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. Study says 4C rise in temperature could happen by 2060. Increase could threaten water supply of half world populationUnchecked global warming could bring a severe temperature rise of 4C within many people's lifetimes, according to a new report for the British government that significantly raises the stakes over climate change.The study, prepared for the Department of Energy and Climate Change by scientists at the Met Office, challenges the assumption that severe warming will be a threat only for future generations, and warns that a catastrophic 4C rise in temperature could happen by 2060 without strong action on emissions.Officials from 190 countries gather today in Bangkok to continue negotiations on a new deal to tackle global warming, which they aim to secure at United Nations talks in December in Copenhagen.'We've always talked about these very severe impacts only affecting future generations, but people alive today could live to see a 4C rise,' said Richard Betts, the head of cl

Prof Chris French is coordinator of the anomalistic psychology research unit at Goldsmiths, University of London. He defines his field as the psychology of paranormal beliefs and of ostensibly paranormal experiences, cognition and emotion. Or 'the study of weird stuff'. Chris is also the editor of the [UK] Skeptic magazine (listen out for the subliminal plug) and writes a column for the Guardian's science website. We look at research carried out by Jonathan Pieslak at the City University of New York on the pumped-up music American troops use to get into the right frame of mind to face life-threatening combat situations in Iraq and Afghanistan.You can read Ian Sample's blog about the research, 'How the iPod became an instrument of war', which includes audio excerpts of the music and interviews not included in the podcast. Our pod panellists discuss the discovery of water on the moon and their dream inventions. Following comments about the Aids film House of Numbers in last week's podca

HOUSTON, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (NYSE: COG) today reported on its remediation of three frac fluid releases at its Heitsman 4H Well location in Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. As reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), on September 16, 2009 during fracing operations being performed by Cabot contractors, Baker Corporation and Halliburton, there were two releases of frac fluid for a total of approximately 7980 gallons, some of which entered Steven's Creek. The frac fluid is 99.5% fresh water and 0.5% gel. This mixture is not hazardous or dangerous.

The European Space Agency's SMART-1 team has released an image of the future impact site of NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS). LCROSS will search for water ice on the Moon by making two impacts into a crater named Cabeus A at the lunar South Pole. The impacts are scheduled for 11:30 and 11:34 am UT on 9 October 2009.

The Lower Colorado River Authority could seek stricter water restrictions after heavy rains in mid-September did little to ease the drought.

The U.S. Air Force, which has been soaring into the wild green yonder on alternative fuels and other sustainability measures, has added paint to its roster of more earth-friendly maneuvers.  At Robins Air Force Base in Georgia, the Air Force has been easing away from toxic formulas, using PreKote to protect its aircraft from corrosion.  PreKote is a propriety nontoxic base coating manufactured by Pantheon Chemical of Phoenix, Airizona. The new coating replaces highly toxic and potentially carcinogenic anti-corrosion products based on chemicals such as hexavalent chromium, which the Department of Defense has targeted for elimination throughout the armed forces, using the force of an urgently worded memorandum issued last spring. of this story »

QatarGas has said it has begun production from the Laffan Refinery, the first condensate refinery in Qatar. The refinery's production reached commercial quantities and specifications on 23 September for all products, the firm said. Laffan Refinery has a total processing capacity of 146,000 barrels per stream day, made up of 61,000 bpsd of naphtha, 52,000 bpsd of kerojet, 24,000 bpsd of gasoil and 9,000 bpsd of LPG. Faisal Al Suwaidi, CEO and Chairman of Board of Directors of Qatargas Operating Company, said: 'The refinery adds value for end customers as well as the State of Qatar. This start-up represents a historic milestone for Qatar and Qatargas, especially as this is the first time some of these technologies are being used in the country.'

Hotel Griffon Flushing Less Money and Water Down the Drain

A species of frog is fighting for survival as water dries up in the lower Murray-Darling Basin wetlands in south-western New South Wales.

Scientists argue that current international strategies to mitigate manmade carbon emissions and address climate change have overlooked a critical player -- inland waters. Carbon burial and outgassing by streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs and wetlands play important roles in the carbon cycle that are unaccounted for in conventional carbon cycling models.