USGS Multimedia Gallery: Latest Audio and Podcasts

Monitoreando el Pulso de Nuestro Planeta: �Tu Puedes Ayudar!
(Tracking the Pulse of Our Planet: You Can Help!)

Jessica Robertson — Fri, 4 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT

Los cient�ficos est�n tomando el pulso de nuestro planeta, estudiando como el cambio clim�tico afecta las plantas y los animales. Y quieren tu ayuda! Escuchar este �podcast� para aprender m�s sobre este esfuerzo y ver como puedes participar.

(Listen to a Spanish Podcast � Scientists are tracking the pulse of our planet, studying how climate change is impacting plants and animals. And they want your help! Learn more about this effort and find out how you can sign up.)

USGS 2012 OpenHouse PSA

Glenn Carlson — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT

2012 Open House public service announcement

Press Conference: USGS World Estimate for Conventional Oil and Gas Resources

Jessica Robertson — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT

The USGS recently released a new world estimate of undiscovered, conventional oil and gas resources. This podcast is a recording of a press conference held on April 18, 2012, to announce this report. Speakers were Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, USGS Director Marcia McNutt, USGS Energy Resources Program Coordinator Brenda Pierce, and USGS Research Geologist Chris Schenk.

What�s in Our Water?

Steven Sobieszczyk — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EDT

In this episode, we are going to investigate more than just the substance �water.� We are going to examine what is in our nations� water, how we at the U.S. Geological Survey monitor it, and what tools we have developed to aid those who want to explore more about our planet�s most abundant resource. This is the USGS Oregon Science Podcast.

The Big Squeeze: Pythons and Mammals in Everglades National Park

Marisa Lubeck — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EDT

The wet, subtropical wilderness of Everglades National Park is home to a diversity of Floridian wildlife, but one invader is causing severe changes in these native animal populations. Many of the park’s mammals are declining dramatically as a result of invasive Burmese pythons, according to a recent study by U.S. Geological Survey scientists and partners. Mid-sized mammals such as foxes, rabbits, and raccoons that were previously populous in the Everglades are the most severely affected. USGS scientist and co-author Robert Reed to discusses the Burmese python situation and what these mammal declines mean for the Everglades ecosystem.

Science Integrity Matters

Kara Capelli — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EDT

Scientific integrity runs deep at USGS. What is it exactly, and why is it so important? Find out in this episode of CoreCast. Host Kara Capelli talks with Linda Gundersen, Director of the USGS Office of Science Quality and Integrity.

Science Helping to Save Lives in Africa

Jessica Robertson — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Drought in Africa is of increasing concern as millions are suffering from malnutrition and difficulty growing crops and supporting livestock. Stunted growth in children due to malnutrition was also recently linked to climate change. Join us as we talk with USGS scientists Jim Verdin, Jim Rowland and Chris Funk about what is being done to help.

Briefing on New Science to Identify Sources of Excessive Nutrients in Rivers and Estuaries

Kara Capelli — Mon, 7 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

The USGS held a Congressional briefing to demonstrate a new and innovative online decision support system used to identify sources of nutrients to downstream waters, such as the Gulf of Mexico, Long Island Sound and others. The decision support system provides access to six newly-developed regional SPARROW models that describe how rivers receive and transport nutrients to sensitive waters.

Steve Preston, a scientist for the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment Program demonstrated the decision support system and described the models. The briefing was moderated by Alan Vicory, Executive Director of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission. Other speakers included Saya Qualls, Tenn. Department of Environment and Conservation Water Pollution Control and Wayne Anderson, Minn. Pollution Control Agency.

November Public Lecture: Did You Feel It? The Virginia Earthquake of August 23, 2011

Alex Demas — Mon, 7 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

The magnitude 5.8 earthquake that struck Louisa County was among the largest to occur along the eastern seaboard of the United States. It caused extensive damage in central Virginia and was likely felt by more people than any other earthquake in U.S. history. Join USGS scientists Mike Blanpied and Mark Carter on November 2nd to discuss the seismology of the earthquake, its effects, and its context in the geology of Virginia. Mike Blanpied is the associate program coordinator for the Earthquake Hazards Program at USGS, and Mark Carter is a research geologist with USGS who lives in Mineral, VA, near the epicenter of the earthquake.

Phytoremediation of Contaminated Groundwater

Ray Douglas — Tue, 1 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

USGS Research Hydrologist Jim Landmeyer discusses how living plants can be used to clean up contaminated groundwater through a process termed phytoremediation.

Culprit Identified: Fungus Causes Deadly Bat Disease

Marisa Lubeck — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT

White-nose syndrome is a deadly disease in North American bats that has been spreading rapidly since its 2006 discovery in N.Y. State. Thus far, bat declines in the northeastern U.S. have exceeded 80%. For the first time, scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey and partner institutions have identified the cause of WNS as a fungus appropriately known as Geomyces destructans. The research, which was conducted at the USGS NWHC in Madison, Wisc., further demonstrates that the fungus can be spread through contact between individual bats during hibernation. USGS microbiologist David Blehert to discusses these significant findings.

Disease Detectives: Investigating the Mysteries of Zoonotic Diseases

Marisa Lubeck — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Zoonotic diseases are those that are spread between wildlife and humans, and are an increasing health threat in the U.S. and throughout the world. As such diseases emerge, scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey and other wildlife health agencies must embark upon complex investigative work to determine what these diseases are, where they come from, and how they’re transferred across species. Jonathan Sleeman, director of the USGS National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin, Discusses the critical role science plays in unraveling the mysteries of these zoonotic diseases.

USGS Releases Resource Estimate for Afghanistan Rare Earth Prospect

Alex Demas — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EDT

The U.S. Geological Survey estimates at least 1 million metric tonnes of rare earth element resources within the Khanneshin carbonatite in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. This estimate comes from a 2009-2011 USGS study funded by the Department of Defense's Task Force for Business and Stability Operations.

Stranger than Fiction: The Secret Lives of Freshwater Mussels

Melanie Gade — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Within the rivers, streams, and lakes of North America live over 200 species of freshwater mussels that share an amazing life history. To metamorphose from larvae to adult, the mussels must pass through a parasitic phase on the gills of freshwater fish. To trick the fish into accepting their larvae, female mussels have developed a complex array of lures and baits to attract and fool their unsuspecting hosts. This talk will explore the fascinating reproductive biology and ecological role of one of nature�s most sophisticated fishermen.

Responding to Hurricanes, Floods and Droughts in North Carolina

Kara Capelli — Tue, 6 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EDT

North Carolina, like many years before, is responding to flooding in the East and drought in the West. Holly Weyers, USGS North Carolina Water Science Center Director, discusses these extreme events.

East Coast Earthquakes

Jessica Robertson — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EDT

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake occurred in Virginia on August 23, 2011. Join us as we talk to David Russ, who is the USGS Regional Executive for the Northeast Area, about that event as well as earthquake risk, history and geology along the East coast.

How Can You Prepare for Earthquakes?

Jessica Robertson — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EDT

No matter where you live, it is important to be aware of and prepared for earthquakes. Join us as we talk to Mike Blanpied, who is the Associate Coordinator for the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, as he gives us safety tips to ensure you and your family are prepared before, during, and after an earthquake.

Groundwater 101

Steven Sobieszczyk — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EDT

In this episode we explore how vital groundwater is as a natural resource and discuss what impact a changing climate and human consumption has on groundwater supplies. Join us, as we sit down with USGS Groundwater Specialist Marshall Gannett to get a primer on the role groundwater plays in our daily lives, today on the Oregon Science Podcast.

The Air We Breathe�It�s a Gas!

Melanie Gade — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EDT

We live at the bottom of an ocean of air. Most adults take around 29,000 breaths a day, children breathe a little faster; but what is in this air we breathe? What are the gases in the air? How much of each gas is there? Do these gases have different weights? How cold are liquid nitrogen and dry ice, and where did those names come from? Come join us to explore these questions at this family friendly presentation with hands-on experiments.

Speakers: Janet Hannon and Stan Mroczkowski

Bees Are Not Optional

Catherine Puckett — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EDT

It's Pollinator Week, and we're talking to USGS scientist Sam Droege about the tremendous importance of native bees and pollinators in general, and how you can lend a hand to these tiny titans.

Like eating fresh fruits and vegetables? Think agriculture is important to our society? Then you'll want to pay attention to this CoreCast. (original recording: June 25, 2009)

An Unseen World Beneath Our Feet - Caves, Sinkholes and Springs

Melanie Gade — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Randall Orndorff, Director of the Eastern Geology and Paleoclimate Science Center, discusses how Karst affects daily life. Beneath a quarter of the United States are rock types that can dissolve to form caves, sinkholes and other features. Nearly every state has rock layers of limestone, gypsum, and other soluble rocks we call "karst". Karst is important for many reasons. Almost half of the ground water used for drinking comes from karst aquifers, and karst regions such as the Shenandoah Valley are some of the most productive agricultural lands in the nation. However, the rock layers underneath karst dissolve easily, sometime creating sinkholes that can be a threat to life and property. Yet these soluble rock layers also yield some of the most beautiful and unique natural environments, found in many of our national and state parks.

GEOSMIN in South Carolina Water's, What is it?

Ray Douglas — Wed, 8 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EDT

USGS Water Quality Specialist Celeste Journey discusses Geosmin. What is it? What
causes it? and Will it harm you?

Shocking! Electrofishing for Largescale Suckers on the Columbia River

Steven Sobieszczyk — Tue, 24 May 2011 00:00:00 EDT

In this episode we take to the water and accompany a USGS field crew as they collect largescale suckers (Catostomus macrocheilus) along the lower Columbia River. Using a boat equipped with specialized shocking equipment, researchers stun nearby fish, allowing them to be easily collected and examined. Join us, as we explore how native fish are used to determine the water quality and ecological health of our local rivers, only in this month�s episode of the Oregon Science Podcast.

Time-Lapse Photography Project on the Platte River

Rachael Hoagland — Tue, 24 May 2011 00:00:00 EDT

NEWSC Director Bob Swanson, Wildlife photographer Mike Forsberg, and NET Television producer Mike Ferrell discuss their plans to mount 45 cameras along the entire Platte River to document its changes through the year and beyond.

Who's Your Mama? Conservation Genetics and At-Risk Species

Catherine Puckett — Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 EDT

USGS science supports management, conservation, and restoration of imperiled, at-risk, and endangered species. Endangered Species Day is commemorated in May, and we’re taking some time to find out just how one goes about studying at-risk species and what part cutting-edge technologies can play in helping us do the science that informs managers and policy makers. Catherine Puckett talks with USGS scientist Dr. Sue Haig about her conservation genetics work on imperiled species.

USGS Water Activities in South Carolina - Update

Ray Douglas — Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 EDT

An update on USGS Water activities in South Carolina as SC Water Science Center Director Eric Strom is interviewed by SC Public Radio "Your Day" host, Donna London.

Wade into Wetlands Research

Jennifer LaVista — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 EDT

May is American Wetlands Month—so we're taking some time out to talk about this important National Treasure that shelters us from storms and provides a unique habitat for wildlife.

Jennifer LaVista asks USGS National Wetlands Research Center Director, Phil Turnipseed a few questions on the importance of wetlands

USGS Economic Analysis Updated for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA)

Jessica Robertson — Wed, 4 May 2011 00:00:00 EDT

An updated USGS assessment on the economic recoverability of undiscovered, conventional oil and gas resources within the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA) and adjacent state waters is available. Economically recoverable resources are those that can be sold at a price that covers the total costs from finding the resource to getting it the market. Join us as we talk to USGS scientist Emil Attanasi and USGS Energy Resources Program Coordinator Brenda Pierce.

USGS Hydrologic Investigation of West Africa's Congo River (part three)

Ray Douglas — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EDT

USGS South Carolina Water Science Center Data Chief, John Shelton in a special hydrologic expedition down the Congo River, West Africa. Part three of the three part episode, reveals a hydrologic data set that changed the world record books.

Flooding Hits Along the Mississippi River

Kara Capelli — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EDT

2011 had been predicted to be a particularly bad year for flooding in the northern Plains and upper Midwest. Areas along the Red River in North Dakota and Minnesota and the James Rivers in the Dakotas are still experiencing flooding from snowmelt. Now extreme rainfall is causing severe flooding along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Record floods are possible in some areas. In this episode of CoreCast host Kara Capelli interviews Bob Holmes, USGS National Flood Hazard Coordinator.

Restoring the Everglades: How Old Dead Things help us Solve Today's Problems

Alex Demas — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Paleoecologist Dr. Lynn Wingard highlights the unique aspects and restoration challenges of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem of southern Florida. Development and water management practices have profoundly altered this ecosystem, endangering much of the animal life in the area. Current restorations efforts attempting to restore the ecosystem faces challenges about how to determine what the natural state of the Everglades should be and how this can be measured. Wingard shares research USGS scientists are conducting that is providing the answers to these questions, allowing restoration management agencies to develop realistic and attainable restoration goals.

USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center: 75 Years of Wildlife Conservation Research

Alex Demas — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Dr. Matthiew Perry, Senior Advisor at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, highlights 75 years of wildlife conservation research at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in celebration of the Center’s 75th anniversary. Major programs include global climate change studies, Chesapeake Bay studies, and wildlife conservation monitoring. Perry gives an overview of the center’s history from its foundation in 1936 to today, highlighting the Center’s significant programs and major science achievements throughout the decades.

Treasures of the USGS Library

Alex Demas — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Since its creation in 1882, the USGS Library has grown to become the world's largest library dedicated to earth and natural sciences, holding more than 1.5 million volumes and 800,000 maps. Richard Huffine, Director of the USGS Libraries Program, will highlight some of the rarest, most valuable, and significant materials held by the USGS. These include early maps of America, documents that establish the provenance of the Hope Diamond, and documentation of our exploration of the American West by Hayden, King, Powell and Wheeler. The Library’s initiative to digitize their collection for online access will make these cultural and historic records available worldwide to anyone at any time. Listen and learn how the USGS is using history to inform the future directions of USGS research and scholarship.

New Madrid Earthquake Bicentennial

CoreCast Team — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Earthquakes – and large ones at that – threaten to shake residents and buildings of the central and eastern United States, a reality that scientists, emergency responders and others hope to drive home during the bicentennial of the 1811 and 1812 New Madrid earthquakes. Scientific presentations and discussions about these historic events and recent major earthquakes conclude today at the annual Seismological Society of America Meeting in Memphis.

Waves Rippling Through Groundwater

Kara Capelli — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Earthquakes affect Earth’s intricate plumbing system. The magnitude 9.0 earthquake in Japan on March 11, 2011 affected water levels in groundwater wells in many places in the United States. In this episode of CoreCast USGS Geophysicist Evelyn Roeloffs explains this phenomenon.

Beyond Billions: Threatened Bats are Worth Billions to Agriculture

Marisa Lubeck — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Insect-eating bats provide pest-control services that save the U.S. agriculture industry over $3 billion per year, according to a study released today in the journal Science. However, scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey, University of Pretoria in South Africa, University of Tennessee, and Boston University who contributed to the study warn that these valuable animals are at risk: Bat populations are declining due to fatalities associated with White-Nose Syndrome and wind turbines, which could lead to significant economic losses on U.S. farms. Paul Cryan, USGS scientist and an author of the report, discusses these findings.

Flooding Spring 2011

Kara Capelli — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EDT

The upper Midwest, the Deep South, the Northern Plains, the Ohio Valley and parts of southern New England are experiencing flooding now or are highly vulnerable to flooding this spring. In this episode of CoreCast USGS National Flood Coordinator Bob Holmes talks to CoreCast host Kara Capelli about why increased flooding is likely this year and how USGS is responding.

Magnitude 8.9 Near the East Coast of Japan

Kara Capelli — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EDT

A magnitude 8.9 earthquake struck the coast of Japan on March 11, 2011. USGS geophysicists and Bill Ellsworth and Eric Geist talk to CoreCast host Kara Capelli about the quake and subsequent tsunami.

Oregon Songbirds: Singing for Their Supper in Evergreen Forests

Ruth Jacobs — Wed, 9 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EDT

In this episode we sit down with USGS wildlife biologist Joan Hagar and discuss her recent study on songbirds in the Pacific Northwest. New research indicates a possible relationship between reductions in the abundance of some species of songbird and reductions in the amount of deciduous trees in evergreen forests. Join us, as we demonstrate how Oregon songbirds sing for their supper in evergreen-dominated forests, only in this month's episode of the Oregon Science Podcast.

New model gives insight to the potential future of the Pacific walrus

Paul Laustsen — Wed, 9 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Walruses are important to human communities bordering the Chukchi and Bering seas in the United States and Russia, and the status of walrus provides information about the health of these highly productive marine ecosystems. Projecting the future population status of the Pacific walrus was investigated with a new model developed by scientists at the USGS Alaska Science Center.

The Bayesian network model integrates the potential effects of changing environmental conditions and human stressors to help identify the reasons associated with declines in projected walrus populations. Sea ice habitat, particularly in summer/fall, and harvest levels had the greatest influence on future population outcomes. The Bayesian network model for walrus provides the framework for an increased research effort on the Pacific walrus and its marine ecosystem, as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystems initiative.

The purpose of this initiative is to understand how changes in the ice-dominated ecosystems of the Arctic affect biological communities. A report detailing this model and its findings are available in the journal Polar Biology.

Groundwater Awareness Week is March 6-12

Kara Capelli — Mon, 7 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Groundwater is not a single vast pool of underground water; rather, it is contained within a variety of aquifer systems. Each of these aquifers has its own set of questions and challenges. From large drawdowns in the Great Plains aquifer to arsenic in some wells in New England, this episode of CoreCast highlights six different USGS groundwater studies all across the United States.

Magnitude 6.3 Earthquake Strikes New Zealand

Jennifer LaVista — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EDT

A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the south island of New Zealand near Christchurch on February 21, resulting in 75 lives being lost. This earthquake was an aftershock from the Sept. 4^th magnitude 7.0 earthquake that occurred in nearby Darfield last year. So why did this lesser magnitude earthquake result in more damage and lives lost?

Jennifer LaVista spoke with U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Robert Williams, who spent time in New Zealand after the Sept. quake.

3-D Geologic Model of Columbia Plateau Aquifer System

Steven Sobieszczyk — Tue, 8 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EDT

In this month’s episode we discuss how 3-D modeling is used to examine groundwater in the Columbia Plateau. USGS hydrologist Erick Burns describes how his team modeled the 53,000 mi² plateau, how this information is currently used, and what implications it has for the future. Join us, as we explore how cutting edge science today is used to solve tomorrow’s problems, only in this month’s episode of the USGS Oregon Science Podcast.

Also see: Video Version

Great Lakes Water Availability

Kara Capelli — Fri, 4 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Though the Great Lakes are the largest freshwater system on Earth, the basin has the potential for local shortages, according to a new basin-wide water availability assessment by the U.S. Geological Survey. Kara Capelli spoke with Howard Reeves, USGS scientist and lead author on the report, about why uneven distribution of water can cause local shortages and conflicts.

Winter Storms in California that Could Cause $300 Billion in Damage

Kara Capelli — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Beginning on Christmas Eve, 1861, and continuing into early 1862, an extreme series of storms lasting 45 days struck California. The storms caused severe flooding, turning the Sacramento Valley into an inland sea. The storms were caused by atmospheric rivers, a hurricane-like phenomenon that occurs on the west coast. A storm comparable to that of 1861-1862 could occur again. To prepare for a storm of this magnitude and greater, a team of atmospheric scientists, U.S. Federal and State agencies and academic institutions have created a model scenario, called ARkStorm, for understanding the damage and impacts from a California winter storm. The scenario estimates that the State's flood protection system would be overwhelmed and more than $300 billion in damage would result. Kara Capelli spoke with Lucy Jones, chief scientist for the USGS Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project, about the results of this emergency-preparedness scenario.

For the Birds: The Science Behind Recent Bird Die-Offs

Marisa Lubeck — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EDT

With the New Year came a number of mass animal deaths across the country, including the 3-5,000 red-winged blackbirds that fell near Beebe, AR, beginning on New Year’s Eve. The U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wis. is investigating the cause of the AR bird deaths, as well as the smaller die-off of about 500 birds that occurred in Louisiana on January 3rd. The preliminary findings suggest that these birds died from impact trauma, and further tests are pending. USGS scientists Paul Slota and Scott Wright discuss the NWHC response.

Clearing up Muddy Waters

Steven Sobieszczyk — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EDT

For this month�s episode we discuss the water-quality parameter turbidity. More than just a way to measure dirty water, turbidity can serve as a useful indicator of the ecological health of a watershed. Join us, as we sit down with USGS scientist Heather Bragg to discuss differences in how turbidity is measured, how the data are used, and where you can find real-time turbidity monitoring here in Oregon, only in this month�s episode of the Oregon Science Podcast.

Effects of urbanization on stream ecosystems (Spanish)

Susan Soltero — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EDT

According to scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey storm runoff from heavier than normal rainfall this fall in Puerto Rico has contributed to large streamflows in urban streams. Impervious surfaces convey stormwater rapidly to streams. This stormwater can also contain fertilizers and insecticides used along roads and on lawns, parks and golf courses. In a new USGS audio podcast of a Spanish-language interview by Susan Soltero on Radio Walo (Humacao, Puerto Rico), scientists Pedro Diaz, Wade Bryant, Tom Cuffney, and Jerry McMahon note how even the early stages of urban development can disrupt the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of streams.

Tattered Wings: Bats Grounded by White-Nose Syndrome's Lethal Effects on Life-Support Functions of Wings

Juliette Wilson — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Damage to bat wings from the fungus associated with white-nose syndrome (WNS) may cause catastrophic imbalance in life-support processes, and this imbalance may be to blame for the more than 1 million deaths of bats due to WNS thus far. Paul Cryan, USGS bat ecologist at the Fort Collins Science Center, discusses this newly published USGS research.

Completion of Continent - Wide Soil Survey

Alex Demas — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EDT

The USGS recently completed sampling for the North American Soil Geochemical Landscapes Project on November 18, 2010. The last three samples of a total of 14,400 samples were collected at Bull Run Mountain in Virginia. During the multi-year project, about 20 students from a dozen different universities aided USGS employees and partners from Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the University of Nebraska's School of Natural Resources, Conservation and Survey Division (Nebraska Geological Survey), the Pennsylvania Geological Survey, and the Minnesota Geological Survey in the sample collection. The samples are currently being analyzed for 44 major and trace elements, including most of the macronutrients and micronutrients, most potentially toxic elements, and organic carbon.

USGS Multimedia Gallery: Latest Audio and Podcasts

Monitoreando el Pulso de Nuestro Planeta: �Tu Puedes Ayudar!(Tracking the Pulse of Our Planet: You Can Help!)

USGS 2012 OpenHouse PSA

Press Conference: USGS World Estimate for Conventional Oil and Gas Resources

What�s in Our Water?

The Big Squeeze: Pythons and Mammals in Everglades National Park

Science Integrity Matters

Science Helping to Save Lives in Africa

Briefing on New Science to Identify Sources of Excessive Nutrients in Rivers and Estuaries

November Public Lecture: Did You Feel It? The Virginia Earthquake of August 23, 2011

Phytoremediation of Contaminated Groundwater

Culprit Identified: Fungus Causes Deadly Bat Disease

Disease Detectives: Investigating the Mysteries of Zoonotic Diseases

USGS Releases Resource Estimate for Afghanistan Rare Earth Prospect

Stranger than Fiction: The Secret Lives of Freshwater Mussels

Responding to Hurricanes, Floods and Droughts in North Carolina

East Coast Earthquakes

How Can You Prepare for Earthquakes?

Groundwater 101

The Air We Breathe�It�s a Gas!

Bees Are Not Optional

An Unseen World Beneath Our Feet - Caves, Sinkholes and Springs

GEOSMIN in South Carolina Water's, What is it?

Shocking! Electrofishing for Largescale Suckers on the Columbia River

Time-Lapse Photography Project on the Platte River

Who's Your Mama? Conservation Genetics and At-Risk Species

USGS Water Activities in South Carolina - Update

Wade into Wetlands Research

USGS Economic Analysis Updated for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA)

USGS Hydrologic Investigation of West Africa's Congo River (part three)

Flooding Hits Along the Mississippi River

Restoring the Everglades: How Old Dead Things help us Solve Today's Problems

USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center: 75 Years of Wildlife Conservation Research

Treasures of the USGS Library

New Madrid Earthquake Bicentennial

Waves Rippling Through Groundwater

Beyond Billions: Threatened Bats are Worth Billions to Agriculture

Flooding Spring 2011

Magnitude 8.9 Near the East Coast of Japan

Oregon Songbirds: Singing for Their Supper in Evergreen Forests

New model gives insight to the potential future of the Pacific walrus

Groundwater Awareness Week is March 6-12

Magnitude 6.3 Earthquake Strikes New Zealand

3-D Geologic Model of Columbia Plateau Aquifer System

Great Lakes Water Availability

Winter Storms in California that Could Cause $300 Billion in Damage

For the Birds: The Science Behind Recent Bird Die-Offs

Clearing up Muddy Waters

Effects of urbanization on stream ecosystems (Spanish)

Tattered Wings: Bats Grounded by White-Nose Syndrome's Lethal Effects on Life-Support Functions of Wings

Completion of Continent - Wide Soil Survey

Monitoreando el Pulso de Nuestro Planeta: �Tu Puedes Ayudar!
(Tracking the Pulse of Our Planet: You Can Help!)