• Devastating hailstorm leaves thousands homeless in northern Vietnam

    More than 10 000 homes were damaged and 26 people injured during a 20-minute long hailstorm in northern Lao Cai province, Vietnam. The hailstones, 8 – 10 centimeters in diameter, were reported to have lashed the 26 communes and towns in the district of Muong Khuong…

  • Earthquake swarm at El Hierro intensifies with an increase in CO2 emission

    The intensity of ongoing earthquake swarm at El Hierro island increased on March 28, 2013. 119 earthquakes have been recorded so far at depths of 16-18 km. A few weaker quakes have also been recorded at lower depth of 7-10 km, possibly related to release of stress

  • Bedmap2 – detailed view of Antarctica’s landmass

    Scientists at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have released the most detailed map yet of Antarctica’s landmass that allows scientists to better analyse the bed below the Antarctic ice sheet. Bedmap2 reveals a landscape of mountain ranges and plains

  • New technology aims at improvising exoplanet discovery

    A new advanced telescope imaging system is expected to improve detection of exoplanets obscured by exponentially bright stars. Unlike Kepler mission which uses the transit method to find out exoplanets transiting in front of their stars, this one actually blots out

  • Geomagnetic storms – basic terms, data, plots and graphs

    A coronal mass ejection (CME) that erupted on March 15, 2013, hit Earth's magnetic field at 06:00 UTC on March 17, 2013. The solar wind speed reached 700 km/s and sparked a moderately strong G2 (Kp=6) geomagnetic storm and minor S1 solar radiation

  • Rock sample analysis indicates ancient Mars could have supported life

    Finally, NASA revealed results obtained from analysis of rock sample collected by Curiosity last month and reported ancient Mars could have had environment suitable for microbial life. Gray colored sample drilled out of a sedimentary rock contained some of the key

  • Popocatepetl volcano in Mexico entered into strong eruptive phase

    Popocatepetl volcano in Mexico experienced strongest eruption after some time on March 7, 2013.  The volcano has been showing signs of activity since February 2013, and according to reports is now entering a new phase of increased activity. A sequence of exhalations

  • Comet Pan-STARRS (C/2011 L4) now visible with naked eye

    Comet Pan-STARRS has been brightening steadily for the past few months. By now Comet Pan-STARRS (C/2011 L4) became a naked-eye object while it makes its closest approach to the Sun, inside the orbit of Mercury. It is now closer to the Sun than Venus. At

  • Weather modification – Avoiding floods by “cloud seeding”, Indonesia

    Cloud seeding, a weather modification technique, is commonly used to encourage rainfall in arid regions by dispersing substances into the air. But Indonesian government is using it to avoid further floods by redirecting rain to the ocean and claims their attempt has