China: Railway System Near Collapse: Cars and Railway Tracks in Short Supply
China’s railway system is near collapse and the Chinese economy seems to have entered a vicious cycle.
Worst case scenario of methane hydrate release
A worst-case scenario of climate change from the possible future release of submerged methane hydrates predicts catastrophic warming in the atmosphere and rising sea level similar to conditions that preceded the last ice age
Unlimited Oil?
The abiotic origin of oil, is a theory that has yet to see conclusive evidence. It’s known better for it’s lack of evidence against, than evidence for.
Surge in Polio in Africa threatens eradication hopes
As polio cases surge in Nigeria and the virus spreads to other countries, western and central Africa are on the brink of the largest polio epidemic in recent years, officials of the World Health Organization and Unicef said Tuesday.
Tight U.S. Fuel Stockpiles a Concern – Energy Dept.
U.S. fuel stockpiles are languishing well below average, leaving the world’s largest energy consumer vulnerable to a summer gasoline inventory crunch or tight supplies of heating oil next winter, the Department of Energy said on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia: The Politics of Self-Preservation
The high prices have given the Saudi government a long forgotten confidence that the Bush administration would realise that the Saud family was and is the only option for stability in Saudi Arabia and stability in oil prices and that they must be supported no matter what they did or said.
US: Toxic pollution rose in 2002, reversing trend
Toxic chemical releases into the environment rose 5 percent in 2002, marking only the second such increase reported by the Environmental Protection Agency in nearly two decades, and the first since 1997.
Australia encourages barrier reef oil exploration
Australia has increased tax concessions to encourage oil exploration in the far reaches of the Great Barrier Reef, angering environmentalists who warn an oil spill could destroy the world’s largest living reef system.
NASA scientists get global fix on food, wood & fiber use
NASA scientists working with the World Wildlife Fund and others have measured how much of Earth’s plant life humans need for food, fiber, wood and fuel. The study identifies human impact on ecosystems.
Researchers explore using glucose as fuel
You may not soon be able to refuel your car with corn syrup or charge a computer by plugging it into a bottle of Coca-Cola. But to Stanley Kravitz and a group of researchers at Sandia National Laboratories, sugar looks like the new oil.
US: Panel to Examine Refining Capacity, Oil Stocks
A federal advisory panel will assess U.S. oil refining capacity and crude oil stocks to see if steps can be taken to boost energy supplies, U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said on Tuesday.
Syncrude to tame natural gas costs in production
After reining in construction costs, Syncrude Canada vowed Monday to take control of another runaway expense — natural gas.
