The dying of the winds: Study hints at reduced wind speed in US, may be a problem for turbines

WASHINGTON — The wind, a favorite power source of the green energy movement, seems to be dying down across the United States. And the cause, ironically, may be global warming — the very problem wind power seeks to address.

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano glows at summit as lava nears surface; unclear whether eruption near

VOLCANO, Hawaii — The summit of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano is glowing brightly as molten lava swirls 300 feet below its crater’s floor, bubbling near the surface after years of spewing from the volcano’s side.

Environmental and investor groups push for more SEC disclosure on exposure to climate change

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Federal regulators have not done enough to ensure that shareholders are aware of material risks to companies from greenhouse gas emissions, according to a pair of studies released Wednesday by environmental and investor groups.

Air France crash leaves trail of broken hearts across 32 countries

DUBLIN — Three young Irish doctors — one a Riverdance performer — returning from a vacation to Brazil. An American geologist and his wife headed to Europe for work and some R&R. An 11-year-old boy traveling alone on his way back to an English boarding school.

Company names American geologist and wife who were on missing Air France flight

NEW ORLEANS — The two Americans on board an Air France plane that crashed in the Atlantic Ocean were a geologist and his wife headed to Europe for work and vacation, a spokesman for his employer said Tuesday.

Scientist says volcanic eruption in Congo is imminent close to city of half million

KINSHASA, Congo — Scientists found evidence of intense volcanic activity — including tremors, pools of lava and plumes of smoke — at two volcanoes near a major city in eastern Congo, and said some residents had fled for fear of an eruption.

Scientists say seismic activity suggests Alaska volcano getting ready to erupt again

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Geologists in Alaska say the Mount Redoubt volcano may be getting ready to awaken after being relatively quiet for more than a month.

Seismologists report 6.1 quake in Guatemala; deep epicenter, shaking light in capital

GUATEMALA CITY — Seismologists are reporting a strong but deeply centered earthquake in Guatemala.

Studies say bigger cuts in carbon dioxide emissions needed to keep warming below danger mark

WASHINGTON — If the world is going to limit global warming to just a few degrees, it has to slash carbon dioxide pollution much more than now being discussed, two new science studies say.

The remains of a Polish geologist beheaded by militants in Pakistan are returned home

WARSAW, Poland — The remains of a Polish geologist beheaded by Islamic militants in Pakistan were returned Wednesday to Poland in a casket draped in the two countries’ flags and covered in flowers.

Study: Climate change to hit SE Asia harder than most of the world’s regions

BANGKOK — Southeast Asia will be hit particularly hard by climate change, causing the region’s agriculture-dependent economies to contract by as much as 6.7 percent annually by the end of the century, according to a study released Monday.

New Zealand climate scientist who contributed to Nobel fired for unapproved media comment

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A top New Zealand climate scientist whose work contributed to a Nobel Peace prize was fired from his job at a state-funded agency Friday for speaking to the media without approval.

The economic cost of addressing climate change marks debate; Pelosi vows approval this year.

WASHINGTON — As Congress begins to debate climate change in earnest, the science is taking a back seat to economics: How much will it cost to slow the Earth’s warming because of man-made pollution — and what’s the cost of doing nothing?

Scientists unveil “extraordinary” discovery: Earth-sized planet outside our solar system

HATFIELD, England — In the search for Earth-like planets, astronomers zeroed in on two places that look awfully familiar to home. One is close to the right size. The other is in the right place. European researchers said they not only found the smallest exoplanet ever, called Gliese 581 e, but realized that a neighboring planet discovered earlier, Gliese 581 d, was in the prime habitable zone for potential life.

Study shows decline in flow of many major rivers, which scientists blame on climate change

WASHINGTON — The flow of water in the world’s largest rivers has declined over the past half-century, with significant changes found in about a third of the big rivers.

Moderate quake shakes China’s northwest, no injuries immediately reported

BEIJING — Chinese seismological authorities say a moderate earthquake registering a magnitude of 5.5 Sunday has struck China’s far western Xinjiang region. No injuries were immediately reported.