In a new article, a group of physicists describe how unique structures in the natural world are inspiring scientists to develop new types of materials with unprecedented properties.

Earthquakes never occur when you need one, so structural engineers are shaking up a building themselves in the name of science and safety. Using massive moving platforms and an array of sensors and cameras, the researchers are trying to find out how well a two-story building made of cold-formed steel can stand up to a lab-generated Southern California quake.

US Sens. Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.) and John Hoeven (R-ND) submitted a joint resolution expressing the sense of Congress that the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline and the federal approvals required for its construction are in the US national interest.

Serinus Energy Inc., Calgary, formerly Kulczyk Oil Ventures Inc., said it recovered oil and gas from formations of Visean age at the Makeevskoye-3 exploratory well on the North Makeevskoye license in Ukraine, potentially opening a new play.

Global Petroleum Group Ltd. has let a contract to SeaBird Exploration PLC for a marine 3D seismic survey in the Grenada offshore basin.

Scientists have been building models of turbulent flow. Recently, they developed a new and improved way of looking at the composition of turbulence near walls, the type of flow that dominates our

Oil prices continued retreating with front-month crude down 1.4% in the New York futures market July 30 but rose at midday July 31 after the Energy Information Administration reported the first increase in US crude inventories in 5 weeks. Natural gas prices continued to slide, down 0.4% at yesterday’s close.

INEOS Bio said it is producing cellulosic ethanol at commercial scale at a plant in Vero Beach, Fla., and will make its first shipment in August.