Topic: Geophysics

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Kepler epitaph? Eight most intriguing finds of troubled telescope.

Kepler, the space telescope designed to help us find other Earth-like planets, is on the fritz. Scientists hope they will be able to fix it remotely, but if they can't, its brief, brilliant career could be over. Here are eight of its most important discoveries.
Bestselling books the week of 5/5/13, according to IndieBound*

What's selling best in independent bookstores across America.
What makes a planet livable? Five things scientists look for.

Scientists have so far detected at least 550 planets outside the solar system – and another 2,000-plus await confirmation. But how to pick out the ones that may be Earth-like havens for life? Here's what one team looks for in assessing any planet's potential habitability and its similarity to Earth's properties.
Heat wave: Four things that will rise with the temperatures
Photos of the Day: Photos of the Day 04/24

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Space station dwellers safe from massive radiation storm

NASA scientists also routinely monitor space weather conditions in order to protect astronauts and hardware in orbit from harmful radiation, and today's solar storm is no exception, agency officials said.
After solar flare, massive storm speeds Earthward

A solar flare Sunday triggered an outburst of solar material that should hit Earth Tuesday. The disturbance could lead to voltage swings on some power lines, as well as stronger northern lights.
Massive eruption on sun to shower Earth with radiation

A barrage of charged particles triggered by this morning's solar flare is expected to hit Earth tomorrow at around 9 a.m. EST.
Enormous solar outburst could dazzle your weekend

Auroras may dazzle more people than usual this weekend as Earth receives a glancing blow from an enormous solar outburst that erupted on Jan. 19.
Northern lights: Huge solar flare may trigger Saturday night show

Northern lights show this weekend? A big solar plasma wave is heading toward Earth, and may create Northern lights or aurora borealis display by Saturday night.
How fracking might have led to an Ohio earthquake

The 4.0 Ohio earthquake this weekend was a reminder that activities related to hydraulic fracturing, or 'fracking,' can cause seismic faults to shift if not carried out carefully.
Famine early warning system gives Africa a chance to prepare

US government system, using ground sensors and satellite imagery, helped to predict this year's drought in Horn of Africa, allowing aid groups and governments to prepare relief.
Christchurch, New Zealand, rocked by series of earthquakes, but no casualties

A 5.8-magnitude earthquake, followed by several strong aftershocks, hit Christchurch, New Zealand, on Friday, just 10 months after almost 200 people died from a major quake in the city.
Peru earthquake hits coast with 6.9 magnitude

Peru earthquake: a 6.9 magnitude earthquake wreaked havoc on Peru, causing a wider radius of action than the 2007 earthquake that killed 596 people.
Hudson volcano evacuation ordered in Chile

Hudson volcano: Interior Minister Rodrigo Hinzpeter says 97 people living near the Hudson volcano will be evacuated and he is not ruling out the possibility of an eruption.
Northern lights: Aurora borealis astounds skywatchers

Northern lights: Traditionally, only skywatchers in high-latitude locations can see aurora borealis, but during strong solar weather events, they can be visible to observers at lower latitudes.
Turkey earthquake: Why the country is such a hot spot for seismic activity

Turkey earthquake does not surprise seismologists. Turkey is, in effect, caught in a geophysical vise between the Arabian plate, inching northward, and the Eurasian plate, the immovable object.
San Francisco earthquake: Second quake jolts Bay Area

San Francisco earthquake: Thursday night's quake came nearly six hours after a magnitude 4.0 earthquake hit in the same area.
Bali earthquake rattles, but does little substantial damage

Today's 6.1-magnitude Bali earthquake caused no deaths and only minor injuries, in part because of the better development standards the tourist industry has pushed, say observers.
Japan's earthquake actually altered Earth's gravity, scientists find

The 9.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan in March was the fifth most powerful earthquake ever recorded. The quake also altered the distribution of the Earth's mass, affecting the pull of gravity near the epicenter.
Italian scientists' failure to predict 2009 quake: a criminal offense? (video)

More than 300 people died when an earthquake struck the Italian town of L'Aquila in 2009, days after several scientists said there was 'no danger.' Now the scientists are facing a trial for manslaughter.
Southern Lights (Aurora Australias): A rare video from above

Check out this video of the Southern Lights, a.k.a. Aurora Australias taken from aboard the International Space Station.
India earthquake: What makes the region so volatile?

A magnitude 6.9 Himalayan quake on the border between India and Nepal, highlights the extreme hazard the region faces as enormous patches of Earth's crust crash into each other.
Alaska earthquake: 7.1-magnitude quake strikes off Alaska

Alaska earthquake: A 7.1-magnitude quake struck Friday in the Aleutian Islands off Alaska, prompting a tsunami warning.
How could Virginia quake be felt in Canada and crack the Washington Monument?

Rocks of the East Coast conduct earthquakes much better than rocks in the West. It means a moderate quake in rural Virginia can travel far and damage the Washington Monument.
Three earthquakes in three days. More than coincidence?

First came an earthquake in Colorado. Then Virginia's quake shook the US from South Carolina to New England. Finally, San Francisco had a rattler as well. Are they connected?
Strong earthquake hits northern Peru

Peru earthquake: The US Geological Survey reports that a quake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 has occurred in northern Peru, near the Brazilian border.
Virginia quake: What the numbers say, and what you experience

Virginia quake: It was a magnitude 5.9. Earthquake metrics help us compare different earthquakes, but what does a 5.0 versus a 6.0 actually feel like?
East Coast earthquake: How does a 5.9 temblor happen in Virginia?

Fault lines in the East are not as apparent or as active as in the West, but certain stresses can lead to a rupture. Tuesday's East Coast Earthquake was the biggest in 100 years.
Colorado earthquake is largest in four decades

Colorado earthquake: A magnitude 5.3 earthquake shook the state late Monday, with an epicenter about 180 miles south of Denver, Colorado.