Catastrophes
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Why We May Not See the Next Sandy Coming
Failing weather satellites will reduce our ability to forecast and track future storms
October 30, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
While the East Coast Focused on Sandy, Typhoon Son-tinh Battered East Asia
Sandy was not the only tropical cyclone this week
October 30, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
To Evacuate or Not To Evacuate?
Issuing mandatory evacuation orders is an effective means of encouraging residents to leave unsafe zones, but fear mongering is more iffy
October 29, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Top Ten Most Damaging U.S. Hurricanes
Surprisingly, Hurricane Katrina is not the most damaging storm on record
October 29, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Ways to Watch Sandy That Are More Interesting Than Looking Out the Window And Safer Than Going Outside
From satellites to webcams to real-time maps, here are a bunch of ways to keep track of Sandy
October 29, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Giant Paintball Gun Could Save the World From Death-by-Asteroid
A big asteroid will eventually hit the Earth. What can we do to push it out of the way?
October 26, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Italian Scientists Sent to Jail Because They Downplayed the Risk of an Earthquake
Six scientists and one former government official will do time for failing to accurately convey the risk of an earthquake
October 22, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Today, 14 Million People Are Going to Have an Earthquake Drill
"Duck, cover, and hold on" is the best way to get through an earthquake
October 18, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Kenai the Sea Otter, Rescued From Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, Has Died
One of the last two otters rescued from the Exxon Valdez oil spill has just passed away
October 11, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Three Quarters of Americans Now Believe Climate Change Is Affecting the Weather
74 percent of surveyed Americans think that global warming is changing the weather
October 09, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
The Weather Channel Unilaterally Decides Winter Storms Should Have Names Like ‘Q’ and ‘Gandolf’
The private broadcaster laid out their plan to start naming blizzards
October 03, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Largest Quake of the Year Crossed Fault Lines, Echoed for a Week
The largest earthquake of the year left quite an impression on the earth, but not via mass destruction or tsunamis. In fact, you probably didn’t even hear about it. The 8.7 magnitude earthquake struck on April 11 in the Indian Ocean. Two people are known to have died as a result of the quake, while [...]
September 26, 2012 |
By Mary Beth Griggs
Tsunami Debris Is Just Now Arriving at Hawaii’s Coast
A dock 30-by-50 feet long, with Japanese writing on it, was found floating off the coast of Hawaii, around the same time that a plastic blue bin (a seafood storage container in its past life) became the first confirmed piece of tsunami debris to reach Hawaii. Authorities have not confirmed whether or not the dock was [...]
September 24, 2012 |
By Mary Beth Griggs
Diamond Mines Are a Paleo-Climate Scientist’s Best Friend
A column of magma worked its way up from the mantle and drilled its way to the surface, bedazzling itself with diamonds that it picked up along the way
September 21, 2012 |
By Mary Beth Griggs
The Real World Versions of Revolution’s Dystopian Cities
A new TV show looks very dystopian, but there are places that resemble Revolution's landscape in the world today
September 18, 2012 |
By Mary Beth Griggs
Flooding in Pakistan Threatens Remains of 4500-Year-Old Civilization
Strong flooding fueled by the annual monsoon threatens the ancient town of Mohenjo-Daro
September 14, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
When Bad Things Become Funny
Humor experts set out to discover when tragedies are fine to joke about, and when they're not
September 14, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
How Scientists Know the Tar Balls Hurricane Isaac Dredged Up Came From the BP Oil Spill
Scientists confirm that oil strewn by hurricane Isaac derived from BP's blown-out Macondo well
September 07, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Fires Are Escaping Our Ability to Predict Their Behavior
Today's fires are bigger, weirder, and way harder to model
September 03, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
“After the Storm” Workbook Helps Kids Deal with Hurricane Stress
The "After the Storm" workbook that helps parents sort out their kids' feelings following a potentially traumatic hurricane
August 29, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
