http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/rss/dsp_rss.cfm/top/yes Listing of the fifteen newest Planet Diary articles. en-us Copyright 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved. Tue, 26 May 2009 11:47:11 UT Mon, 25 May 2009 12:00:00 UT The gray wolf was taken off the endangered species list, just thirty-five years after it was nearly hunted to extinction. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) says the wolf population has recovered enough to allow hunting to start up again in most areas. North America, Fauna http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/faun1052309.html http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/faun1052309.html Mon, 25 May 2009 12:00:00 UT Last October, an asteroid known as 2008 TC3 exploded over Sudan's Nubian Desert in northeastern Africa. Hundreds of tiny rock fragments showered down across a wide area of the desert. The exploding fireball terrified villagers. But the event thrilled scientists, who raced to the desert to collect bits of the asteroid. Space, Astronomy http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/astr1052309.html http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/astr1052309.html Thu, 21 May 2009 12:00:00 UT Colombia's Galeras volcano spewed more clouds of ash and gas. Hot, glowing lava was visible within the volcano's main crater, while the level of earthquake activity spiked. Scientists say gas pressure may be building up inside the volcano. South America, Volcano http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/volc1052309.html http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/volc1052309.html Sat, 23 May 2009 12:00:00 UT The twin Nyamuragira and Nyiragongo volcanoes surrounding the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo are getting feistier. The air around Goma is thick with volcanic dust these days. Scientists at the Goma Volcano Observatory say the threat that one or both of the volcanoes will erupt is growing. Africa, Volcano http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/volc2052309.html http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/volc2052309.html Sat, 23 May 2009 12:00:00 UT The number of swine flu cases kept rising this week. Worldwide, the total of confirmed cases passed 11,000 in 42 countries. Although most are in North America, the number of cases in Japan rose sharply. The flu has killed at least 86 people, with most victims in Mexico. Global, Health http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/heal1052309.html http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/heal1052309.html Mon, 25 May 2009 12:00:00 UT Just a decade ago, foxes on Catalina Island in Southern California were nearly wiped out by canine distemper virus. Only about 100 of the endangered foxes remained in the wild. Now, the foxes are making a terrific comeback. North America, Fauna http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/faun2052309.html http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/faun2052309.html Sat, 16 May 2009 12:00:00 UT Firefighters got a boost from the weather and managed to bring the huge fires burning near Santa Barbara, California under control this week. Last week, more than 30,000 people fled their homes as the blazes raged along the outskirts of the city. North America, Fire http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/fire1051609.html http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/fire1051609.html Mon, 18 May 2009 12:00:00 UT The U.S. Forest Service is closing thousands of caves in 33 states to help control a deadly disease that's wiped out bat colonies across the United States. North America, Fauna http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/faun1051609.html http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/faun1051609.html Mon, 18 May 2009 12:00:00 UT The number of swine flu cases rose sharply this week. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 4,700 cases have been officially confirmed in 47 states in the United States, with five deaths. North America, Health http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/heal1051609.html http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/heal1051609.html Mon, 18 May 2009 12:00:00 UT Astronomers have discovered a gas giant exoplanet with wild temperature swings. The planet's temperature climbs from 980 to 2,240 degrees Fahrenheit in only six hours as it whips around its parent star. Space, Astronomy http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/astr1051609.html http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/astr1051609.html Mon, 18 May 2009 12:00:00 UT After weeks of heavy rain, raging floods left about 300,000 people homeless in usually dry northeastern Brazil. At least 40 people were killed in the region's worst floods in decades. South America, Flood http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/floo1051609.html http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/floo1051609.html Mon, 11 May 2009 12:00:00 UT A large population of orangutans was found recently in the mountain forests of Indonesia's island of Borneo. More than 200 orangutan nests were discovered as conservationists surveyed the island's eastern edge. Scientists estimate that number of nests could support as many as 2,000 of the endangered primates. Asia, Fauna http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/faun1050909.html http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/faun1050909.html Mon, 11 May 2009 12:00:00 UT Hundreds of dead seabirds have washed up on Northern California beaches, from Marin County to Monterey Bay. Wildlife officials aren't sure why but suspect a sharp drop in the birds' food supply may be to blame. North America, Fauna http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/faun2050909.html http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/faun2050909.html Mon, 11 May 2009 12:00:00 UT Astronomers snapped pictures of the most distant object ever seen anywhere in the universe. The faint smudge is from a gamma ray burst 13 billion light years from Earth. Space, Astronomy http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/astr1050909.html http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/astr1050909.html Mon, 11 May 2009 12:00:00 UT Despite the fact that the swine flu outbreak kept spreading, worries about the outbreak eased up this week after it appeared to be milder than health officials had feared. North America, Health http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/heal1050909.html http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/archive09/heal1050909.html