Our Daily Planet: Massive Winter Storm and Surviving a 1,000-Foot Fall

Each weekday morning, OurAmazingPlanet takes the pulse of the Earth, reporting on natural phenomena and exploration news from around the globe.

Winter Storm: A massive winter storm is pounding the Midwest on its way to New England. Areas near Chicago could see up to 2 feet (0.6 meters) of snow. [Related: Winter's Snow Cover Seen from Space .]

Sea Cucumbers Seized: Two boats carrying about 3,500 pounds (1,600 kilograms) of poached sea cucumber was seized in India.

Yasi Evacuations: Coastal cities in Australia continue to evacuate as Cyclone Yasi bears down on flood-ravaged Queensland.

Dark Sky Island: With no paved roads, no cars and no public street lighting, Sark, the smallest of four landmasses in the U.K.'s Channel Islands, has very little light pollution. The International Dark-Sky Association named Sark the world's first "dark sky island."

Previously on Our Daily Planet: Whopper Winter Storm and Cyclone Yasi

Reach OurAmazingPlanet staff writer Brett Israel at bisrael@techmedianetwork.com. Follow him on Twitter @btisrael.

Brett Israel was a staff writer for Live Science with a focus on environmental issues. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from The University of Georgia, a master’s degree in journalism from New York University, and has studied doctorate-level biochemistry at Emory University.