Donate

Natural hazards

Helicopter dropping water on wildfire

2017 was the costliest US natural disaster year on record

Economics

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that America suffered a record amount of damage in 2017 from natural disasters, with a tab of more than $306 billion.

The Health Risks That Follow A Wildfire

The World

Tsunami in a Tank

Japan Relief: Helping the Most Vulnerable

Environment

Indonesia Reacts to Tsunami Warning

Environment

Tracking the Wave

Environment

Rob Williams, seismologist with the U.S. Geological Survey explains how we track tsunamis and why we can follow this one across the Pacific. Bill Dorman at Hawaii Public Radio says that he hasn’t seen water disturbances so far as he monitors his state.

The World

Where There’s Fire, There’s Smoke

Many Westerners dismiss the smoke from wildfires as a nuisance. But researchers know smoke is dangerous for everybody, and the long-term health effects are unknown.

The World

Note on Emerging Science

Researchers design a structure that can shield coastal villages from tsunamis.

The World

2004 tsunami’s historic proportions

Environment

Two new studies of tsunamis in the Indian Ocean suggest that 2004 killer wave was larger than any tsunami in that part of the world in perhaps 600 years.