Next time you go for an important job interview or take a driving test, check the weather. The space weather, that is.
For years, Russians have looked beyond the confines of the Earth's atmosphere to explain sudden headaches, fatigue, mood swings or their pets going berserk.
What they are looking for is geomagnetic storms, or magnitniye buri. Although little known in the West, these mysterious storms are taken so seriously in Russia that they are forecast along with the rest of the weather on national television channels, radio stations, Internet sites and in newspapers.
And while many Westerners might scoff, recent research seems to support the theory that magnetic storms do affect us, both mentally and physically.
Earth Changes
Heavy rain and wind lashed Portugal Wednesday, knocking down trees, triggering landslides and causing localized flooding that disrupted road and rail travel and left one woman dead, officials said.
The central city of Pombal, located some 170 kilometres (105 miles) northeast of Lisbon, was especially hard-hit with most of the historic city centre under water, local officials said.
The central city of Pombal, located some 170 kilometres (105 miles) northeast of Lisbon, was especially hard-hit with most of the historic city centre under water, local officials said.
A fungal disease that threatens to wipe out many amphibians is thriving because of climate change, a study suggests.
Mass movements of people across the world are likely to be one of the most dramatic effects of climate change in the coming century, a study suggests.
The report, from the aid agency Tearfund, raises the spectre of hundreds of millions of environmental refugees and says the main reason will be the effects of climate - from droughts and water shortages, from flooding and storm surges and from sea-level rise.
The report, from the aid agency Tearfund, raises the spectre of hundreds of millions of environmental refugees and says the main reason will be the effects of climate - from droughts and water shortages, from flooding and storm surges and from sea-level rise.
Two environmentalists spent about four hours Monday perched on a ledge over an entrance to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration building to protest what they said is the agency's suppression of information on global warming.
The first week he was in New Orleans, Juan Sifford was recruited on a street corner to tear down a chain-link fence and dig up some bamboo roots. The contractor promised him and three other workers $100 each for the job.
When the work was done and the men piled back into the contractor's truck, he drove them to what Sifford calls "a really bad neighborhood. He climbs down off the truck and he gives us $120. Not individually, collectively. Then he showed me his sidearm."
When the work was done and the men piled back into the contractor's truck, he drove them to what Sifford calls "a really bad neighborhood. He climbs down off the truck and he gives us $120. Not individually, collectively. Then he showed me his sidearm."
TOKYO An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 rattled a group of Japanese islands in the Pacific Ocean south of Tokyo early Tuesday, Japan's weather agency said. No tsunami warning was issued.
NEW YORK - The U.S. Northeast, the nation's top heating oil consuming region, will face colder-than-normal weather during the early winter period, private forecaster WSI Corp. predicted on Monday.
The November to January outlook, following the mildest winter on record last year, comes as U.S. energy companies built up healthy inventories of heating oil and natural gas ahead of seasonal cold weather.
The November to January outlook, following the mildest winter on record last year, comes as U.S. energy companies built up healthy inventories of heating oil and natural gas ahead of seasonal cold weather.
All Things Considered, October 23, 2006 - About 70 years ago, pioneer aerial photographer Bradford Washburn flew over Alaska's glaciers, documenting their splendor while looking for mountain-climbing routes.
Now, a Boston photojournalist is following in his footsteps with a very different purpose. He's reshooting Washburn's images to demonstrate global warming's impacts. Ed Schoenfeld of CoastAlaska News reports from Juneau.
Now, a Boston photojournalist is following in his footsteps with a very different purpose. He's reshooting Washburn's images to demonstrate global warming's impacts. Ed Schoenfeld of CoastAlaska News reports from Juneau.
MEXICO CITY - Hurricane Paul strengthened to a Category 2 storm off Mexico's western coast on Monday and was threatening southern Baja California, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said.
Paul had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph and had shifted direction, moving west-northwest at about 5 mph. The center said Paul could strengthen further and pick up speed Monday.
Paul had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph and had shifted direction, moving west-northwest at about 5 mph. The center said Paul could strengthen further and pick up speed Monday.
