Smallest exoplanet found to have water vapour

Smallest exoplanet found to have water vapour

The smallest exoplanet (about the size of Neptune) HAT-P-11b have been discovered to have clear skies and steamy water vapors as observed by astronomers using data from three of NASA's space telescopes – Hubble, Spitzer and Kepler.John Grunsfeld, assistant administr

Three to four-week extreme weather forecasting the new norm

Three to four-week extreme weather forecasting the new norm

As part of the climate plan announced at the UN summit, the Obama Administration said it would begin a coordinated US effort, led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to develop better extreme-weather risk outlooks. This year, NOAA will issue w

Groundwater chemistry as a precursor for earthquakes: The Iceland experience

Groundwater chemistry as a precursor for earthquakes: The Iceland experience

Even during ancient times, our predecessors have used numerous precursor signals for upcoming natural disasters. Groundwater chemistry is one of them and according to latest scientific researches it has been observed to change before earthquakes. Alasdair Skelton from

Mount Sinabung erupts again, Indonesia

Mount Sinabung erupts again, Indonesia

After 3 months of being relatively quiet Indonesian Mount Sinabung erupted again on September 23, 2014, spewing hot ash up to two km to the southeast, official said. The eruption started at 13:43 local time on September 24 (06:43 UTC) and lasted for a full 907 seconds,

The statistics of natural disasters: A 2013 review

The statistics of natural disasters: A 2013 review

According to the "Annual Disaster Statistical Review 2013" published this month by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), 2013 is a year with 330 registered natural disasters. This is less than the average annual disaster frequency ob

Sunkoshi landslide a continuous disaster, Nepal

Sunkoshi landslide a continuous disaster, Nepal

Nearly 2 kilometers of hillside collapsed in rugged northern Nepal at 20:51 UTC on August 1, 2014 (02:36 local time on August 2) causing a massive landslide which buried dozens of homes in the village of Jure and killed 156 people. Some 5.5 million cubic meters (194 mil

Tornado devastates 7 villages in Jamalpur and Lalmonirhat, India

Tornado devastates 7 villages in Jamalpur and Lalmonirhat, India

A tornado ripped through 7 villages of Indian Jamalpur and Lalmonirhat districts on Sunday, September 21, razing at least 60 dwelling houses. Around 150 more are reportedly damaged.Officials estimated at least 100 houses were damaged as it hit Lauchapra village in Jamal

New toxic spills confirmed in Sonora, Mexico

New toxic spills confirmed in Sonora, Mexico

After a massive toxic leak from Mexico's Buenavista del Cobre mine on August 6, 2014, three new toxic spills have appeared in Sonora, northwestern Mexico on September 18, 2014.PROFEPA, an environmental protection agency said late Sunday, September 21, that the new s

Extreme hail storm ravaged Florence, Italy

Extreme hail storm ravaged Florence, Italy

Tuscany, Italy experienced a violent hail storm with significant impacts on the region’s capital of Florence on Friday, September 19, 2014.Local media reported that the hail storm lasted about ten minutes in the city of Florence. Videos of the storm show torrentia