Our amazing planet.

Our Daily Planet: New Zealand Earthquake Rescue and West Coast Snowstorm

News
By Brett Israel
published

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

New Zealand Earthquake: A day after a magnitude 6.3 earthquake rocked New Zealand's second-largest city, Christchurch, rescuers continue to search for hundreds of missing people. At least 75 people were killed during the quake. [Related: The Science Behind the New Zealand Quake .]

Brown Tides Code Cracked: Scientists have unraveled the genetic code of harmful algal bloom species for the first time. The microorganisms are behind the so-called brown tides that periodically cover parts of the ocean.

Seattle Snow: Winter weather is gripping the West Coast, where Seattle is getting its most snow since 1989. [Related: World's Snow Cover Seen from Space .]

Previously on Our Daily Planet: New Zealand Earthquake and Baby Dolphin Deaths

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

Brett Israel
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.