The vast majority of the Earth's estimated 13 million species are still unknown and to describe them all would take up to 2,000 years, according to a leading Brazilian scientist.

"We estimate that there are a total of around 13 million species (known and unknown) in the world," Thomas Lewinsohn, a renowned professor of ecology at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Sao Paulo state.

A corn crop dries up in a field pictured July 28, 2011 near Perryton, Texas. Scientists said Monday they have identified a physical mechanism behind the extreme weather that has …more

Scientists said Monday they have identified a physical mechanism behind the extreme weather that has plagued many parts of the world in recent years -- and that it is tied to climate change.

The Mars rover Curiosity has successfully transferred a pinch of rock dust to its onboard laboratories for inspection, two weeks after drilling into its first rock.

NASA said Monday it received confirmation of the deliveries over the weekend. Scientists will spend the next several weeks studying the rock's chemical and mineral makeup.

Scientists from 55 countries opened a two-day meeting Monday to mull how to use science to fight poverty and promote sustainable development.

Taking part were members of the InterAcademy Panel (IAP), a global network of 106 national science academies tackling such issues as global warming, population growth, human reproductive cloning and evolution.

The Nobel prize awarded to Francis Crick in 1962 for discovering the structure of DNA has been put up for auction by his family along with one of his lab coats, his books and other memorabilia.

It is believed to be the first Nobel prize placed at auction in more than 70 years and the opening bid is set for $250,000, Heritage Auctions said Monday.

Away from the construction bustle of Sochi's Olympic Park, where Russia will host the Winter Olympics next February, residents of a small community north of central Sochi have seen only the filthy side of preparations.

Uch-Dere, a village about 40 kilometers up the Black Sea coast from the Olympic Park, is the site of greater Sochi's only waste site.

Scientists are delving deep into the travels of whales -- thanks to high-tech tracking devices -- to try to help protect them

Scientists are delving deep into the travels of whales -- thanks to high-tech tracking devices -- to try to help protect them.

Heat stress from global warming may be having an impact on outdoor work productivity in hot regions like northern Australia, Southeast Asia and the southern United States, a study said Sunday.

In recent decades, rising temperatures and higher humidity reduced labour capacity, on paper at least, by 10 percent during the hottest months, it says.

Scientists said Sunday they had found traces of a micro-continent hidden underneath the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius.

The slab, dubbed Mauritia, was probably formed around 61-83 million years ago after Madagascar split from India, but eventually broke up and became smothered by thick lava deposits, they said.

Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner broke three world records when he jumped from the edge of space in October, the World Air Sports Federation confirmed on Friday.

The Swiss-based federation, also known as the FAI, said Baumgartner notched up the world's maximum vertical speed record, as well as the highest exit altitude and vertical distance of freefall.