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!
NASA has selected 15 proposals for study under Phase I of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), a program that aims to turn science fiction into science fact through the development of pioneering technologies.The chosen proposals cover a wide range of inventive
UC Berkeley seismologists were surprised last August to see a dramatic increase in faint tremors occurring under the San Andreas Fault near Parkfield, in Central California, about 10 hours after a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Napa. Somehow, that quake triggered tiny
It has become more apparent to conventional scientists that Earth’s ionosphere is connected to the Sun by filaments of electric charge, so the upper levels of the atmosphere experience the Sun’s influence. This idea has long been a tenet of Electric Universe
The small village of Langtang, which was located along a popular trekking route near the base of Mount Langtang, was completely buried by ice and rocks shaken loose by devastating earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, 2015. At least 200 people died in this disaster.
The Australian 2014-15 tropical cyclone season has officially ended. Seven tropical cyclones formed or moved into the Australian region, with four making landfall on the Australian continent. Seven tropical cyclones in the Australian region is below the long-term averag
An analysis of Western Australia's coastline suggest its landscape isn't as tectonically stable as previously thought. University of Western Australia geohazards researcher Beau Whitney says tectonic movement in Australia is generally assumed to be so low that
As California's climate fades to desert, rats are coming out of their hiding places in search of water. They are coming out to parks to steal water from dog bowls and attacking horse troughs in desperate need of something to drink. They are finding new ways into hom
A team of scientists aboard NIWA’s deepwater research vessel Tangaroa returned to Wellington on May 1, 2015 with new knowledge about methane ‘leaking’ into the atmosphere.The 11-strong science team led by marine geologist Dr Joshu Mountjoy has been
Describing the universe requires fewer dimensions than we might think. New calculations show that this may not just be a mathematical trick, but a fundamental feature of space itself. At first glance, there is not the slightest doubt: to us, the universe looks three dim
An open letter to researchers of nuclear fusion I would like to inform you that according to my understanding nuclear fusion power cannot be achieved based on the current theory. I have no doubt, none whatsoever, that the current solar theory is wrong. Therefore, no mat
