Optical materials

Researcher looks to better understand climate risks of leaky natural gas wells

Environment

Natural gas has been touted as the way to quickly reduce carbon emissions from coal, but some scientists say we’re trading carbon for methane, which can be even worse. But no one knows how much methane is leaking out of new and old wells, which makes it hard to know just how much methane is released.

VIDEO: Snowy, icy weather in Seattle makes for unpleasant conditions

Environment

Video: Filming Underwater ‘Icicles of Death’ in Antarctica

Environment

Slideshow: World Championships of Ice and Snow Sailing

Sports

Video: ‘Port Symphony’ Brings Ships to Life in Canada

Arts, Culture & Media
The World

Science Note/ Candles

Scientists have found that special “candles” can help clean up contaminated groundwater.

Shepa Artic Ice Project

Seven months ago, a Canadian Coast Guard ship was deliberately frozen into the Arctic ice near the North Pole. The ship is serving as a hotel and command post for researchers on a year-long project of the National Science Foundation. Their mission is to gather data to help science better understand how Arctic ice may […]

The World

Farewell to Winter

In winter when the ice is thick on New Hampshire’s Lake Winnipesaukee, some folks take snowmobiles, cars, even airplanes onto the ice. They set up tiny shacks called bob houses complete with wood burning stove and a hole in the floor for a fishing line. Living on Earth marks the end of winter with this […]

SHRINKING POLAR PACK ICE

By looking at whaling records, an Australian researchers has reported the dramatic finding that the once stable Antarctic seasonal sea ice shrunk twenty-five percent in the 1950’s and 1960’s. The report in the journal Nature lends credence to fears that sudden climate shifts are possible. Steve Curwood spoke with William K. de la Mare from […]

MELTING ICE DISPLAY

Ice sculptures were mounted in the summer heat to make a point about global climate change by an activist group, and children came to cool themselves, becoming part of the action.