http://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. Researchers at the Technical University of Madrid (UPM, Spain) have created "shadow models" and a type of software that calculates the amount of solar radiation that reaches streets and buildings in high resolution. According to the results published in the Research Journal of Chemistry and Environment, they could help to optimise the energy consumption of cities. http://phys.org/news241712802.html Space & Earth Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:26:54 EST news241712802 The first climate study to focus on variations in daily weather conditions has found that day-to-day weather has grown increasingly erratic and extreme, with significant fluctuations in sunshine and rainfall affecting more than a third of the planet. http://phys.org/news240594484.html Space & Earth Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:48:21 EST news240594484 (AP) -- The U.S. Coast Guard on Wednesday monitored the waters off Santa Cruz, where a pod of whales has settled unusually close to shore drawing crowds and threatening the safety of kayakers and other boaters trying to get a look at the creatures. http://phys.org/news239469579.html Biology Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:19:50 EST news239469579 A new smartphone app that will help to guide stressed motorists through the trauma of a car accident, while potentially saving millions of pounds in fraudulent insurance claims has been recognised for its innovation. http://phys.org/news238232010.html Technology Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:40:46 EST news238232010 A salvage crew on Thursday made a daring landing on a crippled container ship leaking oil off New Zealand, as the vessel's owners apologised for the country's worst sea pollution crisis. http://phys.org/news237719564.html Space & Earth Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:12:51 EST news237719564 (PhysOrg.com) -- Last month the extent of sea ice covering the Arctic Ocean declined to the second-lowest extent on record. Satellite data from NASA and the NASA-supported National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the University of Colorado in Boulder showed that the summertime sea ice cover narrowly avoided a new record low. http://phys.org/news237025852.html Space & Earth Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:31:25 EST news237025852 (PhysOrg.com) -- The weather in Pennsylvania this year won't soon be forgotten -- one of the wettest springs ever, followed by a record-breaking dry heat wave in July, followed by the remnants of a hurricane and tropical storm in August and September that caused historic flooding. http://phys.org/news236511627.html Biology Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:50:01 EST news236511627 Forest Service Southern Research Station (SRS) scientists recently used long-term data from the Coweeta Hydrological Laboratory (Coweeta) in Western North Carolina to examine the feasibility of managing forests for water supply under the changing weather conditions forecast for the future. http://phys.org/news236434720.html Space & Earth Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:18:47 EST news236434720 The blanket of sea ice that floats on the Arctic Ocean appears to have reached its lowest extent for 2011, the second lowest recorded since satellites began measuring it in 1979, according to the University of Colorado Boulder's National Snow and Ice Data Center. http://phys.org/news235316149.html Space & Earth Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:36:09 EST news235316149 NASA will try again Friday to launch a $500 million pair of unmanned spacecraft that will use gravity tools to map the Moon's inner core for the first time, after high winds delayed a first attempt. http://phys.org/news234755463.html Space & Earth Fri, 09 Sep 2011 02:51:22 EST news234755463 On Tuesday, Aug. 30, NASA's next earth-observing research satellite arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California to begin preparations for an October launch. http://phys.org/news234088113.html Space & Earth Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:28:52 EST news234088113 (AP) -- Nigeria launched two observation satellites into orbit Wednesday, and authorities said they hoped to use the equipment to monitor weather in a region seasonally ravaged by disasters. http://phys.org/news232805581.html Space & Earth Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:13:44 EST news232805581 Cattle producers should be aware that forecasted weather conditions could result in significant heat stress issues in cattle. The US Meat Animal Research Center predicts danger or emergency conditions through most of South Dakota beginning Saturday, July 16 and extending well into next week. In addition to afternoon temperatures forecast in the mid to upper 90s, recent moisture and humidity increases the risk of a more intense heat stress event according to Extension Beef Feedlot Specialist Ben Holland. Although some cloud cover and isolated thunderstorms are forecasted for Sunday, many areas will be hot and sunny most of the day and cattle could really start to suffer on Monday and Tuesday of next week. http://phys.org/news230291874.html Biology Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:58:43 EST news230291874 Tourists crowded into central Florida on Thursday as NASA forged ahead with plans to launch Atlantis on the final mission of the US shuttle program despite stormy weather. http://phys.org/news229262130.html Space & Earth Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:55:53 EST news229262130 In response to increased awareness generated by the expanding local foods movement, demand for fresh strawberries has increased throughout the United States. The fresh market strawberry industry in the U.S. flourishes in California and Florida -- states with ideal weather conditions and long growing seasons. Even with challenging growing conditions, small-scale strawberry production operations succeed in other areas of the country, particularly near urban areas where local produce commands premium prices at market. http://phys.org/news227968800.html Biology Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:41:07 EST news227968800 Swiss solar-powered aircraft Solar Impulse will attempt to reach Paris from Brussels on Tuesday after a previous flight was aborted due to technical problems, its team said. http://phys.org/news227195908.html Technology Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:58:39 EST news227195908 Team Sapsucker sped away in a minivan moments after midnight on Earth Day, ears perked and binoculars in hand, in a race to identify a US record number of bird species in a 24-hour period. http://phys.org/news222696284.html Biology Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:05:03 EST news222696284 In the middle of the Spanish countryside 104 giant white windmills set against shrubs and haystacks sweep the sky day and night, providing electricity for 600,000 people. http://phys.org/news222492357.html Technology Wed, 20 Apr 2011 04:26:17 EST news222492357 When soybean rust first appeared in the United States in late 2004, many producers feared devastating yield losses similar to losses experienced in other parts of the world. In response to this threat, researchers have been evaluating USDA soybean germplasm accessions for resistance to this fungus, and a recent report in Crop Science identifies some of these resistant sources. http://phys.org/news221132444.html Biology Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:40:58 EST news221132444 Google on Monday was among investors pumping $42 million into a climate change inspired technology startup that calculates the chances of crops being ruined by weather. http://phys.org/news218140127.html Technology Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:40:01 EST news218140127 As many as 200 oil-stained birds have been found after an Icelandic cargo ship ran aground last week and began leaking fuel inside Norway's only marine natural reserve, authorities said Sunday. http://phys.org/news217422108.html Space & Earth Sun, 20 Feb 2011 11:02:19 EST news217422108 Thanks to climate change, butterflies are flying more frequently, further and longer. This makes it easier for them to cope with a fragmented landscape, says Wageningen University doctoral researcher Anouk Cormont in an article in Biodiversity and Conservation. http://phys.org/news216385997.html Biology Tue, 08 Feb 2011 11:14:55 EST news216385997 Wetter, cooler summers can have a detrimental effect on the milk we drink, according to new research published by Newcastle University. http://phys.org/news214469839.html Biology Mon, 17 Jan 2011 06:58:05 EST news214469839 Turning up the heat might be the best thing for athletes competing in cool weather, according to a new study by human physiology researchers at the University of Oregon. http://phys.org/news207236217.html Medicine & Health Mon, 25 Oct 2010 14:50:01 EST news207236217 (PhysOrg.com) -- A NASA panel that investigated the unsuccessful April 28 launch of a scientific balloon from Alice Springs, Australia, has released its report. http://phys.org/news206977257.html Space & Earth Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:41:16 EST news206977257 (PhysOrg.com) -- In preparation for NASA's next rover landing on the Red Planet, one Mars year away, an instrument studying the Martian atmosphere from orbit has begun a campaign. http://phys.org/news205049868.html Space & Earth Thu, 30 Sep 2010 07:18:23 EST news205049868 The Macondo well, which spilled an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, has been secured and no longer constitutes "a threat," a senior US official said Saturday. http://phys.org/news202839622.html Space & Earth Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:50:02 EST news202839622 The launch into space of Denmark's first privately-built rocket has been postponed to Thursday due to bad weather conditions, one of its builders said. http://phys.org/news202387130.html Space & Earth Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:39:05 EST news202387130 Use of morphing flight control surfaces has enabled the development of a cost effective unmanned air-sea rescue plane that can operate in extreme weather conditions despite its light weight and small size. State-of-the-art avionics and cameras onboard the seaplane ensure a smooth flight for extended rescue and surveillance missions, while reducing risks to material and crews. http://phys.org/news202048028.html Technology Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:38:44 EST news202048028 Tropical Storm Mindulle came ashore in central Vietnam today, August 24 and brought heavy rainfall and gusty winds with it. NASA's Aqua satellite captured strong convection and thunderstorms in Mindulle's center before it made landfall close to the city of Vinh, south of the capital. Now, Mindulle is encountering rugged, mountainous terrain as it continues to move inland. http://phys.org/news201875816.html Space & Earth Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:10:01 EST news201875816