All Latest News Wires
Lake Michigan spill at BP refinery affected half-mile of lakeLake Michigan spill:聽The聽spill聽reported Monday afternoon by BP appears to have been contained by company crew members who deployed absorbent booms around the聽spill聽site.
Galveston oil spill backs up Gulf of Mexico trafficGalveston oil spill:聽Crews cleaned and attempted to contain an oil spill in Galveston Bay Sunday. It's unclear exactly how much oil was spilled from a barge carrying nearly a million gallons Saturday.
U.N. climate change report details 'abrupt or drastic changes' worldwideA report by the a U.N. panel on climate change due this week details potential damage to nature, world economic growth, and food supplies. The report is meant to guide U.N. policies in the run-up to a 2015 summit on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions.- Smog insurance? One response to Beijing's pollutionSmog insurance: A state-owned Chinese insurance company will pay Beijing residents 1,500 yuan ($240) if they are hospitalized due to smog. If the official smog index reaches 300 for five consecutive days, it will pay out $48.
Warmest winter on record worsens California droughtWarmer winters make for less snow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. When the snow melts into the state's rivers, it provides water throughout the summer, when the state typically experiences little rain.
Caddo Lake: The open-mouthed dinosaur-era paddlefish is welcome back!At Caddo Lake, in Texas, the聽paddlefish will return聽decades after it was almost completely wiped out. The fish will be closely tracked by scientists, researchers, and students as part of a broad collaboration聽attempting to revitalize a long-damaged ecosystem by changing the water releases from a nearby dam.
Chevron wins in court, avoiding $9 billion rainforest fineChevron doesn't have to pay Ecuadorean judgment because lawyers obtained it by corrupt means, a New York federal judge rules. Chevron had been sued for environmental damage to the rainforest from oil operations.聽
Yellowstone bison OK'd to start new herds outside parkYellowstone bison are among the last pure-bred bands of wild bison in the US. A USDA study concludes the 4,000 bison in Yellowstone national park deemed free of cattle disease could be used to start new bison herds elsewhere.
In drought-ravaged Calif, Obama talks preparation for climate changeSpeaking on water needs in California, President Barack Obama said the US must plan ahead for weather-related disasters. He announced $160 million in federal financial aid, which will cover loss of livestock and help families affected by water shortages.
Kerry pushes climate change cooperation in IndonesiaA day after signing an agreement with China to curb greenhouse gases, US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Indonesia with the hope of making similar deals in developing countries.- Great Lakes nearly frozen. Why it means less snow.Great Lakes are almost completely covered with ice as a long stretch of bitter cold has battered the Upper Midwest. Ice cover extended across 88 percent of the Great Lakes as of Thursday, according to government data.
Nuclear repository fire contained in New MexicoNuclear repository fire in New Mexico has been snuffed out, according to local officials, after a fire broke out at the facility Wednesday morning. The nuclear repository is used to store low-grade nuclear waste, including plutonium-contaminated clothing and tools.聽
Frost quakes cause strange sounds, light flashes in frigid MidwestFrost quakes, technically known as cryoseism, have been reported in Missouri and across Midwestern states. Swings in temperature lead to frost quakes, which happens when moisture in the ground suddenly freezes and expands.
Minnow endangered no more? How the Oregon chub bounced back.Minnow endangered: The Oregon chub, a tiny minnow that lives only in the backwaters of Oregon's聽Willamette Valley, is set to become the first fish ever taken off the US government's list of endangered species.
Climate change putting penguin chicks at risk, scientists sayA 27-year study of聽Magellanic penguins found that heavy rain thought to be prompted by climate change is taking its toll on penguin chicks.聽
Will the frequency of devastating El Ni帽o events double?Intense weather events caused by El Ni帽o may soon occur every 10 years, instead of every 20 years, thanks to warming Pacific waters.
A quarter of world's sharks and rays at risk of extinction, say scientistsAn assessment of 1,041 species of cartilaginous fish revealed that these animals face a significantly higher risk of extinction than most other animals.
Halliburton manager is sentenced in Gulf oil spill trialHalliburton manager given one year of probation for destroying evidence from BP's 2010 Gulf oil spill. The Halliburton manager must also perform 100 hours of community service and pay a $1,000 fine.
China's pollution: The desolation of smog?Beijing's mayor has come up with a series of measures 鈥� including banning all heavily polluting vehicles to punishing officials for lax enforcement 鈥撀爐o battle air pollution in China's capital.
Pregnant women, water don't mix in W.Va.Pregnant women told water is unsafe to drink in West Virginia after a chemical spill last week. Officials say pregnant women should not drink tap water, but the 'do not use' water order has been lifted for tens of thousands of customers.聽
