US Geological Survey – News Stories About US Geological Survey - Page 3

Aug 20, 2009 12:04 PM CDT

Test Finds Mercury in Every Fish

A quarter contaminated beyond EPA safety limit

(Newser) - Catch a fish in one of America's streams, and there's a good chance it will have at least trace amounts of mercury. The most comprehensive survey to date from the US Geological Survey tested more than 1,000 fish from nearly 300 streams around the nation—and found mercury in...

4 Earthquakes Strike Off Mexican Coast

UPDATED

Aug 3, 2009 3:24 PM CDT

4 Earthquakes Strike Off Mexican Coast

No damage reported; 6.9 tremor felt as far away as Phoenix, LA

(Newser) - A series of four earthquakes hit within an hour today under Mexico’s Gulf of California, BNO News reports. The second of the tremors, which at 9 miles deep were relatively shallow and thus more dangerous, registered a 6.9 on the Richter scale. No damage was immediately reported, and...

5.7 Quake Shakes Tall
Buildings in Mexico City

May 22, 2009 4:54 PM CDT

5.7 Quake Shakes Tall Buildings in Mexico City

(Newser) - A strong earthquake swayed skyscrapers in Mexico City and rattled colonial buildings in neighboring Puebla state today, sending frightened people into the streets. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. "There is absolute calm, zero damage,” a Puebla official said. The US Geological Survey said the...

4.7 Quake Shakes Southern Cal

May 18, 2009 3:29 AM CDT

4.7 Quake Shakes Southern Cal

(Newser) - A 4.7 magnitude earthquake rattled much of southern California last night and caused minor property damage, reports the Los Angeles Times. Windows were broken and items toppled off shelves when the temblor struck east of Los Angeles Airport. No injuries were reported. The 15-second shaker was deep, originating some...

5.6 Aftershock
Rattles Quake Zone

Apr 7, 2009 1:43 PM CDT

5.6 Aftershock Rattles Quake Zone

(Newser) - A strong tremor has shaken quake-hit areas of central Italy and sent rescuers and residents fleeing from damaged buildings in L'Aquila. Chunks of concrete dropped from the buildings there and the shock was felt as far away as Rome. The US Geological Survey reported that the temblor registered 5.6...

Alaskans Erupt Over
Jindal Volcano Jab

Feb 26, 2009 2:57 PM CST

Alaskans Erupt Over Jindal Volcano Jab

(Newser) - Alaskans of all stripes are incensed by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s disparaging comments Tuesday about the necessity of volcano monitoring, the Anchorage Daily News reports. It’s “a matter of life and death in Alaska,” Sen. Mark Begich wrote the Republican. Even Gov. Sarah Palin’s office...

Arctic Holds 3 Years of Oil

Jul 24, 2008 7:24 AM CDT

Arctic Holds 3 Years of Oil

A fifth of world's untapped reserves may be under melting ice

(Newser) - Enough oil is believed to lie under the rapidly thawing Arctic to last the world 3 years, Reuters reports. The USGS released a forecast yesterday estimating the region has 90 billion recoverable barrels of oil and vast natural gas reserves. The agency's director said the information was vital in order...

7.8 Earthquake Rocks China

May 12, 2008 3:05 AM CDT

7.8 Earthquake Rocks China

Strikes near city of 10 million; 5 reported dead

(Newser) - A major 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked central China today, with shaking felt a thousand miles away in Beijing, and in Thailand and Vietnam. Exact damage or injuries were not known, but the quake hit about 60 miles from Chengdu, a city of 10 million in China's Sichuan province, reports...

Big Quake
Will Rock Calif.
by 2038: Study

Apr 14, 2008 9:00 PM CDT

Big Quake Will Rock Calif. by 2038: Study

Scientists warn state to plan for 7.5 mag temblor

(Newser) - A major earthquake is almost inevitable in California in the next 30 years, a new study says. The likely target is Southern California, which has a 97% chance of a 6.7 magnitude quake and 37% chance of a 7.5. Because it has suffered more big quakes in the...

Drugs Found in US Water Supply

Mar 10, 2008 7:50 AM CDT

Drugs Found in US Water Supply

Water drunk by 41M people contaminated

(Newser) - Small amounts of a wide range of prescription and over-the-counter drugs have been found in drinking water used daily by 41 million Americans in 24 major cities. A major AP investigation found pain killers, anti-seizure drugs, angina and cholesterol medications, mood-altering drugs, and other pharmaceuticals in tap water, the water...

Major 7.7 Earthquake Shakes Chile

Nov 14, 2007 10:44 AM CST

Major 7.7 Earthquake Shakes Chile

'Horribly strong' temblor felt across 1,300 miles in South America

(Newser) - A magnitude 7.7 earthquake rattled through northern Chile this morning, the AP reports, cutting power and causing injuries, but no deaths. The US Geological Survey said the temblor was centered 780 miles north of the capital Santiago, and a government spokeswoman said it was felt across 1,300 miles....