Tornadoes cause an average of 70 fatalities every year in the U.S. And they’re incredibly tough to predict.
Environment
Lava Destroys the Last Home in Hawaii Neighborhood
After nearly three decades, the Kilauea volcano finally claimed the last home in the ravaged Royal Gardens subdivision on Hawaii’s big island.
Homeowner Jack Thompson hoped this latest threat would miss his home, like so …
Goodbye, Productivity: Zoo Broadcasts Baby Polar Bear Siku on Live Cam
Planned on getting actual work done today? Sorry in advance.
Actress Lucy Lawless Arrested While Protesting Arctic Oil Drilling
Here’s a cause that could use some help from Xena. Actress Lucy Lawless and five others were arrested on Monday, three days after they climbed onto an oil-drilling ship to prevent it from making exploratory wells in the …
The Grand Canyon Bans Sales of Bottled Water
Within a month, the National Park Service will ban the sales of plastic water bottles in the Grand Canyon park, a move that might annoy both swarms of not-so sustainable-minded tourists and maybe some Coca-Cola …
Chinese Builders Construct 30-Story Hotel — In 15 Days
Builders in China completed a 170,000 square foot, 30-story prefabricated hotel in just 15 days, ending on New Year’s Eve – and posted a time-lapse video (above) to show off their impressive feat,
Looking to the Stars: NASA Touts ‘Beautiful’ Meteor Shower Wednesday
Heads up for stargazers: an annual meteor shower early Wednesday morning promises a “brief, beautiful show” worth waking – or staying – up for this year.
The New Knut? Internet Enamored by Siku, the Danish Polar Bear
Adorable Internet animals beware – there is a new ursine sensation that will crush you with his cuteness.
Meet Siku, the month-old polar bear from Denmark who has inspired “awww”s worldwide with his videotaped antics. …
All Shook Up: Elvis the Australian Crocodile Is Tired of Your Yard Work
Now that’s rock ’n’ roll behavior.
The Ruins of ‘Wonderland,’ Where China Hoped to Rival Disneyland
A short distance outside Beijing, in a bleak-looking 100-acre area of former corn fields off the main road to the Great Wall of China, sits a bizarre sight: the eerie, skeletal ruins of once-grand plans for the largest amusement …
Hundreds of New Species Discovered, Including ‘Elvis’ Monkey
Conservationists have discovered a big batch of new — and interesting-sounding — creatures in Southeast Asia, including a psychedelic gecko and a monkey with something resembling Elvis’ hairstyle.
Mayan 2012 Apocalypse Prediction Is Inaccurate, Expert (Obviously) States
Sorry, John Cusack, but the ancient Mayan inscription that foretold the end of the world in 2012 may have been misinterpreted.