Earthquake swarm in far northwest Nevada continues

Earthquake swarm in far northwest Nevada continues

The earthquake activity that began in July 2014 in the Sheldon Wildlife Refuge in far northwest Nevada is continuing to shake residents, University of Nevada, Reno reports. Their seismologists are monitoring the on-going activity that includes three earthquakes larger t

California ‘rain debt’ equal to average full year of precipitation

California ‘rain debt’ equal to average full year of precipitation

A new NASA study has concluded California accumulated a debt of about 508 mm (20 inches) of precipitation between 2012 and 2015 – the average amount expected to fall in the state in a single year. The deficit was driven primarily by a lack of air currents moving inland

STEREO-A spacecraft returns data from the far side of the Sun

STEREO-A spacecraft returns data from the far side of the Sun

On July 11, 2015 we received our first images in over three months from NASA's Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory Ahead spacecraft, or STEREO-A. Since March 24, 2015, STEREO-A has been on the far side of the sun, where it has had to operate in safe mode, collec

New long-term earthquake forecast for California

New long-term earthquake forecast for California

A new California earthquake forecast by the USGS and partners revises scientific estimates for the chances of having large earthquakes over the next several decades. The Third Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast, or UCERF3, improves upon previous models by in

2015 longer by a leap second

2015 longer by a leap second

At 23:59:60 UTC on June 30, 2015, a Leap Second will be added, making this day last for 86401 seconds instead of the usual 86400. This practice started in 1972 and since then a total of 25 leap seconds were added to the UTC time, last one in 2012. Correction of each UTC

Can organic crops compete with industrial agriculture?

Can organic crops compete with industrial agriculture?

A systematic overview of more than 100 studies comparing organic and conventional farming finds that the crop yields of organic agriculture are higher than previously thought. The study, conducted by UC Berkeley researchers, also found that certain practices could furth

Rise in mass die-offs seen among birds, fish and marine invertebrates

Rise in mass die-offs seen among birds, fish and marine invertebrates

An analysis of 727 mass die-offs of nearly 2,500 animal species from the past 70 years has found that such events are increasing among birds, fish and marine invertebrates. At the same time, the number of individuals killed appears to be decreasing for reptiles and amph

Scientists identify mechanism that accelerated the 2011 Japan earthquake

Scientists identify mechanism that accelerated the 2011 Japan earthquake

The fault responsible for the 9.0 magnitude Tohoku earthquake had been relieving stress at a gradually accelerating rate for years before the 2011 quake.Stanford scientists have found evidence that sections of the fault responsible for the 9.0 magnitude Tohoku earthquak