Earth Changes
"We've treated a lot of snakebites and it is still early in the season," said Dr. Sean Bush, Staff Emergency Physician & Envenomation Specialist, Loma Linda University Medical Center. "Depending on where you are in the U.S., warm weather patterns mean more snakes are out in search of food and water. Also, many of our housing developments coincide with snake habitats, and excursions into snake territory mean more people are at risk for snakebite." Roughly 8,000 venomous snakebites occur in the U.S. each year. About a dozen fatalities are reported annually.
A magnitude 3.8 earthquake and a 3.9 aftershock struck an area just southeast of Devore in San Bernardino County tonight, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
The initial earthquake occurred at 11:11 p.m. two miles southeast of Devore, about 50 miles northeast of the downtown Los Angeles.
The initial earthquake occurred at 11:11 p.m. two miles southeast of Devore, about 50 miles northeast of the downtown Los Angeles.
An strong undersea earthquake on Thursday off central Indonesia's Nusa Tenggara island chain sparked panic and prompted a brief tsunami warning, but there were no reports of casualties or major damage.
The quake struck near Sumbawa island at a depth of 19 km (11 miles), Fauzi, head of seismology at Indonesia's meteorological and geophysics agency, told Reuters.
"We have cancelled the warning. The quake had no tsunami potential," Sri Woro, the head of the agency, told Reuters.
Residents in Raba town on Sumbawa island said the quake sparked panic but no damage was reported.
The quake struck near Sumbawa island at a depth of 19 km (11 miles), Fauzi, head of seismology at Indonesia's meteorological and geophysics agency, told Reuters.
"We have cancelled the warning. The quake had no tsunami potential," Sri Woro, the head of the agency, told Reuters.
Residents in Raba town on Sumbawa island said the quake sparked panic but no damage was reported.
A lightning strike killed seven students and injured 30 others in a village school on Wednesday afternoon in southwest China, said local authorities.
The lightning struck the school while children were attending class at around 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, in a primary school in Xingye Village, Kaixian County of Chongqing Municipality, said officials.
The lightning struck the school while children were attending class at around 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, in a primary school in Xingye Village, Kaixian County of Chongqing Municipality, said officials.
Don't set the holiday picnic table just yet. You might need to clear some snow first.
Britain's astounding April, the warmest on record, has produced an astounding effect in the natural world, with at least 11 species of butterfly making their earliest recorded appearances this spring in what will be seen as the most remarkable demonstration yet of the effects of climate change on Britain's wildlife.
Once the bugs locate prey, they stun it with a bite. "It's much, much worse than a bee or wasp sting," Sites said. "I was bitten in the pad of my little finger, and I felt intense pain all the way to my elbow for a good 30 minutes."
After the prey is stunned, the predatory insects whip a straw-like appendage out and pump toxins into their meal, liquefying it from the inside-out. "After that, they suck out the juice," Sites said.
After the prey is stunned, the predatory insects whip a straw-like appendage out and pump toxins into their meal, liquefying it from the inside-out. "After that, they suck out the juice," Sites said.
The southwestern mountains of Colorado are under a snow advisory, with up to 8 inches of accumulation possible by early evening.
A freeze watch is in effect for tonight in the San Luis Valley region and much of southeastern Colorado is under a flash flood watch.
A freeze watch is in effect for tonight in the San Luis Valley region and much of southeastern Colorado is under a flash flood watch.
Disappearing tigers:
|
| ©Signs of the Times |
| Disappearing tigers |
Early results from a tiger census in India indicate the population of the endangered big cats is drastically lower than previously assumed, wildlife experts and conservationists said on Wednesday.
Victorian Premier Steve Bracks says the proposed $10 billion federal takeover of the Murray-Darling basin is back to square one.
Mr Bracks has written to Prime Minister John Howard rejecting the second draft of the legislation.
He says the Federal Government had indicated it would no longer seek total control of the basin, but the new legislation still demands the states refer all their powers to the Commonwealth.
Mr Bracks has written to Prime Minister John Howard rejecting the second draft of the legislation.
He says the Federal Government had indicated it would no longer seek total control of the basin, but the new legislation still demands the states refer all their powers to the Commonwealth.
Comment: Could Australia be used as a "test lab" for USA water policy?
Comment: For more information on the weather see this article.