Expert Clarke emphasizes the importance of communication, infrastructure development, and international cooperation in preparing for asteroid impacts. He highlights the need for countries to have comprehensive civil defense plans and to prioritize population relocation and geographical redevelopment.
Scientists are exploring the potential of infrasound pulses to detect natural disasters such as tornadoes and volcanic eruptions. Infrasound pulses can also be used to monitor and forecast volcanic eruptions, potentially providing valuable warnings for communities at risk.
The study found that drug shortages affecting patients in emergency departments have grown significantly since 1995. Emergency physicians can help manage these shortages by communicating with hospitals and patients about available options, but solving the issue will take many years.
The Dialogue-Assisted Visual Environment for Geoinformation (DAVE_G) is a new system that enables crisis managers to visualize geospatial information on a large map using verbal and gesture commands. The system aims to improve decision-making in emergency management by providing real-time access to critical data.
The HEED program aims to bridge disciplinary interests in global health, economics, and environment. It will support research on the complex linkages between these factors and inform healthcare strategies in low- and middle-income countries.
Experts say preparing for natural disasters can also help mitigate the impact of terrorist attacks, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive approaches to risk management. Communities must consider all potential risks and develop disaster plans that address various types of hazards.
Research suggests that altruism, not panic, drives human behavior during disasters. In emergency situations, people prioritize helping others over self-preservation. Clarke's study highlights the importance of community expectations and trust in authorities to guide behavior during crises.
The new Stratospheric Satellites use NASA-developed super-pressure balloons to fly at 110,000 feet and provide 20 times higher resolution surface images of disasters than space-based satellites. With a projected life-cycle cost of $500,000 or less per unit, these satellites are poised to revolutionize disaster monitoring and telecommun...
Princeton students have created a comprehensive map of the US's natural hazard risks, revealing that large events like hurricanes and earthquakes drive costs. The data also suggests a 30-year east-to-west oscillation in hurricane tracks, potentially shifting their trajectory northward.
A Penn State study found that disasters like Hurricane Hugo increase marriages, births, and divorces in affected areas. The study analyzed marriage, birth, and divorce records in South Carolina before and after the hurricane, finding a significant increase in all three life changes in disaster-affected counties.
Researchers are using fractal mathematics to measure past events and forecast future hurricane events with increased accuracy. The technique has been shown to provide a deeper level of understanding of complex systems in nature, enabling better forecasting of hazardous natural phenomena.
New research suggests earthquakes destroyed fortified buildings, changed river courses and made elite rulers vulnerable to attack in ancient civilizations. Scientists at Stanford University are painting a picture of an ancient world where earthquakes played a crucial role in shaping history.
Researchers found that medical school applicants with narcissistic personality disorder are more likely to engage in unethical behavior. The study suggests that screening out these individuals could minimize the risk of disasters like the Shipman murders.
Healthcare experts analyze their responses to the 9/11 attacks, highlighting the importance of public first aid training and critical incident stress debriefing to prevent PTSD. Improved disaster management planning can save lives in future disasters.
A U. of Colorado-led science team is studying environmental problems on Alaska's North Slope to better understand and mitigate the effects of climate variability and potential environmental disasters. The researchers are creating a storm damage handbook using computer modeling to help local communities prepare for extreme storms.
Recent research reveals a mix of natural and human-induced changes in Florida Bay, with a significant increase in the mussel species Brachidontes exustus and a decline in molluscan diversity. Understanding natural variability is crucial to restore ecosystems to their natural state.
A study published in Preventive Medicine reveals that smoking is a leading cause of fires and death from fires globally, resulting in an estimated cost of nearly $7 billion in the US and $27.2 billion worldwide. Smoking causes 30% of fire deaths in the US and 10% globally.
A new study from the USGS and Oregon Graduate Institute reveals that up to 9,000 community water wells in 31 states may be contaminated with MTBE due to proximity to leaking underground storage tanks. The EPA has announced plans to phase out MTBE use in gasoline, but it will persist in the environment for at least a decade.
The World Institute for Disaster Risk Management aims to apply research to mitigate disaster losses. It will work with governments, agencies, private enterprises, and NGOs to create a network for applied research, implementation, and information dissemination.
The Landsat 7 spacecraft has acquired over 50,000 scenes of the Earth's surface, providing detailed images of natural disasters, unique weather patterns, and glacial changes. The satellite's data will support global change research and inform decision-making about environmental issues.
The current WTO approach to risk assessment assumes new technologies are safe until proven otherwise, but this places excessive faith in limited knowledge. In contrast, a precautionary approach requires better testing and monitoring of new products' effects on the environment and people's health.
Millions of defective low-rise buildings in the US lead to high annual losses from windstorms, with recent hurricanes causing $70 billion in damages. A symposium aims to develop a national plan for wind-hazard mitigation and improve building codes.
The American Psychiatric Association's 1999 Fall Components Meeting tackled significant psychiatric topics such as Psychiatric Aspects on Violence, Psychiatric Dimensions of Disasters, and Addiction Psychiatry. The meeting brought together over 1,000 leading psychiatric experts to discuss these critical issues.
A team of geologists and aid workers warn that the Sarez Lake in Tajikistan is a ticking time bomb, with a natural dam on the verge of breaching. If the dam fails, it could unleash a wall of water devastating hundreds of mountain villages and killing hundreds of thousands of people.
USGS scientists Mike Fisher and Art Frankel will discuss the potential effects of major quakes in Seattle using data from last year's SHIPS project. Scientists from other organizations will also describe the probabilities for a large earthquake in the Puget Sound area.
Researchers from the Partnership for Natural Disaster Reduction (PNDR) presented various studies on wind and earthquake resistance, including a large-scale extreme wind research facility and hurricane-resistant homes. The PNDR program aims to reduce damage from natural disasters through concerted nationwide research efforts.
Researchers found that global climate change could lead to dramatic increases in California wildfires and economic losses. The study analyzed the potential effects of climate change on wildfires in California and found that changes would occur despite enhanced fire suppression resources.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a model to predict refugee migrations, identifying long-term root causes such as weak governments and economic dependence. The model also finds that large migrations are often preceded by generalized violence or civil wars.
Natural T cells are specialized cells that are part of white blood cells and help the body fight disease. Researchers at Penn State's College of Medicine have discovered that CD1d1 associates with glycolipids to transduce signals that 'turn-on' natural T cells, which helps the body fight disease.
The U.S. Geological Survey presents a forum on reducing losses from natural disasters, featuring California's experience in earthquake risk management and mitigation. The event aims to share lessons learned from the Northridge earthquake of 1994 and explore potential models for nationwide disaster reduction plans.
A new study reports that ancient dinosaurs were killed by sudden avalanches of water-soaked sand flowing down the sides of dunes, burying their bodies swiftly. The research also uncovered the first dinosaur footprints ever found in the Gobi Desert.
A six-university panel of river experts suggests that restoring a river's natural flow regime is crucial for maintaining ecological integrity. By allowing rivers to repair and maintain themselves, scientists can enhance different portions of the flow regime through changes to dams and water-use operations.
The Plowshares Project enhances the US Army's Janus combat simulation model for emergency management events. TERRA simulates disasters and models effects on population and property. It also simulates individual field units and their actions in response to emergencies, facilitating interagency cooperation.
The USGS is providing crucial information for restoring the South Florida ecosystem through multidisciplinary research activities. The latest data on pre-development environmental conditions, contaminant transport, and physical conditions in Florida Bay are being shared to inform land and water resource managers.
A National Science Foundation study reveals that emotions after disasters are more complex than portrayed in the news, with positive emotions often present. Survivors who receive early social support tend to cope better over time.
Most people are reluctant to purchase insurance against natural disasters due to perceived low risk and high cost, according to a 1978 NSF study. Property owners often forego buying insurance unless required by mortgage or in areas with regulatory restrictions on premiums.
Scientists warn that humanity's disregard for ecosystem services will have severe economic losses, estimated in trillions of dollars annually. The loss of nature's services can lead to floods, mudslides, and extinction of species, posing an existential threat to human survival.
Experts from around the world have agreed on a standard for locating environmental information, enabling easy access to a virtual library of data and information. The initiative aims to make use of base standards like ISO 10163 to provide a universal service for searching and accessing environmental information.
The University of Wyoming's Institute for Energy Research has developed technology to evaluate deep natural gas resources, which is gaining interest from Asian nations. This technology helps understand fluid-flow relationships and pressure, unlocking hydrocarbon resources in deeper parts of sedimentary basins.
Researchers are conducting studies on wind load, wind engineering meteorology, and wind flow around low-rise buildings. Computer programs have been developed to calculate direct/indirect costs of natural hazard disasters. The goal is to mitigate damage caused by hurricanes and other severe weather events.