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Fracking ‘linked to biggest Oklahoma earthquake’
Posted by BBC: Jason Palmer on March 27th, 2013
BBC: Scientists say wastewater injection from hydraulic fracturing was linked to a magnitude-5.7 earthquake that struck the US state of Oklahoma in 2011.
Fracking, as it is known, injects water and chemicals into petroleum wells in a bid to extract trapped natural gas.
Opponents of the practice say that it risks causing seismic events and contaminating groundwater.
The study in Geology shows that "induced seismicity" can occur years after wastewater injection begins.
Most seismic events linked...
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Bacteria ‘abound in hailstones’
Posted by BBC: Jason Palmer on May 25th, 2011
BBC: A study of hailstones has found large numbers of bacteria at their cores.
The find lends credence to the "bio-precipitation" idea, which suggests that bacteria are actively involved in stimulating precipitation.
The bacteria have protein coatings that cause water to freeze at relatively warm temperatures.
Researchers at the American Society for Microbiology meeting suggest bacteria may have evolved to use the water cycle to facilitate their own dispersal.
The micro-organisms that can...
Cocoa genome ‘to save chocolate’
Posted by BBC: Jason Palmer on November 14th, 2010
BBC: The public release of the genome of the cacao tree - from which chocolate is made - will save the chocolate industry from collapse, a scientist has said.
Howard Yana-Shapiro, a researcher for Mars, said that without engineering higher-yielding cacao trees, demand would outstrip supply within 50 years.
Dr Yana-Shapiro said such strains will also help biodiversity and farmers' welfare in cacao-growing regions.
The genome's availability will likely lead to healthier, tastier chocolate.
The...