Nuclear Generation Capacity Drops in 2011December 07, 2011 – After reaching an all-time high in 2010, this year the nuclear power capacity—the amount of electricity that all the world’s nuclear power plants can produce—took a dip. (Related: World Electricity Mix Interactive) The earthquake-tsunami disaster at the Fukushima power plants in Japan, which are still being cleaned up, led many to sour on nuclear energy.…
PHOTOS: Six Long-Lost Haitian Frog Species FoundJanuary 12, 2011 – On the one-year anniversary of Haiti's earthquake nightmare, scientists exploring the country's few remaining pristine forests find an abundance of frogs—including six species lost to science for nearly two decades.
New Gravity Map Reveals Lumpy EarthApril 07, 2011 – The best map yet of Earth's gravity field can help track ocean currents and study the forces behind major earthquakes, experts say.
Zooming In On the Cholera Tree of Life (And Death)August 23, 2011 – In the wake of last year’s earthquake in Haiti, cholera arrived on the island for the first time in 60 years. According to the World Health Organization, 419, 511 Haitians got sick with cholera as of July 31, of which 5,968 died. The infection rate is dropping right now, but the arrival of Hurricane Irene could […]
Cholera and Cooperation Play Into Haiti ReforestationJanuary 14, 2011 – Ambitious efforts try to dry out the charcoal business, rebuild eroded hillsides, ease flooding, and improve water quality.
Top Ten Discoveries of 2010: Nat Geo News's Most PopularDecember 01, 2010 – A time-bending earthquake, a fish with "hands," and "Yoda bat" are among National Geographic News's most visited coverage of 2010 discoveries.
Jazzfest Spotlight on HaitiMay 05, 2011 – By: Susanne Hackett It’s Jazzfest season in New Orleans, and this year’s festival hosts the largest celebration of Haitian culture in the U.S. since the devastating earthquake one year ago. New Orleans and Haiti have shared a deep cultural connection for over 300 years and many local traditions and customs have roots in this complex…
Seeking Sustainable Oil? Turn to Trash!April 06, 2011 – It’s no surprise that oil and coal companies are having a banner year. Earthquakes in Japan and revolutions in Africa have oil riding a profitable wave of instability. The Wall Street Journal noted that rising gas prices are a boon to oil companies even as costs pinch consumers. Fortunately there are plenty of energy innovators…
Expert Coverage of Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant: LinksMarch 18, 2011 – A nuclear power station is built around a tiny little reaction reaction that happens as atoms are split apart. This tiny process is contained in several protective layers that are built to protect the outside environment from radiation emitted from the process and the breakdown. When the earthquake hit Japan last week, these protective measures…
Connecting Energy Systems and Climate RiskMarch 17, 2011 – Among the challenges facing technicians struggling to contain the meltdown at the Daiichi Japanese nuclear power units is getting enough water to cool them down. In Japan’s case, the overheating was caused by explosions triggered by the earthquake. Nuclear—as well as fossil-fuel and biomass-fired and some renewable energy systems are impacted by changes in ambient…
Survival Guide: Signs of a Tsunami, a National Geographic Expert Weighs InMarch 11, 2011 – Photograph of Beverly Goodman by Howie Goodman Editor's Note: In light of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan and possible future events along the Pacific Coasts, we're sharing some recently published tips from Adventure on how to survive a tsunami. Read more tips in our Survival Guide. *** How to Survive a TsunamiBy Damon…
Learning From Japan’s Nuclear DisasterMarch 30, 2011 – As heroic workers and soldiers strive to save stricken Japan from a new horror—radioactive fallout—some truths known for 40 years bear repeating. An earthquake-and-tsunami zone crowded with 127 million people is an unwise place for 54 reactors. The 1960s design of five Fukushima-I reactors has the smallest safety margin and probably can’t contain 90 percent…
Keeping Promises in HaitiJanuary 28, 2010 – Writer Barbara Wysocki reflects on her recent visit to Haiti, and the promises being made to help its recovery. I stand at my kitchen sink remembering Haiti. How I hugged my friend Jane Wynne goodbye in November. We stood in her mountainside garden, a haven of peace though it’s just a half-hour from Port-au-Prince. We…
The Deadliest Tsunami in History?December 27, 2004 – The earthquake that generated the great Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 is estimated to have released the energy of 23,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs. Find out what happened and how it was unleashed on millions of unsuspecting people.
Giant Carbon "Vault" Proposed Near New York CityJanuary 07, 2010 – Undersea carbon dioxide reservoirs could store massive amounts of the potent greenhouse gas near eastern U.S. cities—but may also pose an earthquake risk, a new study says.
Tsunami Aerial ViewsOctober 09, 2009 – Check out these aerial photos for a birds-eye-view of the Indian Ocean Tsunami.