Lyrid meteor shower to light up night sky in April — here’s how to watch
Calling all stargazers: The first major meteor shower of the year — the Lyrids — will occur in mid-April and is expected to light up the evening sky with a dazzling display.
Google Earth’s new ‘Timelapse’ feature shows 4 decades of climate change
From the changing forests in Oregon to the evolving glaciers in Greenland, a new feature on Google Earth illustrates nearly four decades of climate change from endless vantage points.
Google Earth adds time-lapse video to depict climate change
The Google Earth app is adding a new video feature that draws upon nearly four decades of satellite imagery to vividly illustrate how climate change has affected the world.
Xcel Energy to build largest solar energy project in Minnesota
Xcel Energy has proposed to build Minnesota’s largest solar energy project near the Sherco power plant in Becker, Minnesota, the company announced Tuesday.
‘Average’ Atlantic hurricane season will bring more storms, 2021 no exception
After 2020’s record-breaking hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean, it would be nice to catch a weather break in 2021 — but hurricane activity is showing no signs of slowing down.
‘Uncharted territory’: Atmospheric CO2 hits highest concentration ever recorded
The changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic caused emissions to drop by about 7% in 2020 compared to 2019, but the drop was too small and too short in duration to show up as a significant deviation to the upward trend of CO2.
Eden Prairie residents fear housing development will threaten popular spring
For generations, families have been flocking to the Fredrick-Miller spring in Eden Prairie to get their drinking water. Now, the city is considering a proposed housing development in that area.
Environmental concerns mount as millions of gallons of wastewater head towards Tampa Bay
Wildlife advocates say they’re worried about a chain reaction coming for marine life, and they said they fear their hard work to restore the bay’s quality and what lives there will be shattered.
Volcanic eruptions in Italy, Iceland and Guatemala spew lava, draw crowds
Since February and March, three volcanoes in three separate countries have released lava, including the Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland, Mount Etna in Italy and Pacaya in Guatemala.
NASA finds direct evidence that humans are causing climate change
NASA has found direct evidence that shows how humans are impacting and causing a change in Earth’s climate.
Minnesota DNR issues burn restrictions due to warmer, dry weather
As warm and dry weather continues to spread throughout the state, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources issued a burn restriction Wednesday for several counties across the state, including Hennepin County.
St. Paul joins project to track plastic pollution in Mississippi River
The City of St. Paul is joining an initiative with cities along the Mississippi River to monitor the amount of plastic pollution in the river with a phone app.
Bald eagle populations soar in lower 48 states, US report says
The number of American bald eagles has quadrupled since 2009, with more than 300,000 birds soaring over the lower 48 states, government scientists said.
New River Gorge: Sprawling 73,000-acre national park and preserve the 1st of its kind on the East Coast
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, located in West Virginia, received its dual status in January 2021 which gives the nearly 73,000-acre area federal protection as well as defends the wildlife and ecosystem from being destroyed by manmade means.
Regulators suspend PolyMet's wetlands permit for mine
A federal regulator has suspended the PolyMet Mining Corp.'s permit to dredge more than 900 acres of wetland for Minnesota's first copper mine.
Lava spews as Iceland volcano comes to life for first time in 6,000 years
The Fagradals Mountain volcano had been dormant for 6,000 years, and this is the first volcanic eruption in this area of the country in nearly 800 years.
The largest ‘potentially hazardous asteroid’ of 2021 will pass by Earth on March 21
The largest asteroid to pass by our planet in 2021 will be at its closest on Sunday, providing astronomers a rare chance to see the giant rock that formed at the dawn of our solar system.
Warm spring ahead: NOAA predicts above-average temperatures across most of US
Saturday will officially mark the first day of spring, and according to NOAA’s new U.S. Spring Outlook, the season may end up feeling more like summer.
MPCA: Groundwater near 59 closed Minnesota landfills contaminated
The groundwater near 59 closed landfills in 41 counties is contaminated, says a new report from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
University of Minnesota researchers: Fungi could be key in stopping ash tree killing beetle
Researchers at the University of Minnesota may have identified a way to slow the spread of the emerald ash borer, an invasive insect that is responsible for killing millions of ash trees in the United States.