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!
Although North America is now a full month into astronomical spring, the Great Lakes are still almost half frozen. As of April 22, 2014, the Great Lakes were 33.9 percent ice covered. Some scientists say that the amount of ice that still remains could have a big im
Ross Stein (PhD, 1980, Geology), Geophysicist at the USGS gave this interesting presentation a couple of days ago at the Stanford University. He explains the fundamentals of earthquake science and takes listeners to one of its frontiers.His research focuses on
The Vermont Senate has given decisive approval to a measure that would require the labeling of foods that contain genetically modified ingredients, meaning the state could become the first one in the country to enact such a law."We are saying people have a righ
A new analysis of NASA satellite data shows Africa's Congo rainforest, the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world, has undergone a large-scale decline in greenness over the past decade.The study, led by Liming Zhou of University at Albany, State Univers
A team of university scientists and a NASA colleague were greatly surprised to discover an ancient tundra landscape preserved under the Greenland Ice Sheet, below 3.2 km (2 miles) of ice. "We found organic soil that has been frozen to the bottom of the ic
Parts of ancient Antarctica were as warm as today's California coast, and polar regions of the southern Pacific Ocean registered 21st-century Florida heat, according to scientists using a new way to measure past temperatures.The findings, published the week of A
A fleet of orbiting satellites monitors Earth constantly. The satellites from NASA and other space agencies give us a fresh, wide perspective on things that we can see from the ground – and things that we can't.A look back at Earth in 2013 from the viewpoint of
Stephen Crothers presented the case that Black Holes and the Big Bang have been created by theorists and never observed. Black Holes are now said to be both invisible and visible. Quasars are now black holes; so are the 'blazars'. Individual black holes are also
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has announced that Russia will not import any more GMO food products or seeds.The Russian government has taken a bold stand against genetically altered food ingredients, believing there is no need for them in their country. Med
The State of Texas is growing thirstier with each and every passing day, as drought conditions continue to dry up the land. According to a new drought report from the Texas Water Development Board, the Lone Star State is now experiencing "worse" drought c
