All Environment
- Tropical Storm Chantal heading to Lesser Antilles
Tropical Storm Chantal was centered about 55 miles northwest of St. Lucia around Tuesday morning, the US National Hurricane Center in Miami said.
- Pudu deer is world's smallest (and cutest?) deer
Pudu deer, the world's smallest species of deer, has been born in New York, according to wildlife officials. The newborn pudu deer is part of an endangered species native to Chile and Argentina.
- Tropical storm Chantal: Caribbean prepares as storm nears
Tropical storm Chantal makes its way towards the small islands of the Lesser Antilles late Monday afternoon. Forecasters say tropical storm Chantal could be near hurricane strength on Wednesday before it reaches Hispaniola, the island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
- Fracking ban halts first shale gas project in Spain
A ban on fracking in a northern region of Spain has crimped Repsol SA's plans to begin drilling for shale gas in the north of Spain. Repsol had planned to begin seismic studies, with a view to drilling, in July, but the Cantabrian fracking ban, which prevents all hydraulic fracturing activities within the region’s borders, has put a hold on plans.
- Tropical storm Chantal heads for Caribbean
Tropical storm Chantal moves toward the Lesser Antilles, after forming in the Atlantic. Tropical storm Chantal had maximum sustained winds early Monday of near 45 m.p.h. with some strengthening expected over the next two days.
- The Keystone XL pipeline is irrelevant
The Keystone XL pipeline will make no measurable contribution one way or another to global climate change, Rapier writes. The arguments against it convey a false impression of the most important drivers of global carbon emissions.
- Quebec train fire: Search continues in oil train derailment
Quebec train fire caused at least five fatalities and has left about 40 people missing. The Quebec train fire is like to add to a debate over a proposed oil running across the US that Canada says it badly needs.
- Train derailment spills oil in Quebec. Will it affect Maine?
Train derailment in eastern Quebec caused multiple explosions and spilled oil into the Chaudiere River. Since the river flows north, the oil train derailment is not expected to impact Maine's air or water.
- Mexico volcano eruption disrupts air travel
Mexico volcano eruption caused flights in and out of Mexico City's airport to be cancelled Friday. The Mexico volcano eruption spewed a mile-high plume of ash that drifted over large parts of Mexico City, making it dangerous for air travel.
- Oil prices up on Egypt crisis, US jobs
Oil prices jumped nearly $2 Friday on continued protests in Egypt and a healthy US jobs report. It's the highest oil prices have been since last May.
- The world's thinnest solar cell, just a nanometer thick
Researchers at MIT have developed a technique for creating solar cells that are only two molecules thick. The resulting solar cell can only offer a conversion efficiency of 1 - 2 percent, but by placing multiple cells one on top of the other the overall generation capacity can be far greater than conventional cells.
- A surprising source of demand for US natural gas
The US natural gas market is on the verge of a big swing, Forest writes, but it doesn't have to do with liquid natural gas. Instead, there's an interesting and unexpected source of demand for US natural gas.
- A declaration of energy independence: What it really means
True energy independence is more than a supply-demand equation. For starters, energy independence should mean freedom from gasoline price spikes caused by unstable foreign nations.
- Lonesome George, famous Galápagos tortoise, to be preserved: why he's a symbol
Lonesome George, who died last year, will be displayed at the American Museum of Natural History in New York this winter. Experts hope the exhibit will spread awareness about species extinction.
- A Gulf of Mexico oil platform has been leaking for 9 years
Hurricane Ivan swept away an oil production platform in the Gulf of Mexico in 2004. Nine years later, it's still leaking oil, although the company behind the project says it has reduced the leak to a trickle.
- Why oil prices rise on Egypt unrest
Oil prices spiked above $102 a barrel Wednesday as protesters poured into the streets of Cairo and the Egyptian military ousted President Mohammed Morsi. Egypt is critical to regional oil transportation and has investors worried that protests could spread elsewhere in the region.
- Ethiopia: Big Nile dam could ease Africa power failures
Ethiopia: Big Nile dam echoes the Hoover Dam in scale and scope, offering the hope of a brighter economic future in Ethiopia and the Nile region. Ethiopia's big Nile dam – called the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam – will cost $4.2 billion and be able to produce 6,000 megawatts of electricity.
- UN: Last decade was warmest on record, but weather-related fatalities fell
The World Meteorological Organization's review of severe weather and climate 2001 to 2010 shows that nine years in that decade were among the 10 warmest on record. Even normally cool La Niña years warmed up.
- Oil prices spike over Egypt unrest: How worried should we be?
Concerns over the disruption of the Suez Canal has inflated the price of crude oil to its highest point in over a year, but analysts say the spike is likely temporary.
- Fourth of July travel: Gas prices drop for Independence Day
Fourth of July celebrations just got a bit more festive with a recent drop in gas prices. If it lasts much beyond the Fourth of July will depend on turmoil in Egypt and across the Middle East, the economy, and especially hurricane season.