All Environment
US wades into Iraq: Is it all about oil? Libya reintegrates. Shale and GOP. [Recharge]US airstrikes, which helped Kurdish peshmerga take back at least part of Mosul Dam over the weekend, are fueling speculation that oil motivated US involvement in Iraq. But the facts point otherwise. Also: Libya continues its reintegration into global oil markets; if the GOP captures the Senate, the US shale boom would likely accelerate. Catch up on the week in global energy with Recharge.
Humongous 1,000-pound alligator caught in AlabamaThe 15-foot-long alligator is the largest ever legally killed by an Alabama hunter. Alligators are no longer an endangered species in the US.
Birds igniting: California solar power plant scorches birds in mid-airFederal wildlife investigators who visited the BrightSource Energy solar plant last year聽 reported an average of one bird igniting in flight every two minutes.
Humans now the major cause of alpine glacier melt, researchers sayThe researchers estimate that between 1990 and 2010, some 69 percent of the mass lost by the world's alpine glaciers can be traced to human influence 鈥� basically global warming.
Sorry, Mr. Obama, Africa needs coalAfrica faces a dilemma: It's vulnerable to climate change but needs coal to grow robustly. So which way are Africans going?
Oil prices drop, raising worries for debt-heavy companiesOil prices have been steady or dipping in recent weeks, despite continued geopolitical turmoil. Calm prices are largely due to soft demand for oil globally 鈥� a situation that could pose problems for oil companies saddled with too much debt.
Long Island, other parts of US drying out after heavy rainsFlooded roadways were one of the major byproducts of intense precipitation over several areas of the country that began early this week.
Chicken crosses road. Motive eludes officials.Chicken crosses road in Portland, Ore., blocking traffic and prompting at least one citizen to call the police. Police say they were 'unable to determine the chicken's intent.'
Long Island flooding: 2 months of rain falls on NY townLong Island flooding turns roads into rivers after two months of rain fell in two hours on New York's Long Island Wednesday.聽The Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway was partially closed due to the Long Island flooding, police said
Tiger selfies: Stop taking them, says NY lawTiger selfies are now illegal in New York after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a law this week banning the practice of taking photos with a tiger, lion, or other big cat. The tiger selfies are popular on online dating sites but denounced by some who say they are dangerous for both the tigers and the people taking the photos. 聽
Oil spill: Gulf oysters vanish after 2010 spillOil spill in the Gulf of Mexico may be contributing to a dramatic dive in the region's oyster harvest. Prices are up and the harvest is down, ever since the 2010 BP oil spill, but the exact cause remains unclear.
Keystone XL: first on a Republican Senate鈥檚 to-do list?Approval of the Keystone XL pipeline could be a reality if Republicans take control of the Senate in the midterm elections. Keystone XL has bipartisan support in both chambers already, and a Republican Senate could force President Obama to either approve or veto the controversial project.
Michigan flooding: 'overwhelming,' says local mayorMichigan flooding, which caused at least one fatality, is 'overwhelming' and 'catastrophic' according to the mayor of Warren, Mich. Officials are warning commuters against driving in areas affected by the Michigan flooding.
Two-headed dolphin: 'similar to conjoined twins'Two-headed dolphin washes ashore on a beach in western Turkey, according to Dogan news agency. A vacationing gym teacher discovered the two-headed dolphin, which scientists say is a rare occurrence.聽
Panda triplets born in China. How rare are they?Panda triplets born in China late last month in the southern city of Guangzhou, according to the official China News Service. The panda triplets born were only the fourth known to have been born in the world through artificial breeding programs.聽
Ukraine crisis: Is it Kiev's turn to close the spigot?Ukraine's parliament is set to vote Tuesday on a package of sanctions against Russia that could include limiting the flow of Russian gas through Ukraine and to Europe. The move is a measure of desperation amid a Ukraine crisis that shows little sign of easing. 聽
What if your smartphone didn't even need a battery?Many in the energy industry are racing to invent a better battery for smartphones and other devices, but what if the latest electronic gadget didn't need a battery to begin with?
Kinder Morgan deal: Why it's a big dealKinder Morgan deal will make the company the 4th biggest US energy company by market value. The Kinder Morgan deal will bring three additional companies under the Kinder Morgan Inc. umbrella.
Oil prices shrug, Russia strikes back, Mexican oil goes global [Recharge]Oil prices barely moved on renewed US military action in Iraq; Souring Russia-EU relations means it could be a cold winter in Europe; Mexico moves ahead with opening its oil sector to foreign investment. Catch up on the week in global energy with Recharge.- Cat-gobbling 12-foot Burmese python snared in FloridaSouth Florida police captured a 120-pound, 12-foot long Burmese python suspected of eating neighborhood cats. Researchers suspect that pythons are decimating populations of native mammals in the Everglades.