Topic: University of Colorado at Boulder

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Solar storm could become severe 'bell ringer' in next 24 hours (+video)

Solar storm forecasters say the particles disgorged in a massive solar flare could strike Earth in a particular way, which would make a currently moderate solar storm more severe.
Climategate sequel? Scientist lies to get Heartland Institute documents.

Climate scientist, Peter Gleick, lied to acquire – then leak to the press – documents from the Heartland Institute, an organization that argues that global warming poses no threat.
Fracking study sends alert about leakage of potent greenhouse gas

A new study finds that fracking is releasing methane, a greenhouse gas, from a Colorado field at a higher rate than estimates suggested. Researchers must determine if the field is an anomaly or part of a bigger problem.
Ice caps not shrinking as much as once thought, new data show

Mountain glaciers and ice caps around the globe collectively lost 148 billion tons of ice a year, according to new satellite measurements. The rate is 30 percent lower than scientists thought.
Volcanic eruptions emerge as lead cause for Little Ice Age

The Little Ice Age began in the late 13th century, scientists now posit, and lasted about 400 years. Some regions cooled significantly. A series of volcanic eruptions has become a leading culprit.
Amazing planets: mini solar system, 'Star Wars' lookalike among new finds

The catalogue of newly found planets is becoming richer by the day. By one new estimate, virtually all the billions of stars in the Milky Way could have a planet orbiting them.
NASA able to observe a long time ago, in newly found galaxies far, far away

Researchers used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to find five tiny but bright galaxies clustered together 13.1 billion light-years from Earth.
After the snowstorm: Power outages mean no heat, no trick-or-treating

In many areas with power outages, the temperature in homes is barely 50 degrees, and trick-or-treating has been canceled because of concerns about downed wires.
Troy Davis execution protest confronts support for death penalty

While the Troy Davis execution may not be a game-changer for the death penalty, it has become part of a growing conversation about ensuring that innocent people aren't killed or die in prison.
Scientists find 'best evidence' yet for liquid water now on Mars

NASA's ongoing quest to 'follow the water,' in hopes of finding hints of life on Mars, has uncovered seasonally-appearing dark streaks that researchers call 'the best evidence we have to date of liquid water occurring today' – that is, not in the ancient past – 'on Mars.'
Hidden sea on a Saturn moon? New evidence says yes.

Satellite Cassini flew through geyser plumes spouting from Enceladus and gathered ice crystals. These crystals are salt-rich, suggesting that a hidden salty sea lurks beneath Enceladus's icy cap.
Giant black holes a window into origins of earliest galaxies

Scientists have found evidence of supermassive black holes at the core of the earliest galaxies, a discovery that could shape theories about galaxy formation.
Solar storm delivers a glancing blow to Earth – and a warning

The solar storm caused by a massive eruption two days ago arrived at Earth Wednesday, but it was only a taste of what scientists say might come – and the world is not prepared.
Will recovering global economy thwart efforts to curb global warming?

A UN agency reports that as the global economy began to recover from the recession, carbon emissions surged to a new record, imperiling measures to contain global warming.
Polar bear 'doomed'? Only if greenhouse-gas emissions aren't cut.

Greenhouse-gas emissions worldwide must be cut to avoid a disappearance of summer sea ice in the Arctic, which is crucial to the polar bear.
Astronomers build on a Hubble find, report light from oldest galaxy

Astronomers, aiming a ground-based telescope at a target spotted by the Hubble in space, confirm the find as the oldest galaxy so far. Its light was emitted at a time when hydrogen and helium fog still filled the universe.
Moses' parting of the Red Sea: Is there a physical explanation?

A new paper suggests that an area near the Red Sea area could have had favorable characteristics for 'wind setdown' some 3,000 years ago.
Climate-change study: Today's power plants aren't the problem

But tomorrow's could be, unless efforts to combat climate change include much more development of carbon-free sources of energy. The findings appear Thursday in the journal Science.
IPCC climate change panel needs transparency, review panel finds

The IPCC climate change advisory panel, stung by criticism that it ignored dissenting views, underwent an independent review of its management. Observers have called the report 'remarkably hard-hitting.'
NASA should protect Earth from space rocks, panel finds

A NASA task force says the space agency should make protecting the planet a strategic goal.
What to consider before converting to a Roth IRA

The benefits of converting to a Roth IRA are clearest for the wealthy. Many others should proceed with care.
Melting ice reveals ancient atlatl dart

Used by a Native American hunter some 10,000 years ago, the atlatl dart was discovered in a melting patch of ice high in the Rocky Mountains.
Cool Astronomy
Water on Mars? Scientists say gigantic ocean used to cover one-third of Mars.

Water, water everywhere. Scientists say Mars had an ocean that covered one-third of its surface.
First life on Earth was protected by a thick haze

The results help solve a longstanding mystery called the faint young sun paradox.
Is it time to overhaul the IPCC?

Climate scientists debate whether the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change should be tweaked, overhauled, or scrapped.