• Slash-and-burn threatens African forests

    Farming of crops like cocoa, cassava and oil palm has resulted in widespread deforestation and degradation of  West Africa’s tropical forest area, a study says. Cocoa production in West Africa is an important economic activity and a source of income for about 2

  • New York ‘at risk’ as seas rise

    New York is a major loser and Reykjavik a winner from new forecasts of sea level rise in different regions.The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said in 2007 that sea levels would rise at least 28cm (1ft) by the year 2100. But this is a global average;

  • Wave of tornadoes sweeps across Iowa, US

    Strong thunderstorms kicked off a busy few days of severe weather on Saturday, spawning destructive tornadoes and dropping large hail across parts of the Plains and Southeast. At least 13 people were injured and numerous buildings and vehicles were damaged from the

  • Pulsating planet: Superhot rocks make the Earth roll

    The river valleys are in the North Sea, north of Scotland, beneath a kilometre of water and a further 2 kilometres of sediment. The sea floor here has been slowly sinking ever since it formed. Yet 55 million years ago, something very strange happened. In a geological

  • Caribbean plate tension is increasing

    The Caribbean plate tension is increasing and this area is now due for another major earthquake, an article published today by The Extinction Protocol said. Troubling signs of the growing agitation for this plate are seen in the twin 5.8 and 5.0 quakes that struck…

  • Alert status of Taal volcano raised to Level 2

    Taal Volcano is getting restive and an eruption, while not imminent, is a possibility, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) warned Saturday. The agency raised the alert status to Level 2 from Level 1, following an increase in volcanic earthq

  • Epic shoving match takes place far below Tibet

    An underground rock movement in Tibet is getting attention these days as geologists debate exactly what is going on beneath the surface of the so-called Roof of the World.Geology of the Tibetan PlateauThe Tibetan Plateau, with an average elevation of roughly 16,000

  • Toxic sardines kill 20 in Madagascar

    At least 20 people have died and 126 others are in critical condition after consuming toxic sardines in Madagascar’s south-western town of Toliara. A similar incident was also reported in Sakaraha, about 130km away from the coastal area.The sardines were said to