Earth ChangesS


Frog

Big Rat, Tiny Possum Found in Rainforest

Researchers in a remote jungle in Indonesia have discovered a giant rat and a tiny possum that are apparently new to science, underscoring the stunning biodiversity of the Southeast Asian nation, scientists said Monday.

Unearthing new species of mammals in the 21st century is considered very rare. The discoveries by a team of American and Indonesian scientists are being studied further to confirm their status.

©Unknown

The animals were found in the Foja mountains rainforest in eastern Papua province in a June expedition, said U.S.-based Conservation Inter­national, which organized the trip along with the Indonesian Institute of Science.

Snowman

Colorado: Avalanche Threat Strands Travelers

DENVER - Wind-whipped snow and avalanche danger closed the main highway through the Colorado mountains for most of Monday, stranding thousands of travelers as they headed to New Year's Eve celebrations.

Portions of a 60-mile stretch of Interstate 70 the main route between Denver and some of the state's biggest ski resorts were shut down in both directions from around 5 p.m. Sunday until about 4 p.m. Monday.

Bug

Bedbug epidemic attacks New York City

A bedbug epidemic has exploded in every corner of New York City - striking even upper East Side luxury apartments owned by Gov. Spitzer's father, the Daily News has learned.

©Daily News
Unfed bugs are 1/4 to 3/4 inch long. They are brown or red-brown in color and the upper surface of the body appears crinkled. Recently fed, they are engorged with blood, dull red in color.

People

Hundreds Stung by Jellyfish in Brazil

SAO PAULO, Brazil - Swarms of jellyfish stung nearly 300 swimmers looking to cool off from a heat wave in a southeastern beach city, Brazilian media reported Sunday.

At least 15 people including children and teenagers were treated in Praia Grande for severe stings, doctor Adriano Bechara told the Tribuna newspaper, though their lives were not in danger.

Better Earth

Greek island of Zakynthos rattled by 5.2 magnitude quake; no damage or injuries reported

Athens, Greece - A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck the western island of Zakynthos early Sunday, causing no injuries or damage, authorities said.
The Athens Geodynamic Institute said Saturday's undersea quake occurred at 8:42 a.m. (0642 GMT), about 250 kilometers (150 miles) west of Athens. The epicenter was south of Zakynthos, the Institute said.
Locals were somewhat concerned by the duration of the earthquake, authorities said, but there was no widespread panic as the area produces frequent strong earthquakes.

Snowman

U.S. Midwest Storm to Bring Blustery Conditions East

Northern New England may get as much as a half-foot of snow in the next two days as a wave a low pressure and cold air blows in from the U.S. Midwest and Plains.

The storm yesterday dumped 8 inches (20 centimeters) of snow in Farwell, Michigan, said AccuWeather on its Web site. Farwell is 90 miles (145 kilometers) north of Lansing, Michigan.

''Southern New England and the mid-Atlantic region will escape with nothing but rain this time,'' said John Kocet, an AccuWeather meteorologist. ''Just like the snow up north, the rain will come and go over a six- to eight-hour period.''

Snowman

Let it snow: December snowfall nears all-time record for city



©Oshkosh Northwestern/Shu-Ling Zhou
Andy VanKeuren, 6, and his sister, Maddy, 8, play at the snow at their backyard Friday, December 28, 2007.

Another round of snow blanketed Oshkosh, Wisconsin with about four inches of the white stuff which fell Friday adding to a near record snowfall for the month.

Attention

2007 a Year of Weather Records in U.S.

WASHINGTON - When the calendar turned to 2007, the heat went on and the weather just got weirder. January was the warmest first month on record worldwide - 1.53 degrees above normal. It was the first time since record-keeping began in 1880 that the globe's average temperature has been so far above the norm for any month of the year.

And as 2007 drew to a close, it was also shaping up to be the hottest year on record in the Northern Hemisphere.

Cow

Bluetongue spreads to Scotland: government

A new case of bluetongue has been detected in Britain, for the first time in Scotland, the Scottish government said Saturday.

Snowman

US: Winter storm disrupts holiday travel

CHICAGO - A winter storm hit the Great Lakes on Friday, blanketing the region with several inches of snow and disrupting holiday travel.