ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE

Hawaiian Kilauea Volcano Lava Flow—Update (Oct. 28)

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE It’s been an encroaching threat months in the making, and as of Monday, local authorities on Hawaii’s Big Island report that the destructive lava flow they’ve been tracking in recent days is only 70 meters from the nearest residential property… and it’s likely to take its first home in a matter of hours.

Megalodon extinction, a relief for whales?

The blue whale currently holds the distinction of being the largest marine animal on earth. Its gargantuan size also makes it the biggest animal in the world. But did you know that whales pale in comparison to this marine predator that saw its existence more than 3 million years ago? In fact, whales are said to have been this predator's main dish--a logical conclusion given its hefty size, 7-inch teeth, and deadly, massive bite.

Hawaiian Lava Flow Prompts Evacuation on Big Island

Inhabitants of the Hawaiian Islands owe their tropical homes to volcanic activity that gave rise to the US state thousands of years ago. But some fear that continued lava flows may soon engulf the homes they’ve built as a new volcanic eruption threats the rural population of the Big Island.

In Snow and Ice—Researchers Reveal Century Old Journal in Antarctica

The Antarctic ice is host to very little life, yet often researchers find that beneath the frozen surface we find remnants and a record of our past. Core ice samples not only reveal atmospheric concentrations of particular molecules in ancient skies, giving us a view of how the Earth’s climate has changed over eons even before the arrival of man, but also sometimes reveals a view of our own history on the icy sheet. This week, after more than a century since it was written and lost in a tragic expedition, the preserved journal of explorer George Murray Levick was found by researchers who recovered the photographic treasure from a casing made entirely of ice.

Sky-High Dig Reveals Ancient Paleoindian Workshop Site in Andes

In a sky-high archaeological dig, based near the peaks of the Peruvian Andes mountains, an international team of researchers unearthed the oldest-known evidence of human settlement high above sea level. In fact, the rock shelters and tool fragments found, date back roughly 12,000 years and lie 14,700 feet above coastal sea level at the base of the mountain range.

Another ‘Big’ Species Added to Endangered Species List? The Sasquatch Debate

While we ecologists like to often err on the side of caution when it comes to the preservation of species dwindling in the wild, this one has got to be one for the record books. We’ve heard of protecting mammals, marine species, and even those who choose to cross over state lines to inhabit new ecological niches. But what about protecting a “cryptide”? While most people are chalking it up to urban legends, one man from Chautauqua Lake, New York is making a plea to “Save Sasquatch”.

A Magnetic Topsy Turvy Earth—When North Becomes South

The directionally challenged may find a new curveball thrown their way, as researchers reveal that in our lifetime we may see flip in what we know to be North and South. For those who know their way around navigating the wild, seeking directions in the stars, or even reading the face of a compass, you may have to reconsider the norm or repaint the stars to fit a changing magnetic field that may soon have Antarctica pointing North.

Japan's Volcanos Threaten Nuclear Reactors, Expert Warns

One volcano expert is warning that Japan's massive 2011 earthquake--which damaged the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant and caused a nuclear crisis--could cause large volcanic eruptions in the coming years, yet he could not say when people could expect the eruptions to happen.

On Droughts and Dust Bowls—California Looks Back to 1934

Recently accepted for publication by the journal Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union, the research lead by NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies analyzed the relative intensity and devastation caused by droughts since 1000 AD and found that though the 2014 summer in California was particularly out of the ordinary even in the driest of areas, it did not quite compare to the drought of 1934.

New Research Started After Rare Beaked Whale Washed Ashore Near Sydney

When a whale washes ashore, researchers and government agencies are usually the first on scene to assess the causes of death. However, when a rare beaked whale washed ashore in Australia earlier this week, Tuesday Oct. 14, researchers were eager to get to the scene for an entirely different reason — the opportunity to learn something about a deep diving mammal we know so little about.

What Does Social Media Say About the Ebola Outbreak?

This morning, the king of social media himself, Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife announced their plans to aid in medical efforts by donating $25 million to the Centers for Disease Control Foundation. The news arrived this morning as the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that issues with containment and assessment of the Ebola virus’ impact may lead to a 1,000% increase in infections (10,000 cases a week) by as early as this December.

WHO Predicts Ebola Outbreak Could Worsen by 1000% as Soon as December

While health officials are attempting to isolate the spread of the disease, fear and ignorance of the disease have allowed for major setbacks to propagate across the West African nations, leading to further casualties of the disease. Now, after months of assessing the situation in the field, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported Tuesday, Oct. 14, that the rate of infection may increase by ten-fold, to 10,000 new cases per week as early as this December.

US Fish & Wildlife Service Investigates Murder of Rare Mexican Wolf

While the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has put forth every effort in protecting and trying to help the natural populations of the rare Mexican Wolf grow through their recovery program, they have seen great setbacks since their protection began in 1977. Poachers and anti-wolf activists have created a dangerous environment in which these natural predators live, and the once common wolves have dwindled down to less than 83 suspected in the wild. And this week, the number drops by one.

Invasion of the Bullfrogs May Leave Montana Wasteland

Facing a new threat of American Bullfrogs, a recent study published in the journal Aquatic Invasions shows that Yellowstone River situated in the state of Montana may see permanent damage left in the wake of the invading voracious species.
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