Alexandria, VA—The U.S. energy portfolio changes over time. Scientific and technologic advances related to hydraulic fracturing have dramatically increased the supply of U.S. oil and gas; because of this, a methane economy — in which natural gas provides the leading share of primary energy consumption — is now a possible scenario for U.S. energy development. In a report released by the American Geosciences Institute (AGI), the social, political, technical, and environmental components of a methane economy are identified. [Read More]

In a small lake along the Japanese coast, scientists have found evidence of turbulent waters centuries ago. These telltale signs of severe weather in the geologic record support the legend of the two kamikaze typhoons that protected Japan from Mongol invasion. EARTH Magazine follows University of Amherst geoscientist Kinuyo Kanamaru and his research team as they dig up history in search of signs of the storms. Read more in a new story from EARTH Magazine: Kamikaze Typhoons Spared Japan from Kublai Khan

The feature explores the questions this mission hopes to answer, such as Pluto’s relationship to similar astronomical bodies and the formation of comets on the outskirts of the solar system in the Kuiper Belt. After a successful encounter with Jupiter in 2007, scientists are eager to put New Horizons’ unique remote sensing equipment to use, which will provide them with the first in situ data sets from this region of the solar system in decades — and likely the only data set on such planetary bodies that will be collected in the near future: http://Avww. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) would like to congratulate Emma Reed and Annette Patton, both Master’s candidates, as the two latest recipients of the Harriet Evelyn Wallace Scholarship. The scholarship, which is awarded to women pursuing graduate degrees in geoscience, is a $5,000 award for one academic year, with the opportunity to renew for an additional year of support, if qualified. Emma Reed is attending the University of Arizona in the Department of Geosciences. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA—The Association of American State Geologists (AASG) has recognized the Executive Director of the American Geosciences Institute, Dr. P. Patrick Leahy with its prestigious Pick and Gavel Award. This award was initiated by AASG in 1999 to recognize distinguished friends of geology who have made major contributions to advancing or facilitating the role that geoscience plays in our society. “Many of the complex geoscience issues we face today are of significant interest to the public,” Leahy said. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce the 50th edition of its Directory of Geoscience Departments. To distinguish the 50th edition, a number of new features were added. Department listings now include social media contacts and indicate whether they host a field camp. The field camp listings are categorized as either open enrollment to students outside the department or department only enrollment. This edition also has two different faculty indexes, sorting the faculty and researchers by their specialization and alphabetically. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA— Children born during, and up to three years after, the devastating 1997-1998 El Niño event in northern Peru were found to be shorter than their peers. The rising waters wiped out crops, drowned livestock, cut off bridges, and caused prolonged famine in many rural villages. Now, a new study that tracked long-term health impacts on children from the affected region has found that a decade later, the children continue to bear signs of the hardship endured early in their lives. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - After the Aug. 24, 2014, Napa Valley earthquake, movement continued along the principal fault to the north of the epicenter, according to a report released by the U.S. Geological Survey. Such “afterslip” is known from previous quakes, but this is the first time that strong afterslip has been observed in a populated residential community. While the majority of shaking on the main strand of the West Napa Fault Zone occurred in rural fields, approximately 20 homes were immediately affected. [Read More]

Join EARTH roving correspondent Mary Caperton Morton on her quest to find the famed treasure chest hidden somewhere in the Rocky Mountains north of Santa Fe by New Mexico antiquities dealer Forrest Fenn. The chest, valued at between $1 million and $2 million dollars, is hidden with nine clues provided by Fenn’s poem. Morton uses her knowledge of Fenn’s life and geoscience to identify potential hiding spots. She joins the estimated 30,000 people hunting for the chest. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - John Russell, a teacher at Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science, and Engineering in New York, NY, has been named the 2015 recipient of the Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award for Excellence in K-8 Earth Science Teaching. Russell, who earned his master’s degree in adolescent education from Pace University, has spent his career challenging students in eighth through twelfth grade by integrating research into authentic experiences for students in Earth sciences. [Read More]