding European Recovery

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:42:04 CDT

Earthweek - April 4, 2008
Central Europes wily red fox is making a dramatic comeback from the verge of extinction due to the disappearance of nearly all of its natural enemies.

NASA Photo of the Week

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:41:05 CDT

Earthweek - April 4, 2008
Strong winds blowing off the Sahara Desert in late March carried a massive cloud of sand more than 1,500 miles (2,400 km) northward across the Mediterranean and Black Seas into southern Russia.

The Wild West Getting Hotter and Drier

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:40:13 CDT

Earthweek - April 4, 2008
Some areas of the arid American West have warmed at twice the global average over the past five years in a trend that could threaten the water supply for more than 30 million people from Denver to Los Angeles.

Ebola Vaccine Aiming For Human Trials

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:39:08 CDT

Earthweek - April 4, 2008
A team of American and Canadian researchers say they have successfully tested several Ebola vaccines in monkeys and are attempting to create one that will protect humans from one of the worlds deadliest diseases.

Tides To Power 1,000 Northern Ireland Homes

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:37:38 CDT

Earthweek - April 4, 2008
The worlds largest marine turbine, designed to generate electricity from the force of the tides, was installed in a narrow channel between the Northern Ireland villages of Portaferry and Strangford.

Ecuadorian Storms Bring Further Flood Misery

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:36:39 CDT

Earthweek - April 4, 2008
Severe Andean rainstorms brought further damage to Ecuador, where the worst flooding there in a decade has killed 47 people and damaged crops and infrastructure so farw this year.

Kamchatka Peninsula Volcano Rumbles

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:35:42 CDT

Earthweek - April 4, 2008
Far East Russias Karymsky volcano produced nearly 100 tremors within a single day, ejecting toxic ash and other volcanic debris high into the sky above the Kamchatka Peninsula.

Moderate Quake Wrecks Northwest China Homes

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:34:44 CDT

Earthweek - April 4, 2008
More than a thousand homes in northwest Chinas Gansu province were damaged by a moderate earthquake that rocked the region on Sunday.

Quake Jolts Southern Sumatra

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:31:18 CDT

Earthweek - April 4, 2008
A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck the western coast of Indonesia's quake-weary Sumatra Island on Wednesday, but there were no reports of injuries or damage.

Global Temperature Extremes

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:40:54 CDT

Earthweek - April 4, 2008
The world's hottest and coldest temperatures of the week.

Hungry Scandinavian Finches Invade Great Britain

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:34:54 CDT

Earthweek - March 28, 2008
A brilliant Scandinavian finch rarely seen in Britains backyard gardens has been driven across the North Sea by a shortage of food in its usual habitat.

Rodents Discovered to Be Smart Enough to Use Tools

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:33:49 CDT

Earthweek - March 28, 2008
A highly social, intelligent rodent native to the highlands of Chile has been trained to use a tool and understand its function, challenging earlier beliefs that only primates and birds are smart enough to do so.

Warming Causes Antarctic Ice Shelf to Shatter

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:31:20 CDT

Earthweek - March 28, 2008
Satellite images taken during late February and March have revealed that Antarcticas massive Wilkins Ice Shelf is collapsing due to climate change on the most rapidly warming part of the continent.

NASA Photo of the Week

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:30:20 CDT

Earthweek - March 28, 2008
ncreased activity during much of March at Hawaiis Kilauea volcano released a plume of ash and steam that was carried away from the Big Island by prevailing trade winds.

Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano Heats Up

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:29:18 CDT

Earthweek - March 28, 2008
Scientists say that recent changes deep within Hawaiis Kilauea volcano appear to be responsible for the first expulsion of lava out of the volcanos Halemaumau crater since 1982.

Dengue Outbreak Causes Health Crisis in Rio de Janeiro

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:28:16 CDT

Earthweek - March 28, 2008
Health authorities in Brazils Rio de Janeiro state confirmed that an outbreak of dengue fever is spreading at the rate of one new infection every minute.

Cyclone Lola Churs Western Indian Ocean

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:27:29 CDT

Earthweek - March 28, 2008
An area of disturbed weather over the western Indian Ocean formed into the latest in a series of tropical cyclones to affect the region.

Cyclone Pancho Takes Aim on Australia

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:26:28 CDT

Earthweek - March 28, 2008
An area of disturbed weather just south of Sumatra formed into Cyclone Pancho and gradually strengthened to Category 2 force on the Saffir-Simpson scale by Wednesday morning local time.

Cyclone 24P Kills Two In New Caledonia

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:25:18 CDT

Earthweek - March 28, 2008
Tropical Cyclone 24P attained only minimal tropical storm strength just before striking northern New Caledonia, but still triggered flooding deep enough to kill two people on the French South Pacific territory.

Earthquake Swarm Wrecks Western China Homes

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:24:09 CDT

Earthweek - March 28, 2008
A 7.3 magnitude temblor and hundreds of strong aftershocks caused extensive damage to property in western Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region over a 4-day period, according to state media.

Western Iran Jolted by Two Separate Tremors

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:20:23 CDT

Earthweek - March 28, 2008
A sharp earthquake in northwestern Irans Ardabil province wrecked dozens of homes on Sunday while a stronger quake in southwest Irans Khuzestan province three days later caused no significant damage.

Global Temperature Extremes

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:17:23 CDT

Earthweek - March 28, 2008
The world's hottest and coldest temperatures of the week.

Birds 'Power Nap' To Overcome Sleep Loss

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:51:11 CDT

Earthweek - March 21, 2008
German researchers say they have observed birds using the same technique as humans to compensate for sleep loss power napping.

NASA Photo of the Week

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:50:20 CDT

Earthweek - March 21, 2008
In a new NASA study, researchers took advantage of improvements in satellite sensor capabilities to offer the first measurement-based estimate of the amount of pollution from East Asian forest fires, urban exhaust, and industrial production that makes it to the Pacific coast of North America.

Wintertime Arctic Ice Coverage Increases

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:48:53 CDT

Earthweek - March 21, 2008
NASA scientists say that harsh, frigid conditions over the Arctic Ocean this winter have created a polar ice cap that was larger during February than a year earlier.

Toxic Fumes Threaten Hawaii Volcano Area

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:47:39 CDT

Earthweek - March 21, 2008
A new gas vent from Kilauea volcano threatens to send a cloud of toxic sulfur dioxide gas into the small community of Volcano, on the edge of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Iceland Planning New Whale Hunt While Japan Hunts On

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:46:13 CDT

Earthweek - March 21, 2008
The BBC reports that an Icelandic official has confirmed that the country is likely to issue a quota to kill about 100 minke whales over the upcoming North Atlantic summer.

Massive Antarctic Iceberg Disintegrates in South Atlantic

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:42:35 CDT

Earthweek - March 21, 2008
A huge iceberg that broke off the Antarctic Peninsulas Larsen Ice Shelf nearly three years ago has begun to disintegrate over the past three months in response to warmer ocean temperatures encountered while drifting northward.

Pacific Salmon Disappear in California and Oregon

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:42:31 CDT

Earthweek - March 21, 2008
The largest collapse of Pacific salmon stocks on record may be due to unusual ocean conditions or the diversion of river flow for agriculture and the arid cities of Southern California, according to competing views from conservation groups and government agencies.

Tremors Jolt Southeastern Australia

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:40:38 CDT

Earthweek - March 21, 2008
Australias New South Wales city of Dubbo was jolted by a short sequence of three tremors that moved lounge furniture and shook windows.

Quake Swarm Causes Alarm in the Philippines

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:39:33 CDT

Earthweek - March 21, 2008
A swarm of tremors on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao caused cracks to appear in the ground and generated fear throughout the Malasila Valley.

Mild Tremor Rattles West-Central Iran

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:38:08 CDT

Earthweek - March 21, 2008
Parts of west-central Iran were jolted by a relatively mild tremor on Wednesday, but there were no reports of damage or injuries.

Global Temperature Extremes

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:32:51 CDT

Earthweek - March 21, 2008
The world's hottest and coldest temperatures of the week.

Dolphin Rescues Two Stranded Whales

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:21:11 CDT

Earthweek - March 14, 2008
Wildlife officials in New Zealand say they are amazed at what may be the first documented case of a dolphin rescuing stranded whales and guiding them back to open water.

Elephants Block Sri Lankan Election Station

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:19:42 CDT

Earthweek - March 14, 2008
Residents of one Sri Lankan village were prevented from casting their first vote in 14 years not by Tamil Tiger rebels, but by a herd of wild elephants that blocked the road to the polling booths.

China's Greenhouse Emissions Growing More Than Twice Earlier Estimates

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:17:51 CDT

Earthweek - March 14, 2008
A new study says that the growth in Chinas carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is far outpacing earlier estimates, making the goal of stabilizing atmospheric greenhouse gases much more difficult.

Cyclone Jokwe Kills 10 in Mozambique

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:15:57 CDT

Earthweek - March 14, 2008
High winds and flash flooding from Cyclone Jokwe killed at least 10 people and destroyed more than 10,000 homes along the coast of Mozambique.

NASA Photo of the Week

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:14:28 CDT

Earthweek - March 14, 2008
International Space Station astronauts orbiting above Africa on February 5, 2008, were provided with a clear view of one of the atmospheres most impressive structures a massive anvil cloud capping a cluster of cumulonimbus clouds.

Wheat Fungus Threatens International Food Crisis

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:12:45 CDT

Earthweek - March 14, 2008
A wheat-killing fungus that emerged in East Africa nearly 10 years ago has been spread by winds into the Saudi Peninsula and South Asia, where it threatens to bring about a food shortage.

Large Spill Pollutes Ecuador's Amazon Region

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:11:30 CDT

Earthweek - March 14, 2008
Environmental damage from a huge oil spill caused by a landslide in eastern Ecuadors Amazon region could take a year to clean up, according to the state-owned oil company Petroecuador.

Sharp Quake Damages Buildings in Eastern Iran

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:07:23 CDT

Earthweek - March 14, 2008
Iranian officials say that numerous buildings sustained damage or cracking from a 5.1 magnitude quake that struck the countrys far eastern province of South Khorassan on Sunday morning.

Global Temperature Extremes

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:53:53 CDT

Earthweek - March 14, 2008
The world's hottest and coldest temperatures of the week.

Spain Warns Mediterranean Bathers of Jellyfish Swarms

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:00:09 CST

Earthweek - March 7, 2008
Spanish authorities warned those heading to the countrys Mediterranean coast that massive swarms of jellyfish are likely to cause a hazard to bathers this summer, even in the shallow waters near shore.

NASA Photo of the Week

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:57:09 CST

Earthweek - March 7, 2008
Late-summer heat in southern Argentinas Patagonia region fanned terrifying wildfires that blackened thousands of acres in Los Alerces National Park during the last week in February.

Lava Flow Returns to Hawaiian Neighborhood

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:56:06 CST

Earthweek - March 7, 2008
Three long-abandoned houses in a nearly deserted neighborhood on Hawaiis Big Island were destroyed by lava from Kilauea volcano.

Cyclone Jokwe Skirts Madagascar

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:54:53 CST

Earthweek - March 7, 2008
An area of disturbed weather over the western Indian Ocean rapidly formed into Tropical Cyclone Jokwe on Wednesday.

Cyclone Ophelia Skirts Northwest Australia

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:46:39 CST

Earthweek - March 7, 2008
Tropical Cyclone Ophelia briefly attained hurricane force as it passed well off the coast of northwestern Australia.

Blizzards Threaten Chinese Wildlife with Starvation

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:40:58 CST

Earthweek - March 7, 2008
The most severe winter conditions in 50 years across parts of China have blocked the feeding paths of many wild animals, according to officials.

Vast Clouds of Toxic Sand Choke Korea and Japan

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:36:01 CST

Earthweek - March 7, 2008
A massive cloud of yellow sand blew from China into parts of South Korea and Japan, forcing schools to close and creating a health hazard, according to officials.

Flames Spurt from Java Mud Volcano

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:17:55 CST

Earthweek - March 7, 2008
The massive "mud volcano" disaster in Indonesia's East Java province has taken on a new and potentially deadly aspect bursts of gas that threaten to ignite into flames near those still living in the area.

Global Temperature Extremes

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:02:02 CST

Earthweek - March 7, 2008
The world's hottest and coldest temperatures of the week.

NASA Photo of the Week

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:04:59 CST

Earthweek - February 29, 2008
Despite the bitterly cold temperatures that have prevailed across the northern Great Plains and Great Lakes for much of February, vast areas of Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and Lake Huron remain free of lake ice.

Fishing Causes the Meek To Inherit the Sea

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:03:08 CST

Earthweek - February 29, 2008
Industrialized fishing operations worldwide are leaving behind a population of timid fish less able to breed and maintain their habitat, according to a new study by Australian and Canadian researchers.

South Africa to Resume Culling Elephants

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:01:34 CST

Earthweek - February 29, 2008
South African wildlife officials say they will be forced to begin culling the countrys elephants later this year as the last available option to control a population expanding out of control.

Antarctic Glacial Surge Alarms Researchers

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:00:19 CST

Earthweek - February 29, 2008
Researchers from the British Antarctic Survey say they have discovered that a group of glaciers covering an area the size of Texas has begun to flow into the ocean at an accelerated rate during the past year. They warn that if the trend were to continue, sea level could rise worldwide by nearly 10 inches over a period of several decades.

Sumatran Smoke Arrives Early

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:59:12 CST

Earthweek - February 29, 2008
The annual pall of smoke from illegal land-clearing fires on Sumatra has spread to neighboring Malaysia and Singapore four months earlier than usual, environmental authorities warned.

Severe Flooding Worsens in Ecuador

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:55:51 CST

Earthweek - February 29, 2008
Weeks of ongoing downpours have created the worst flooding disaster to strike Ecuador in a decade.

Tropical Cyclone Hondo's Second Life

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:53:57 CST

Earthweek - February 29, 2008
Remnants of former Cyclone Hondo moved westward over the Indian Ocean, coalescing several days later into a reconstituted storm.

Tremor Wrecks Buildings in Quake-Weary Sumatra Region

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:52:48 CST

Earthweek - February 29, 2008
A 7.2 magnitude quake struck off the west coast of Indonesia's Sumatra island Monday, damaging more than 160 buildings and briefly triggering a tsunami alert. There were no reports of injuries.

Quake Topples Chimneys in Britain

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:50:39 CST

Earthweek - February 29, 2008
The strongest seismic event to rock the United Kingdom in nearly 25 years caused light damage from Scotland to Englands southern coast early Wednesday.

Global Temperature Extremes

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:49:03 CST

Earthweek - February 29, 2008
The world's hottest and coldest temperatures of the week.

Goldfish Memory Proven to Last At Least a Week

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:26:23 CST

Earthweek - February 22, 2008
An Australian teenager has busted the myth that goldfish have only a three-second memory, proving that they have mental capacities to learn and remember complex concepts and retain knowledge for at least six days.

Neither Hide Nor Hare Found in Yellowstone

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:26:18 CST

Earthweek - February 22, 2008
A new study by the Wildlife Conservation Society has found that jack rabbits living in and around Yellowstone National Park have apparently hopped into oblivion over the past few decades.

Cyclone Ivan Kills 11 on Madagascar

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:19:48 CST

Earthweek - February 22, 2008
HIgh winds and flash flooding from Cyclone Ivan pummeled the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar on Sunday, killing at least 11 people and leaving hundreds of others homeless.

Migrating Birds Missing In Brutal Chinese Winter

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:19:04 CST

Earthweek - February 22, 2008
The coldest Chinese winter in decades, which has caused widespread misery to the human population since mid-January, also appears to be responsible for the disappearance of more than 100,000 migratory birds in the east of the country, according to state media.

Cyclone Nicholas Drenches Northwest Australia

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:18:17 CST

Earthweek - February 22, 2008
Cyclone Nicholas brought beneficial rainfall to the northwestern tip of Australia without inflicting significant wind damage.

NASA Photo of the Week

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:17:52 CST

Earthweek - February 22, 2008
When the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) orbiting on NASAs Terra satellite passed overhead, it caught this view of a column of ash from a recent eruption seemingly frozen in the air over the mountain.

Locusts threaten to swarm the Horn of Africa

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:16:48 CST

Earthweek - February 22, 2008
A gathering swarm of desert locusts threatens to devour crops from the Saudi Peninsula and Horn of Africa southward to Kenya in the coming months, according to an advisory from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Yellow Fever Spreads Across South America

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:15:37 CST

Earthweek - February 22, 2008
Seven cases of yellow fever have been confirmed in Paraguay in what the World Health Organization (WHO) says is the countrys first outbreak in 34 years.

Nevada Quake Wrecks Buildings

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:14:48 CST

Earthweek - February 22, 2008
A broad area of the Nevada Desert and Great Salt Lake were soundly rocked on Thursday morning by a 6.0 magnitude quake that caused buildings to collapse and gas and water lines to rupture near the epicenter in northeastern Nevada.

West Sumatra Quake Kills Three

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:13:16 CST

Earthweek - February 22, 2008
A powerful 7.4 magnitude temblor centered off quake-prone western Sumatra killed three people and seriously injured 25 others on Wednesday afternoon.

Global Temperature Extremes

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:12:34 CST

Earthweek - February 22, 2008
The world's hottest and coldest temperatures of the week.

A Blossoming of Rats Plagues Bangladesh

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:43:15 CST

Earthweek - February 15, 2008
The first flowering of southeast Bangladeshs bamboo forests in 50 years has led to a plague of rats that has destroyed crops and brought the region to the brink of famine.

NASA Photo of the Week

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:42:23 CST

Earthweek - February 15, 2008
The image to the right shows how much surface temperatures have deviated from normal, with the deepest blues indicating where the cold weather has been the most abnormal.

Severe Winter Devastates China's Forests

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:41:10 CST

Earthweek - February 15, 2008
Freak January snow and freezing temperatures that paralyzed many parts of China in January also damaged or destroyed one-tenth of the countrys forests, according to state media.

La Nina to Impact World Weather for Months to Come

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:39:14 CST

Earthweek - February 15, 2008
The La Nina ocean-cooling in the tropical Pacific is likely to linger for a few more months, bringing further global weather disruptions, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

Iberian Drought Sparks Water Concerns

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:38:19 CST

Earthweek - February 15, 2008
The driest winter across parts of the Iberian Peninsula since 1917 has created such acute water shortages that cities such as Barcelona are drawing up a drastic plan to import drinking water by ship from Marseilles, in southern France, if spring rains fail to arrive.

Another Wave of Heavy Rain Swamps Southern Africa

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:37:17 CST

Earthweek - February 15, 2008
Torrential rainfall across southern Africa from Mozambique to Angola has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people and prompted the U.N. to seek international funding for emergency relief efforts.

Cyclone Nicholas Threatens Northwestern Australia

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:34:45 CST

Earthweek - February 15, 2008
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a cyclone alert for Western Australias Kimberley and Pilbara coasts as Cyclone Nicholas showed signs of moving toward the remote region.

Cyclones Ivan and Hondo Churn Indian Ocean

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:34:01 CST

Earthweek - February 15, 2008
Two moderate tropical cyclones passed over the open waters of the Indian Ocean without affecting any significant land areas.

Rumbling Philippine Volcano Concerns Officials

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:33:10 CST

Earthweek - February 15, 2008
Increased activity within the central Philippines Kanlaon volcano prompted officials to put nearby areas under alert, meaning that the mountain could expel blasts of steam and ash at any time.

East Africa Quake Kills One

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:32:14 CST

Earthweek - February 15, 2008
The second powerful earthquake to strike East Africa in less than two weeks brought down houses, killing one woman, and left at least 60 other people injured along the Democratic Republic of Congo-Rwanda border region on Thursday.

Two Strong Quakes Shake Opposite Ends of Mexico

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:30:59 CST

Earthweek - February 15, 2008
A moderate quake that knocked out power along the U.S.-California border late Friday evening Feb. 8 was followed four days later by a stronger temblor that caused minor damage in the south of the country.

Global Temperature Extremes

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:30:21 CST

Earthweek - February 15, 2008
The world's hottest and coldest temperatures of the week.

NASA Photo of the Week

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:50:14 CST

Earthweek - February 8, 2008
The tip of the Antarctic Peninsula underwent some dramatic seasonal changes within only a few days during late January. In this image, captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer orbiting aboard NASAs Terra satellite, sea ice anchored to the shoreline can clearly be seen frozen solid.

Japanese Whaling Provokes Public Outcry in Australia

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:49:11 CST

Earthweek - February 8, 2008
Japan launched a public relations battle with the Australian media after it's whaling fleet resumed the slaughter of marine mammals in the Southern Ocean off the coast of Antarctica.

Feeding Birds in Winter Bolsters Spring Breeding

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:47:51 CST

Earthweek - February 8, 2008
A team of British researchers has found that feeding your backyard birds during winter not only helps them to survive the cold months, but also promotes more springtime breeding.

Rats May Have Jumped Ship in Bird Sanctuary

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:44:00 CST

Earthweek - February 8, 2008
Fears that rats escaping a grounded fishing boat may have infested one of the United Kingdoms most important bird sanctuaries sent officials scrambling to catch any potential rodent invaders.

Tornado Swarm Kills Dozens in Southern U.S.

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:43:45 CST

Earthweek - February 8, 2008
Swarms of tornadoes tore across five southern U.S. states, killing at least 56 people and leaving a trail of destroyed homes and other buildings.

Ecuador Volcano Produces a Deadly Blast

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:43:30 CST

Earthweek - February 8, 2008
Ecuadorian officials ordered 3,000 villagers to evacuate their homes near the slopes of Tungurahua volcano as the mountain shot columns of searing debris miles into the air, killing five people.

Cyclone Hondo Churns the Indian Ocean

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:41:47 CST

Earthweek - February 8, 2008
An area of disturbed weather swirling over the central Indian Ocean formed into Tropical Cyclone Hondo on Monday.

Cyclone Gene Causes Further Damage in South Pacific

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:40:01 CST

Earthweek - February 8, 2008
Just two days after inflicting heavy damage to Fiji, Cyclone Gene skirted the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, where high winds and storm surges destroyed crops and wrecked homes.

Severe Flooding Spans South America

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:38:59 CST

Earthweek - February 8, 2008
Torrential downpours caused disastrous flooding across a wide area of South America from Ecuador to Brazil and northern Argentina, killing nearly 50 people and making thousands of others homeless.

Rift Valley Quake Kills Dozens in East Africa

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:33:14 CST

Earthweek - February 8, 2008
A series of strong earthquakes that rocked East Africas Great Lakes Region on Sunday morning killed at least 43 people and injured hundreds of others in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring parts of western Rwanda.

Global Temperature Extremes

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:31:24 CST

Earthweek - February 8, 2008
The world's hottest and coldest temperatures of the week.

NASA Photo of the Week

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:23:36 CST

Earthweek - February 1, 2008
The image shows a huge cloud of dust that was photographed by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer orbiting aboard NASAs Terra satellite.

Humans Bring About End of an Epoch

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:22:48 CST

Earthweek - February 1, 2008
The impact humans have had on the surface of the planet has become so expansive that scientists say Earth has entered a new epoch the Anthropocene.

Human Diseases Can Infect Apes Through Contact

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:21:34 CST

Earthweek - February 1, 2008
Scientists studying possible health threats to great apes from such activities as research and ecotourism have found the first direct evidence that viral diseases in humans can be passed on to the wild primates.

Mysterious Illness Killing American Bats

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:20:22 CST

Earthweek - February 1, 2008
Bats hibernating in the caves and mines of the northeastern United States are dying off by the thousands due to a mysterious condition being called white nose syndrome.

'Doomsday' Seed Bank Receives First Deposits

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:19:29 CST

Earthweek - February 1, 2008
Seeds from more than 200,000 varieties of crops from Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America have just been placed in a storage facility on a remote island near the Arctic Circle, where they will be stored in case a manmade or natural disaster destroys agriculture.

Cyclone Gene Kills 7 In Fiji

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:18:18 CST

Earthweek - February 1, 2008
At least seven people were left dead in the wake of powerful Cyclone Gene, which inflicted significant damage on Fijis main island of Viti Levu on Wednesday.

Twin Storms Churn the Western Indian Ocean

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:15:35 CST

Earthweek - February 1, 2008
Cyclone Gula and Tropical Storm Fame made close approaches to islands of the western Indian Ocean, but both were mainly threats only to shipping in the region.

Ecuador Eruption Continues Into Second Month

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:14:08 CST

Earthweek - February 1, 2008
Ecuadors Tungurahua volcano produced several blasts that extended the mountains current eruptive phase, which began on January 5.

Strong Quake Jolts Central Indonesia

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:12:13 CST

Earthweek - February 1, 2008
A 6.2 magnitude quake centered in eastern Indonesias Maluku province jolted several islands and prompted seismologists to issue a brief tsunami warning.