Earth sciences

Workers at the Eiffel Tower used a blowtorch to melt the ice collecting on its surfaces and snow was blocking roads and halting trains and school buses Wednesday across northern France.

Two earthquakes struck Turkey off its Aegean Sea coast on Feb. 6, according to the country's disaster agency.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said on its website that an initial magnitude 4.1 quake occurred at 7.09 p.m. local time (1609 GMT) off the Karaburun district of İzmir province, the country's third-largest city.

Some five whistling buoys placed in the Marmara Sea that guide equipment used by experts to observe seismic activities have been stolen, officials from Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Center said on Feb. 3.

"Who stole them and for what? We really do not understand," said Doğan Kalafat, the head of the Tsunami Research Department in Kandilli Observatory.

Located in Central Anatolia and once known as Turkey's grain warehouse, the Konya Closed Basin is fighting drought due to improper irrigation activities and uncontrolled agriculture.

Çıralı Sinkhole, one of the most important natural formations in the region with an area of nearly 17,500 square meters, has also dried up after weeks without rain.

From ancient warriors tripping on bog myrtle to modern soldiers buzzed on chemical combinations, soldiers have long had access to various options

The northeastern Aegean island of Lesvos was jolted by a series of earthquakes on Monday that began in the morning. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. 

A fifth earthquake with a magnitude above 4.0 struck the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos on Monday, according to the Athens Geodynamic Institute.

European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre gave a reading of 4.7.

The latest tremor registered a preliminary magnitude of 4.5. There were no immediate reports of damage or injury.

Egremni is a fantastic large beach in Lefkada with exotic blue waters and soft sand on the shore

A series of earthquakes shook Turkey's Aegean region on Feb. 1, according to the country's disaster agency.

Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano on Java island has erupted, sending up a cloud of ash and prompting authorities to warn of the risk of lava flows reaching roads.