Researchers: Texas-sized garbage patch in Pacific Ocean possibly killing marine life

September 22nd, 2009 Tropical depression forms in the PacificMIAMI — A tropical depression has formed out in the Pacific Ocean. The depression has maximum sustained winds near 35 mph (55 kph) Tuesday night.

September 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new study, scientists from the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, UK, are calling for urgent research to understand the impact of renewable energy developments on marine life. The study highlights potential environmental benefits and threats resulting from marine renewable energy, such as off-shore wind farms and wave and tidal energy conversion devices.

September 15th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new research conducted at Texas A and M University, US, has shown evidence of a possible link between El Nino and a severe flu pandemic in 1918 that adversely affected India. The findings are based on analysis of the 1918 El Nino, which the new research shows to be one of the strongest of the 20th century.

September 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new robot spent most of July trawling the muddy ocean bottom, about 40 km off the California coast - somewhat like the robotic rovers Spirit and Opportunity that traversed Mars' dusty surface. The new robot, Benthic Rover, has been providing scientists with an entirely new view of life on the deep seafloor, besides monitoring climate change impact on the deep sea.

September 10th, 2009 Mild El Nino continues, strengthening expectedWASHINGTON — A weak El Nino is under way and it is expected to strengthen and last through winter, government climate researchers said Thursday. The periodic climate phenomenon is marked by warming of the central Pacific Ocean and changes in wind direction and air pressure that can affect weather around the world.

August 28th, 2009 Pacific Ocean garbage patch worries researchersLOS ANGELES — A tawny stuffed puppy bobs in cold sea water, his four stiff legs tangled in the green net of some nameless fisherman. It's one of the bigger pieces of trash in a sprawling mass of garbage-littered water, known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, where most of the plastic looks like snowy confetti against the deep blue of the north Pacific Ocean.

August 28th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In an exploration of the 'great Pacific Ocean garbage patch', scientists from the Scripps Environmental Accumulation of Plastic Expedition (SEAPLEX) have discovered extensive plastic debris floating 1,000 miles from land. The Scripps research vessel (R/V) New Horizon left its San Diego homeport on August 2, 2009, for the North Pacific Ocean Gyre, located some 1,000 miles off California's coast, and returned on August 21, 2009.

August 28th, 2009 Researchers: Pacific trash threatens marine lifeLOS ANGELES — A tawny stuffed puppy bobs in cold sea water, his four stiff legs tangled in the green net of some nameless fisherman. It's one of the bigger pieces of trash in a giant patch of garbage-littered water — one that's bigger than Texas — where most of the plastic looks like snowy confetti against the deep blue of the north Pacific Ocean.

August 20th, 2009 Study says plastic decomposes at seaWASHINGTON — Environmentalists have long denounced plastic as a long-lasting pollutant that doesn't break down. A new study indicates that, in the oceans, plastic does decompose, but says that's not a good thing either.

August 9th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new research has determined that seasonal winds might drive current variability in the northern Indian Ocean. The research was carried out by J.

July 10th, 2009 Tropical depression forms in Pacific OceanMEXICO CITY — A tropical depression formed Friday far off Mexico's Pacific coast and is expected to strengthen while moving farther out to sea. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said the depression had winds of about 35 mph (55 kph) and is likely to become a tropical storm by Saturday and possibly a hurricane by next week.

July 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Smokers wishing to kick the butt can double their success rates by using nicotine patch before quitting smoking, say researchers at Duke University Medical Center. The researchers say that, according to the latest data, changes should be made to nicotine patch labelling.

July 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - An analysis by scientists has suggested that the Arctic was an enclosed freshwater lake until about 38 million years ago, when tectonic activity caused it to undergo a transition to an ocean. Recent studies have suggested that beginning about 44 million years ago the Arctic underwent a transition from lake to ocean conditions.

May 29th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists have conducted the first global analysis of the health and productivity of ocean plants using a unique red glow detected by NASA's Aqua satellite. Using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite, scientists have now observed "red-light fluorescence" over the open ocean.

May 29th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists have launched a first global study on the health and productivity of ocean plants using a unique signal detected by US space agency NASA's Aqua satellite. Ocean scientists can now remotely measure the amount of fluorescent red light emitted by phytoplankton and assess how efficiently these microscopic plants turn sunlight and nutrients into food through photosynthesis.