The Watchers team and our contributors bring the latest on extreme weather, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, space weather, and all things science. We're all about making sense of the natural world and keeping you informed on what’s happening. Got a tip or a question? Hit us up using the form at newstips!
Each year, 2 to 16 percent of hydraulically fractured oil and gas wells spill hydrocarbons, chemical-laden water, hydraulic fracturing fluids and other substances, according to a study published yesterday in Environmental Science & Technology. The analysis,…
The dynamical properties of these asteroids, observed spectroscopically the first time using the Gran Telescopio CANARIAS, suggest a possible common origin and give a clue to the existence of a planet beyond Pluto, the so-called “Planet Nine”. In the…
GeoNet's seismometer network between Taupo and the Tongariro National Park has been recording a swarm of small earthquakes since February 13, 2017. The swarm, a very common characteristic of the greater Rotorua-Taupo area, known as the Taupo Volcanic Zone,…
Tropical Cyclone "Bart" has formed southeast of American Samoa on February 21, 2017, as the 7th named tropical system of the 2016/17 Southern hemisphere tropical cyclone season. At 15:00 UTC on February 21, the center of Tropical Cyclone "Bart"…
Heavy rains hit Indonesian capital Jakarta on Tuesday, February 21, 2017, flooding thousands of homes and causing traffic chaos. At least 1 person has been killed and more than 110 displaced. More than 180 mm (7 inches) of rain was reported within 24 hours in…
A strong and deep earthquake registered by the EMSC as M6.5 hit Chiquisaca, Bolivia at 14:09 UTC on February 21, 2017. The agency is reporting a depth of 598 km (370 miles). USGS is reporting the same magnitude and depth. According to the USGS, the epicenter was…
A radionuclide of anthropogenic origin, Iodine-131, has recently been detected in tiny amounts in the ground-level atmosphere across Europe, IRSN, French public expert in nuclear and radiological risks, reports. Iodine-131 is a radionuclide with a short half-life (8…
An unseasonal cold front, moving north out of the Southern Ocean, brought chilly, squally winds and strong showers to coastal regions of Victoria on February 19 and 20, 2017, and about 5 to 10 cm (2 – 4 inches) of summer snow to the NSW and Victorian High Country,…
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in parts of Northern California Monday, February 20, 2017, as another heavy rainmaker slammed the region. Many rivers in Northern California are at or above flood stage after a series of powerful storms hit the state in recent…
Severe storms swept through San Antonio, Texas on Sunday night, February 19, 2017, damaging more than 150 homes and leaving 45 000 customers without power. The storms moved quickly but managed to produce significant damage. The National Weather Service confirmed…
