National Geographic News - Environment

Haiti Earthquake & Voodoo: Myths, Ritual, and Robertson

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:47:19 -0500

A voodoo scholar explains how Haiti's many believers may view the earthquake, why he thinks Pat Robertson's post-quake remarks were "cruel, ignorant, unforgivable"—and more.

Green Energy "Oasis" to Bloom in the Desert?

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:17:34 -0500

A research center slated to be built in 2010 as part of the Sahara Forest Project is meant to serve as a proving ground for new technologies designed to bring green living to the desert, project managers say.

Strongest Hurricanes May Double in Frequency, Study Says

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:07:29 -0500

The U.S. Southeast and the Bahamas will be pounded by more very intense hurricanes in the coming decades due to global warming, a new computer model suggests.

BPA Linked to Heart Disease, Study Confirms

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:10:25 -0500

Bisphenol-A—used in many sunglasses, reusable bottles, food packaging, and baby bottles—is linked to heart disease, a new study confirms. In a separate development, the FDA changes course and announces concern over BPA.

Chemical BPA Linked to Heart Disease, Study Confirms

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:49:48 -0500

Bisphenol-A—used in many sunglasses, reusable bottles, food packaging, and baby bottles—is linked to heart disease, a new study confirms.

Haiti Earthquake, Deforestation Heighten Landslide Risk

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:25:34 -0500

The combination of widespread deforestation and the recent earthquake in Haiti could lead to more landslides in the already hard-hit country, scientists say.

Haiti Earthquake "Strange," Strongest in 200 Years

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:33:57 -0500

Although earthquakes on Haiti are not uncommon, experts say, the intensity of yesterday's temblor was unusual from a historical perspective.

Global Warming Indigestion May Kill Gorillas, Monkeys

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:01:31 -0500

Warming could make leaves tougher to digest, potentially forcing leaf-eating primates into extinction.

World's Smallest Orchid Discovered (By Accident)

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 13:28:41 -0500

It's nearly see-through and only about as wide as a nickel is thick—no wonder it took an orchid expert months to notice the gem right under his nose.

Under Yellowstone, Magma Pocket 20% Larger Than Thought

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 12:27:34 -0500

The massive column of molten rock that feeds the park's volcano dives deeper and fills a magma chamber bigger than previous estimates, according to the most detailed model yet of the region's plumbing.

Amazon Losing "Flying Rivers," Ability to Curb Warming

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 12:17:01 -0500

The Amazon's flying rivers"—humid air currents that deliver water to the vast rain forest—may be ebbing, in turn hampering the region's ability to help curb global warming, experts say.

Melting Glaciers Nourishing Oceans With Ancient Carbon

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 12:04:30 -0500

Alaska's marine animals have an unexpected nutrient in their diets: ancient carbon from glacier melt, a new study says.

Presented By:

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 12:04:30 -0500

Sharks Killed for Oil Used in Swine Flu Vaccine

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 10:55:38 -0500

Millions of doses of the H1N1/09 vaccine contain a substance called squalene, which is extracted from the livers of rare deep-sea sharks caught in the wild, conservationists say.

Africa-wide "Great Green Wall" to Halt Sahara's Spread?

Wed, 6 Jan 2010 16:34:30 -0500

A massive "wall" of trees spanning 11 countries may rise in Africa in a bid to save drought-stricken farmlands from a relentless invader: sand.

North America's Cooling Due to Natural Causes in 2008?

Wed, 6 Jan 2010 11:08:02 -0500

An unusually long cooling of the Pacific Ocean lowered temperatures across North America—but it's not proof that global warming has slowed down, scientists say.