National Geographic

Just months after BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion, which leaked millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, another Gulf oil rig exploded into flames Thursday.



Gulf of Mexico - Deepwater Horizon - BP - Oil platform - Energy

Dams, wetland destruction, and overfishing threaten to wipe out more than 20 percent of Africa's freshwater species, many unique to the continent.



Africa - Wetland - Overfishing - Species - Plants

Though expected to only graze the U.S. coast, Hurricane Earl is the first of many intense storms that could menace the U.S. East Coast this season, one expert says.



Hurricane Earl - East Coast of the United States - United States - Earth Sciences - Meteorology

The world's strongest solid rocket motor revs up, a star nursery is seen in its sharpest view yet, and more in this week's best space pictures.



Solid-fuel rocket - Rocket engine - Space - Technology - NASA

The discovery on Madagascar of the new species—given away by its flat snout—is a "Tarzan yell for conservation," a new study says.



Madagascar - Tarzan - Africa - Species - Environment

A skink species lays eggs on the coast but births babies in the mountains, giving a rare glimpse at how placentas evolved, scientists say.



Evolution - Lizard - Species - Biology - Squamata

Chronic male insomniacs may have a higher risk of early death than "normal" male sleepers, a new study says.



Insomnia - Health - Sleep disorder - Conditions and Diseases - Body mass index

On the 25th anniversary of Titanic's rediscovery, high-resolution images from a new expedition are shedding light on the shipwreck.



RMS Titanic - Ocean liner - Ship - History - Maritime

The barbastelle bat has lowered its voice to evade detection by moths with keen hearing, a new study says.



Bat - Wildlife - Recreation - Outdoors - Organizations

As Atlantic hurricane season heats up, storms could send toxic hydrocarbons lingering from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill surging inland, scientists say. Video.



Gulf of Mexico - North Atlantic tropical cyclone - Oil spill - Earth Sciences - Atmospheric Sciences

Integral Fast Reactor technology would recycle spent nuclear fuel to produce more power, but critics say safety and cost remain obstacles.



Nuclear fuel - Nuclear - Radioactive waste - Energy - Technology

A hitchhiking anemone, a perching sea robin, and a many-armed sea star were recently spotted off the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.



Sulawesi - Starfish - List of islands of Indonesia - Indonesia - Volcano

For early Europeans, cannibalism was just another way to eat—and the meals may have given new meaning to "brain food," a study says.



Cannibalism - Food - Vegetarianism - Lifestyle Choices - Philanthropy

There's an "excellent chance" Hurricane Earl, now a Category 4 storm, will keep most of its strength as far as New Jersey, an expert says.



Hurricane Earl - New Jersey - Tropical cyclone - Hurricane - Earth Sciences

Kazakhstan's new Khan Shatyr evokes a traditional dwelling but boasts futuristic fancies such as an indoor "beach," a monorail, and more.



Kazakhstan - Asia - Business and Economy - Government - Khan Shatyr

China has 20 percent of the world’s population but only seven percent of the world’s freshwater resources. With the South-North water project water will rush to cities and leave rural residents high and dry.



Water - Freshwater - World population - China - Environment

New Orleans plans to pipe semi-treated sewage into a bayou to help regrow a cypress-tupelo wetland and protect the Lower Ninth Ward from flooding.



New Orleans - Lower Ninth Ward - Hurricane Katrina - Wetland - United States

Submerged houses, crowded relief camps, and flooded provinces—see the impact of Pakistan's worst floods in nearly a century.



Pakistan - Flood - Earth Sciences - Natural Disasters and Hazards - Asia