Officially, we are living in the geological epoch called the Holocene, but there is a movement to change the name of our current epoch to the Anthropocene, due to the effect that mankind is having on the planet.After 11,700 years of Holocene living, this is a major change and is not being entered into lightly.The […]
How are Earthquakes Measured?
When we hear that an earthquake has happened we want to know how big it was and how many were affected. Although only eye-witnesses and aid workers can tell how many were killed or injured, there are several methods used to measure and describe earthquakes. The Seismograph The first seismometer was invented around 132 AD […]
Ocean Acidification Monitoring Buoys Placed in Arctic Waters
Three buoys are being moored in northern oceans to collect data on ocean acidification. Scientists from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) are running this project to measure the acidification of the oceans. The first buoy has already been placed in Resurrection Bay, near Seward, Alaska, the second will […]
The Red Velvet Ant Stings like a Wasp
The red velvet ant is, in fact, a wasp. Although the female is wingless and looks very much like an exotic ant, there is one obvious difference. The antennae of ants is jointed, or elbowed and velvet ants have straight, or at most curved, antennae. The two are closely related, sharing many other features, although […]
The Hayward Fault Creeps, is it Due for a Leap?
Known as the most dangerous earthquake fault in North America, the Hayward Fault, in San Francisco, is well known as a time bomb to those who live and work along its 150 mile track. To begin with, it is pretty obvious that something is on the move. The Hayward fault has a creep mechanism, where […]
Japan Nuclear Plant Closing in Preparation for Big One
The Prime Minister of Japan, Naoto Kan, has made an urgent request for Hamaoka nuclear power station to be shut down temporarily, and the owners have agreed. The Fukushima plant that was hit by the tsunami on March 11 had a tsunami defense wall, which turned out to be inadequate. The Hamaoka plant has no […]